There’s a sit in the UK that seems to come up often (with very few applicants) to look after 10 rats!
I hope they’re neutered!
Yes, they are neutered, but:
‘‘My rats are mostly extremely active and require quite a lot of attention like free roaming with their human either in pairs or all together (good luck if you want to do anything else, they won’t let you! lol)’’
Sounds like a barrel of laughs!
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I saw one exactly like that in a location I would like very much. But even if I was willing to do that (which I am not), it is not possible. Unless I want to not eat for however long the sit is, or buy all my groceries before the sit starts. And then it would feel like a prison that I cannot leave. I guess they do want two people, or it would only work for two people or more.
Could be a new form of mindfulness meditation, and at no cost! What is not to like??
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Lesson? Read the fine print!
There are two types of pet owner - one that feels letting you stay in their home is a massive favour - and the second that appreciates you and what you do for their pets and home care. A pet sitter’s presence is more than adding happiness with the pets in the home - they let the neighbourhood know the home is occupied and less vulnerable to break ins.
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I’m so tempted to spend hours reading through the sits even though I’m only a host and don’t want to sit, I just can’t believe what some people think is reasonable! 
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Yes, responsible sitters also can help keep homes in shape. At the sit I just wrapped, a leak sprang in a bathroom. I woke to find standing water, but luckily in time to stop it from seeping onto expensive hardwood flooring right outside. If no one had been at the home, further damage could’ve happened before my hosts returned. Some other sitters have dealt with much more serious emergencies at sit homes.
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I am a HO, and I simply cannot imagine even suggesting something this obnoxious. I try so hard to make our home a pleasant place to be, it boggles the mind to see that some people ask for things like this.
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@botvot this sounds very much like a sit we did in the UK last year - never again!
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@botvot, yep sounding more & more like that sit!
@Maggie8K Absolutely! I think people don’t realize that in addition to their pets being cared for, their house is being cared for by someone who can react quickly to anything that arises. I feel that the “house sitting” aspect is a very valuable option that few homeowners use. Just for fun, I looked at how many “no pets” options were posted worldwide right now & found 3 but one had pets. The amount of damage that can be mitigated with someone watching is incredible and I would think more people would use that aspect of THS if they realize the value of someone watching their homes when they are away.
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There is a current listing that requires a couple to look after 2 cats that can not be left alone !!! The home is an apartment .
The cats are described by the owner as “very intense and needy” !
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Sounds like their pet parent is, too! 
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At least they’re honest.
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A new listing came out in my area yesterday, I was excited at first seeing photos of a really nice house in an area I’ve been looking in, an adorable cat, and then, a picture of some rodents in a cage. Reading further, I saw the sit was for one cat and two RATS. In the “responsibilities” section it said “The rats like to come out and cuddle around 6pm—” I couldn’t X out of that listing fast enough! It was a hard H*LL NO for me!
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I’ve sat rats before. They were my niece’s. She also had 3 or 4 cats that got along with the rats. We let the rats run in the house. I was so afraid they get out somehow. But it was all good.
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Yikes. Didn’t the rats poop all over the house?
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Of what I’ve heard many times, rats can make wonderful pets. A pet rat isn’t the exact same as a rat running around the streets. For one you may notice that pet rats often have a much greater variety of coat colours. And they’re bred as domestic tame animals and like to snuggle
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