Since starting with TH, summer 2019 I’ve done Christmas sits and New Year sits.
As a solo sitter I enjoy them and generally find the HO is ‘looking out for me’ - in Atlanta neighbors invited me to the neighborhood NYE party, in a NYC suburb friends of the host family invited me to Christmas dinner, in Melbourne I did a 3 day 3 cat sit over Christmas - a fill-in between long sits in Perth and Melbourne so if I hadn’t taken it I’d have spent Christmas day in an airbnb and then a long sit in Melbourne when friends of the host had me over for NY day dinner. 2024-25 I flew in late in the day on Christmas eve (planes were pretty empty and flights were relatively cheap traveling after 5 pm). Hosts picked me up at the airport (an hour drive) and we spent Christmas day together and then I took the back to the airport on Dec 26. For me, at least Christmas and NY sits aren’t ridiculous, but I understand why some folks might not want them. But these didn’t start on the holiday, but if it was a sit I could drive to or the HO was willing to assure transportation from the station, I’m fine with that.
I did a 2 dog and 1 cat sit in Worcester. There was a cat/dog flap that was on a timer and would only allow returns after dusk. The cat would often come along when I took the dogs for a walk. The HOs told me not to worry if Charlie stayed out overnight - that he had just returned from a 6 month ‘sabbatical’. Charlie had disappeared for 6 months, then presented himself at the local shelter - was chipped so reunited with home.
Glad you’ve had great sits. Sounds like your hosts have been thoughtful vs. hosts for example who expect sitters to travel on holidays, when public transit is usually cut back or nonexistent. Also, when groceries and meals can be hard to get.
Of course, hosts can ask for what they want. The question is, will they get sitters willing to do that when there are so many great holiday sits available that are going begging?
Personally, I don’t usually sit during year-end holidays, so not a problem for me.
This past NYE, I made an exception, because my husband and I weren’t planning a celebration (we were still getting a home remodel wrapped up) and I took what looked like a prime sit in San Francisco.
That worked out well — I’ve since already done a repeat sit at those hosts’ request, with them offering me roundtrip airfare to sit for them the second time, a month later. And they’ve since said that they’d love to have me back. That was what I was aiming for, because I have plenty of friends in the area.
Those hosts were hospitable and generous as well, with a beautiful home near loads of amenities. And their skittish cats and I ended up loving one another.
Just seen a new listing
A sit for 8 dogs, that have to be walked in 2s or 3s and then can only be left alone for 2 or 3 hours !!!
There are also 6 additional pets at the home to be cared for !!!
My ideal sit as a solo sitter!
@Newpetlover
Forgot to mention that (for the sit with 8 dogs ) the beds offered to potential sitter are 2 x singles 
so not suitable for a family or most couples.
Today’s offering
Gold fish that need to be fed 3 times a day !!!
2 cats with 3 litter boxes. One is automatic and the other two need to be scooped every day. 
I don’t think that’s ridiculous, to be fair. 10 mins a day tops to scoop 2 litter trays? It’s good to have plenty of trays as each one doesn’t get as dirty, they’re easier to clean, and there’s less risk of a cat looking at it, thinking yuk, and pooping somewhere else.
@Whirld-Traveller Scooping litter boxes every day is essential to a cat’s wellbeing. It is not a ridiculous request.
I always scoop litter boxes daily.
I don’t think scooping every day is the funny part. Having two regular pans and one automated seems odd.
Three litterboxes is best practice for 2 cats. Cat experts recommend 1 litterbox per cat, plus one extra.
Yes, many cat households have an extra pan. Might as well as have three manual pans, though, rather than one automated.
I’ve just read a posting with a cat who is fed at 4am before it goes outside exploring for a couple of hours- then you can go back to bed. Oh, and the cat likes to sleep in the bed with you and they say it will wake you several times in the night ‘to check you are still alive’
Now that’s a ridiculous expectation. Sleep deprivation for free. Not surprisingly, no applicants. The tone is so jolly about it all, as though it’s just a funny little quirk.
Obviously, but 2 cats and 3 litter boxes??? Go to town!
I do, too.
Actually, the rule of thumb is one litter box per cat plus one extra.
https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/behavior/litter/how-many-litter-boxes-per-cat
Maybe we should discuss how many hamster wheels should be provided to the inhabitants of the cage.
I figure:
x = (y + 1) .8 where x is the number of wheels and y is the hamster population.
This allows for an extra should one be down for repairs and maintenance and takes into account that at any given time 20% of the hamsters are eating or sleeping.
Yeah, and might depend on the size of the house too, not stated. For a big house, you might have a litter box on each floor. Stayed with friends once who had a box on each of 3 storeys for their one cat.
I’d scoop daily too. Nobody likes a dirty bathroom! 