Hi everyone! I travel a lot with my 18 year old cat and was looking into TrustedHousesitters as a possible option for upcoming trips.
Before I signed up I was curious: how often have you found stays that are OK with you bringing your own pet with you?
Usually when we’ve done this for friends and family, I have kept her separate from other pets - only letting her interact with other pets that are friendly to other furry friends. And even then, I do this in a structured way so they are introduced over time for longer stays. Where the owners have been unsure or know their fur babies wouldn’t like it, I have kept her separate the entire stay.
Do you think / have you come across owners that are comfortable with this approach?
I’m assuming it would be a case by case basis and only ever at the owners prior approval. I thought I could also add this detail into my profile if it was something that some owners are OK with so everything is up front.
Keen to get your thoughts!
Note: I noticed similar topics archived but as they were a few years ago, I thought it best to ask as a new topic.
There are some sitters that travel with their cats on THS, but the likelihood of being accepted is naturally smaller, similar to those sitting with kids etc, as some pets simply aren’t used to kids/other cats. So give it a go for a year and see if it works for you, however…
It is very VERY different to friends and family, as you aren’t going to find any owners that let you sit when their pets if they don’t like random cats to start with, like those that are shy, timid, domineering, or possessive over their place. Owners will simply choose someone else who sits without pets. So everything you said about doing things in a structured way isn’t going to be an option, if their cat is prone to be slightly iffy with other cats.
So for you, it’s a numbers game, you’ll need to apply for a greater number of sits to increase your chances of being accepted, which is easy (ish) to do.
I doubt you would get any interest. I can’t see a cat owner accepting you. Cats are territorial. How sad that you would put your cat in its own room and leave it there. I’m sure your cat would not like that and the owner’s cats will be kept out of a room they usually have access so will stress them as well. A dog owner may allow another dog if they think their dog would love having a playmate but a cat is another story. Please leave your 18 year old cat at home in its familiar surroundings.
I thought that might be the case! Hence the question. Especially as other cats can be very territorial and not all dogs are used to cats. And 100% agree that as an owner, it’s easier to go for the person that doesn’t have that complexity or additional risk. My cat might be used to travelling and OK with others, but that might be too much risk to take on.
Sadly, travelling without her for periods of time would not be possible as she’s very attached and we don’t really have that option. Looks like THS might not be for us!
This is a very interesting point! Any other animals wouldn’t have the same problems, as a lot of the complexity comes with dogs and cats. Thanks, @BonnyinBrighton!
I’ve just done a search for the UK excluding cats/dogs and two equine sits came up straight away, so if you’ve got varied animal experience or can get some significant volunteer experience under your belt this might work for you. Don’t do equines though unless you really do know about their care beyond the basics.
I’m sure there’s plenty of both owners and sitters on here that have ‘attached’ cats. It soon changes in our experience. Remember when someone house sits, your cat stays calmly in it’s same surroundings, with it’s familiar smells. Nothing changes, apart from yourselves for feeding and snuggling.
Most cats love a treat regardless of who’s handing them out, so that can help win them over shorter term. Attached cats take longer than attached dogs to come around, but in our experience it’s within a day with cats, sometimes it’s just until evening comes and they want a cosy lap to curl up on.
If you have a car, the out-of-town sits get less applicants, but also, they typically have more space and land too, which means you have a slightly higher chance of getting accepted, over those with amenities on their doorstep.
If you feel you’ve hit a stumbling block, I may have a different solution, I won’t chat about it here, but you’re welcome to pop me a DM
Even kept separate, the existing cats will smell a new cat in their territory. In addition to their humans being gone, and a new person, it can be a lot to adapt to. A hard no for me.
I don’t think this was mentioned in other posts but there is now a filter sitters can use to just see sits that accept pets. You did not say where you are from but just to give you an idea…
Right now there are about 1,000 in the US, almost 600 in the UK, a handful in Europe and a little over 100 in Australia. So given the total number of sits on THS, this is a small fraction. But a small fraction of 10,000 plus sits can add up to a decent number if you are traveling in areas that have the bulk of the listings.
Of course within this subset of sits, there are probably different preferences and I think in general, cats can be a harder sell than dogs.
Keeping her separate for the entire stay if necessary may not be feasible for a variety of reasons depending on various factors in a given sit. For example, a smaller home with just one bedroom in which the pets are accustomed to sleeping at night with people–keeping them out of that space entirely would not be possible. So there would not be a comfortable place to keep your cat. Things like this could further narrow options.
So with this filter, you can know right away if there is potential to get accepted–this was a relatively recent addition that I imagine has been helpful.
Like others have said, this will narrow your options considerably but it is clear that there are a decent minority of hosts who are open to pets which gives you a chance.
This is what TH is all about! My cats have adapted well and quickly to having a Trusted Housesitter while I am away on sits myself, and/or just traveling in general.
I disagree, having traveled with several cats who loved car rides and being with me. On our getaways, they would have been fine just hanging out in a specified room or area, especially if it were my bedroom. As long as the hosts’ cats are fine being kept out of that room or area, I don’t see an issue. It never ceases to amaze me how many people stereotype cats and don’t realize that cats, like dogs and people, vary in personality and needs. I think OP can take this proposal on a case-by-case basis, starting of course with hosts who check the “sitter can bring their pet” box.