Hey All
Trying to find a sitter in the UK for our upcoming 2 week trip at the end of June but despite advertising elsewhere really early and here more recently, I have failed to find anyone available or interested as we have a disabled cat and one who uses a lead. They are perhaps more work than usual cats but easy enough for a pair of sitters and also very rewarding. Plus we live in a beautiful place!
Hi Emily,
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Iâm sure our fantastic community can offer some ideas and support to help find the right sitter your you, your home and your cats.
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An initial thought from me to kick thngs off;
Does your listing mention some of the great aspects of the area you live? Many sitters will want to get out and explore local beauty spots, hikes, museums and more.
Finding the balance between their goals alongside pet care needs is often an important conversation point between any pet parent and potential sitter(s). 
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Since a car is required but not provided, your pool of potential holiday guests is automatically limited to those with a driverâs license and access to a vehicle. The unfenced pond in the garden may further narrow it, for travellers with children. You may want to consider including a fixed amount for transportation coverage.
Would also be helpful to specify whether services such as Uber, local taxi companies and grocery delivery options are available in the area. This is crucial in rural settings, if access to transportation and essentials are limited. Good luck
Hello @emily_Quantocks and welcome 
For a cat sit itâs unusual to only be able to leave them for up to 4 hours, can you extend this even with the cats disabilities and needs? Could you offer use of a car? If not could someone manage with home deliveries for groceries and walking to the pub for a relaxed country sit and if so, suggest that and offer a train or bus station pick up. Would change the 6-7pm as the arrival time as itâs very restrictive, perhaps a sitter would need to come in the morning or even the evening before if there are special instructions for their care? Maybe âto be agreed laterâ would help too. #toptweaks
Just noticed your other thread. Honestly, I think most cat loving sitters would be fine with your differently abled adorable cats. It may just be you need more time to get more candidates. The following are things that might make the listing easier for sitters to parse:
In describing one catâs litter habits, Iâm not entirely sure what you are saying. What it comes down to is: Are there occassional accidents? Are there regular accidents? If they answer is yes to either, just give more information, as there is a difference between a cat who might occassional poop outside the box and one who might pee on your suitcase, on furniture etc. It might also be good to know what you do to mitigate this.
In describing the leash use and garden access, mention whether this is something sitters might be doing on a daily basis and for how long: Example: âAs both cats need supervision in the garden, weâd appreciate at least 2 garden sessions daily for 15 minutes or longer.â
You mention the very exact 5 hour time period for leaving the cats alone. Most cats, even disabled one or ones with chronic illnesses can be left for 6 hours or 6 plus hours, so that might be a turnoff for some sitters. Do you really never leave them alone for more than 5 hours? I understand not wanting sitters whoâll be gone for long day trips on a regular basis, but you may be scaring off some sitters with a strict time limit usually seen on dog but not on cat sits.
I agree with most of the other suggestions and add mine:
Good luck.
Thatâs really disappointing to hear.
Lassie is just trying to be honest with you. None of us is obligated to take a sit and I see you do have two applications with time to go. Most people faced with options will go with the easiest.
I realize that it is disappointing, but I think most sitters will opt for the lower-maintenance alternative if there is a choice. That is the reality of this system. Both sitters and homeowners have a choice, and we are competing with other sits/sitters.
I am often more inclined to consider âdifficultâ pets if the homeowner provides a compelling back story. If the HO is a foster parent (like me), I am happy to help them out. If they have adopted the cat/dog, I will be more sympathetic if the HO tugs at my heartstrings, e.g. âFiggy was one of a litter of kittens born outside to a feral mom. He was the runt of the litter and suffered from a birth deformity. All his siblings got adopted quickly, but nobody wanted poor Figgy. We fell in love with him as soon as we met him! We knew he would always have special needs, but his love more than compensates for thisâ
Well yes, I could give you a sob story about her origin and first months with us, but the thing is, I donât want that to define her. I realise itâs a "competition " but hope that the right person (s) will come our way. I do appreciate your honesty and my comment was not meant as a personal criticism. Iâm glad you do what you do for animals in need x
Iâve taken a look at the listing and can see nothing at all about urine accidents. I realise @emily_Quantocks that youâre amending your listing to make it more desirable for appliants, but please donât leave out such vital information.
Your reference to CH in your listing seems incidental, rather than informative for applicants, soI think itâs worth explaining what it is and that it contributes to litter box issues.
I see youâve already received 2 applications, which is great. I think that @Lassie is correct in saying many - or even most - sitters would choose an easier sit. Having to watch Figgy for signs she needs to toilet, then placing her in the litter tray is a big ask, as is cleaning up after her if she misses (or if the sitter misses the signs!) and the situation does suggest thatâs most of the time? Better to be absolutely clear on that in your listing.
Where there are known behavioural or medical issues, itâs in your interests to be as clear and comprehensive as possible, to ensure you receive applications only from sitters who are totally aware of whatâs likely to be involved in care requirements. Thereâs absolutely no point in sugar coating or omitting issues to attract more sitters, since the best-informed matches will provide the best outcomes for your cats.
Iâm not trying to sugar coat anything. I have been working hard to update the ad based on everyoneâs responses. Sadly the two applications I have had - one has never got back to me and the other has declined as they are a solo and we agreed itâs a job for two people.
The reality is that the cat in question does take herself off to the litter tray some times and some times wants to be helped. She can be placed in the litter tray at regular times through the day (about 3 time) and will not have accidents around the house. Itâs not a dirty messy house with pees and poos everywhere!! There is not enough space in the ad to write the whole story but I never agree a sit before sharing the full home sit document I have written so that sitters have the full picture of the house, pets and location before we confirm. Been doing this for years but as we all know pets come and go and these are the ones in our life at the moment after we have lost 4 pets to old age in the past 6 years.
Just fyi if it wasnt for the dates not aligning with school holidays i would definately be applying for your sit with my kids!
Thank you 
I have friends in Bridgwater, itâs a gorgeous spot. If the dates were right Iâd think this sit was do-able as a solo, I canât see it as too much work? You sound nice as a HO and youâve written an ok advert. I hope you get somebody. Iâve favourited your sit for a future date maybe.
Itâs more work than the average sit. You donât accept solo travellers, donât provide a car. This rules out lots of potential sitters, that is a fact.
This sounds like a fantastic sit. Everything looks lovely. I would have been tempted to apply, although am a solo sitter. However the last couple of days clash with another commitment, not that far away actually.
I live in the UK and like most people who travel around, do have my own car.
Definitely no need to offer one in your listing.
I would not have thought that you would have any trouble in finding eager sitters.
Good Luck.
Iâm not 100% clear on why this sit would do better with a couple. It sounds like from what Iâm reading â the location â it would be better for someone with a car for sure, but itâs not like walking two large dogs or needing to batten down the hatches in case of hurricane. Even in a garden session with one guy on the leash and the other wobbling, I would imagine most experienced cat people could handle it. Iâm wondering if ruling out solo sitters is the best course. You can certainly rule out applications from people who wouldnât be able to do it on their own as well as couples who donât seem right.
I live with multiple cats. At the moment we have only two and no special needs beyond dietary restrictions for one. But even with more cats and the need to separate them at meal times, give medications etc either one of us has been able to hold down the fort solor. Similarly on sits, Iâve done sits solo and with my partner. Iâve also done sits where I arrived solo and my partner came later because of work issues or had to leave earlier. Itâs always nice to have an extra pair of hands especially when care is a little complicated, but itâs usually doable by one person.
Yes it is more work than average for a CAT but probably level with dogs. I donât rule out solo sitters per se but I think it would be more comfortable for a duo to tackle. I do it all by myself at home but feel it would be more relaxing for two to handle as they are supposed to have some enjoyment out of this! We live very rurally with no public transport and lending a car to visitors is fraught with insurance issues I suspect but maybe we should look into it. I have updated the ad to say we could do collect from local train station which is had an hour away so I hope thatâs showing willing.
So it does sound like a couple without a car might be okay, but a single person with a car would also work. You may be missing out on some people because of your couple preference. Thereâs not filter for âprefer sitters with carsâ but it might be worth it to look for solo sitters or couples, to ask before setting up a chat whether or not the sitter has their own vehicle, and other questions about experience, and then decide whether or not to rule out the singleton.
Even a chat is not a commitment. But by declaring that you want couples, you are putting off some qualified sitters who might have the experience and temperment you need, and possibly even a car, but wonât even apply.
Given the challenges of the sit, why make it harder to find applicants?
