Hi all,
I’ve been wondering for a while if there is a limit in terms of types and number of animals in each sitting, for safety and/or any other reason.
For example, I’ve seen an ad with different pets and also pigs. Never saw them before in a sitting profile and maybe it’s not just me being doubtful as the post is there for a while and nobody has applied yet.
I’ve also seen posts with a very high number of pets, like 30 or more cats (outdoors luckily! 
).
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No, because it really depends on how much experience someone has and what they feel comfortable with, and that’s ultimately something the host and sitter need to figure out between themselves. TrustedHousesitters isn’t a paid service with insurance terms and working conditions. It also depends on the type of animals involved and the scale of care required — for example, 10 chickens or 3 chickens, 20 sheep, etc.
I once saw a listing for 23 dogs in Bulgaria. Since I know the country well and can imagine the conditions they might live in, I thought to myself that they’d never find a sitter. The listing was probably open for at least six months, and in the end, the date came and went, and I doubt they ever found anyone.
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Don’t think there’s a limit. We did a sit for 20 plus cats, most of them were strays, who had to be fed every day.
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@Monika I don’t think THS will ever limit the number of pets as the membership figures they quote are actually the number of pets .
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I like the variety of pets listed , we have done sits with sheep and hens , rabbits and an aviary of over 100 parakeets . I hope in the future to have the opportunity to do a sit with llamas . 
a tortoise 
or goats 
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I’ve been lucky enough to do two different sits with alpacas - one in New Zealand with 23 and another near Canterbury, Kent with 8 although I think they have had more since. I had some Pygmy goats to look after on a sit (so cute) amongst other animals. Not bothered about a tortoise as had one as a pet when I was a child.
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We did a sit for three bunnies. One lived in the house in a kennel. I’m embarrassed to say how many times a day I went into the kennel because the bunny loved my company and I loved how cute he was.
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Where…when……..can we do it?
We looked after two pot bellied pigs in BC. Loved them. They would come running to the gate in the morning. We let them out in the rest of the garden in the afternoon and loved watching them wandering around, sniffing here, digging there. Having conversations very time one of them found something interesting.
As for numbers of animals/pets, by the looks of it there is no maximum. We have our own limits and stick with them as we have had some pretty hair raising experiences with “packs” of dogs. When a host describes their “lovely pack” that’s a no no.
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Hi @Mokina
I think it’s more about whats to look after the pets than a number. I did a sit for 10 cats but it was easier as 5 were feral and just needed food and water topping up outside, the other came inside at night but again easy feeding routine and no litter tray inside than looking after one incontinent senior cat and cleaning up after her (I know she couldn’t help it). Cleaning, disinfecting the floor, washing and then drying solid oak floors each time she missed her litter try was quite a task.
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My most populous sits (not counting chickens or ducks) have been with 5 pets - 5 cats, 5 dogs, cat-3 dogs-macaw.
The 5 dog sit didn’t require walks - 2 of the dogs were very senior. If I needed to walk them, then 3 dogs is probably my limit, depending on size - I did 2 young bernedoodles and a flat coat retriever - probably 250+ pounds of dog, fortunately well behaved.
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Often «farm animals» are easier as they are outside.
What could be breach of terms is when the animals are a part of a business. That is breach of terms:
« 5.1.12. only use the Services for domestic and private use, and will not use the Services in connection with any business or other organisation or for any commercial purpose whatsoever;»
So as I interpret it, I would think a farm, a stable or horse-center, or indeed a rescue centre that you make an income from or that is an organization would be a breach of THS-terms.
But not necessarily the number/ species of animals (unless in breach of venomous/ dangerous/ aggressive) - although number of animals is sometimes also connected to «business»/ «organization».
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Thank you for clarifying it @Garfield !
Like @Silversitters we like adding to the different types of pet we have cared for. We have cared for sheep, chickens, duck and geese. Pigs, goats, donkeys, alpacas and reptiles are on our wishlist!
We are a trio so can manage more pets, but we would have a maximum number of dogs we’d be happy to walk at once.
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