House
and cat sitting for strangers as a cheaper way to see the world? Yep. It’s a
thing. A thing I heard about nearly two years ago. And a thing I’ve been doing
on and off since December 2017.
I’ve
sat on both the east and west coasts, and in the mid-west. But my most
memorable stay was in Boulder, Colorado, over the recent Christmas–New Year
break. This was a sit I got through housecarers.com. I applied for the sit
in September 2018 after returning from a two-month house and cat sitting
adventure that took me all over the United States. I’m from Brisbane,
Australia, where it’s anywhere from 85 to 95ºF on Christmas Day, and I thought
it’d be nice to spend the holidays in the snow for once.
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Snow. But not on
Christmas Day.
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After
Skyping the couple, I heard back from them the next day. I’d got the sit. It’s
always a pleasant surprise when an American family picks the Australian-based
sitter. Someone who’s some 7,500 miles away. Not even in the same hemisphere. But
I think being Australian is also what helps me get these sits.
Fast
forward to 23 December 2018. I was leaving Seattle, where I’d sat for another
lady, due to arrive at Denver International Airport at 10.50pm. I’d missed my
flight by five minutes. The gate doors had just closed. This was the first—and
hopefully the last—time this has happened to me. After re-booking my flight for
6am the following morning, I contacted the homeowners to tell them I’d missed
my flight. I felt terrible and thought this would jeopardise the rest of my
stay. They were great about it. They said it wasn’t an issue because they were
leaving on Christmas morning. This still gave us some time to go through
everything together on Christmas Eve. And they were certain everything would
work out as it should. And it did. Eventually.
I
made sure I was at Sea-Tac Airport well ahead of my departure time. I wasn’t
going to miss my flight again. Some hours later, I made it to Denver. I
collected my hire car. Drove to Boulder. And got some groceries to eat on
Christmas Day (sweet potato cupcakes, and sweet potato and herb ravioli). Then
I began the 15-minute drive up the mountain. It was pitch black and I was very
nervous about reversing off the side. Nearly 40 minutes later and I made it.
Way later than my original ETA. But I made it.
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| Nika, the couple’s rescue cat |
The
couple were really lovely about the late arrival that night. I unpacked my
things and they walked me through the ins-and-outs of their amazing,
architecturally designed hilltop home. I was then introduced to their rescue
kitty, Nika. Nika remains my favourite out of the 20 or so cats I’ve looked
after. I’ve looked after purebred Persians, Siamese
kittens, feral-and-rehomed cats, and many rescue cats, but Nika wins hands
down. I was told she liked to play a ‘game’ where you’d open one door, and Nika
would run through the room expecting you to open the other door for her to run
back out. We’d do this three or four times each day. I think she’d have you
play this game all day every day if she had it her way. The couple then prepared
a vegetarian dinner—which, being vegetarian, I really appreciated—for the three
of us before calling it a night.
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| Christmas lights—gingerbread style—near downtown Boulder |
And the sit begins
I
woke up the next morning—Christmas Day—to a Christmas card and small gift. It
was totally unexpected. But I really appreciated it. I was spending Christmas
Day by myself after all. Very far from home. Just me and Nika. In a massive
house atop a mountain. So a small gesture like this made my day. There was no
snow on Christmas Day, sadly, but at least it wasn’t the 95ºF I have come to
expect. It did, however, end up snowing for the next few days. And again on New
Year’s Eve. The snow on New Year’s Eve was so bad I was actually snowed in. Or
I could have risked it, like I did a few days before, and gone out that night.
My car became stuck halfway up the mountain before a kind stranger stopped to
tow me for the next mile. But this wasn’t an experience I wanted to re-live.
This meant it was Netflix for the next 24 hours. Just me and Nika again. I’d
say we were best friends by now.
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| A frozen lake in Nederland, half an hour outside Boulder |
Despite
the couple’s amazing property, the sit was very light on duties. Their
neighbours were responsible for ploughing the driveway. And the only real
responsibilities were to feed and look after Nika. Play with Nika. Check the
mail each day. Bring in any packages. And clean up after myself. I’d also send
regular photo and video updates on how Nika was doing. For a property of this
size, I was very fortunate to have so few tasks and so much free time.
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| A sunset over Boulder County |
Throughout
my 10-day stay, I saw some amazing things. Eldorado Canyon State Park, Red
Rocks Amphitheatre, Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Central City and a frozen
lake in Nederland. I enjoyed stopping in at the stores in and along Pearl
Street Mall. Eating delicious Thai food from Thai Avenue and Aloy Thai. Photographing
some of the most beautiful Christmas lights displays I’ve seen. And stopping to
appreciate the natural landscape before continuing my drive home each
afternoon.
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| Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer on my drive to Central City |
After the sit
On 4 January 2019, it was time to head off. My
house and cat sit in Boulder had come to an end. It was time to say goodbye to
Nika and travel to my next stop, Los Angeles. I left at around 3am and messaged
the owners to let them know everything had been taken care of and wished them
safe travels back to Boulder.
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| What’s for breakfast? |
I
received a nice thank you message a few days later. They were very happy with
how Nika had been treated—they said it was like they had never left her. Previous
cat sitters hadn’t given Nika their full attention and it was sad to hear the
couple had returned to a miserable kitty. It was nice to know I had restored
their faith in having a stranger house and cat sit for them. I was told I was welcome
back anytime. And I’d happily return. So for those of you who’ve ever
considered international house sitting, just give it a go! I got the first
house sit I applied for back in October 2017. And I’ve done 12 sits since then.
Not only do you get to stay in some amazing places, you form friendships with
people you wouldn’t have met otherwise. I keep in regular contact with about
half the people I’ve sat for, and I’ve been invited to house and cat sit again for
many of them.
Instagram:
@madolline
