We are heading out of town for work from December 6th through the 13th or possibly 14th. Looking for mature nonsmoking (not even outside please) person or couple to house sit at well-kept ranch home and take care of our two cats, Norbert and Fergus. One of the cats, Norbert, is challenging to say the least and he needs to get meds administered twice daily to help deal with the crazy.
Norbert is very loving to us but he can be in a range from standoffish to full-on hostile to people who are not us. To apply for this position you will definitely need to be a cat person all the way and not just a little bit. Norbert, the problem cat, has a condition that our cat behaviorist (yes we had to resort to getting a cat behaviorist to visit to help us out) told us was called “Highly Reactive”
He basically sees other people in the house as other cats. He will approach and show great interest but can get feisty if you acknowledge him, swiping at your legs, growling and howling. As a result, we have learned through trial and error (and with helpful, patient friends) that the best course of action for dealing with him is to have our visitors ignore him, avoiding eye contact and interaction. He will generally lose interest and wander off after a bit. We have also learned that he might wait outside of the bathroom most often used by guests and that they should be ready to redirect him with a special toy that we keep in there, that only comes out when visitors are present.
We can tell you much much more about this but want you to know up front that this will not be an ordinary cat sit. This will require a person who is willing to actively ignore Norbert and not try to force friendship on him. The people who say “Cats love me!” usually end up having terrible interactions with Norbert as they try to get up in his face an force their friendship on him. To be successful you will have to be comfortable with the idea that the best that you can hope for here is to be tolerated. Anything beyond that will be on Norbert’s terms.
Fergus is a more skittish cat and might hide a bunch but also if you try to force your friendship on him he can also get a little freaked out too so again, you’d need to come into this house sit with the expectation of sharing a space with some cats that don’t want you here, and that the best thing to expect is to be tolerated.
The house is a ranch house at the end on a quiet dead end street. Woods out back and to the side have lots of critters (owls, turtles, the occasional possum or deer) but we are suburban, 1 mile outside on the perimeter (I-285) that runs around Atlanta.
You would be sleeping in the guest bedroom located downstairs, on a king size Sleep Number type of bed. Very comfy. Several visiting friends have found themselves sleeping much later than anticipated when visiting!
There’s a gas fireplace in the sunroom, an ad-hoc home theater in the front room (you’ll need to have your own computer to utilize it) to watch things larger if you want, and a carport for you to park in out of the rain. Fast wifi, Netflix and Hulu included. Washer and dryer if you need them as well. Modern kitchen, with dishwasher, espresso/cappuccino maker, office with sitting or standing desk options, Roomba to run to clean up cat hair. We’d also ask that you get the mail and scoop the litter boxes but other than that be our guest.
The house is nicely kept but nothing super fancy, just a free place to stay in Atlanta for 7-8 days. We’re looking for someone who could be slightly flexible on the back end as we might have to stay gone for an additional day due to work/weather. We’d look to have you to arrive a day early (Dec 5th) to get the lay of the land and detailed cat instructions, which is pretty much mandatory with this crazy cat.
There is a bus stop maybe 10 minutes walk away but it would definitely be the best thing for you to have your own transportation.
We are a 10-minute drive from downtown Decatur, which features lots of great unique food and drinks options. Plenty of other food options available closer than that and several grocery stores banks etc.
Just so you know, we have been on the other side of this equation, having done a bit of house sitting in the past, including a one month house sit with a cat that hated us and hissed at us the entire time that we were there, so we know what it’s like! If I haven’t scared you off yet then let’s talk!