Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Cozy Historic Home Near the Beaches of Anna Maria Island in Florida
United States, Bradenton, Florida
Pets
- Cat(s)
Dates
- 29 May 2025 to 4 Aug 2025 (2 sitters have applied for these dates)
About this assignment
We are looking for a responsible, clean, and organized person/couple with good references, experience sitting, and positive energy to stay in our home and tend to our kitties. Only non-smokers/vapers please.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
THE KITTIES:
We have 2 kitties. One indoor little girl (Sofie -2yrs). She is super social and super funny. She will warm your heart. She will want to snuggle in bed with you. There are no closed doors in this house! And then there's our indoor/outdoor boy (Oakey - 8yrs) who is our shy guy. He requires a kitty whisperer with patience to gain his trust and coax him in at night.
Sofie is such a little love. She's a tiny little gal (7 lbs.) so you have to watch her under your feet (she likes to follow her humans around).
Oakey, our outdoor boy, requires a little extra patience to make him feel comfortable, a "kitty whisperer" who is willing to work with him a bit. We do ask that you bring his food inside at night so that all the critters (raccoons & possums) don't get too comfortable. He eats indoors for us, but most likely that will not be the case while we are gone as he is very shy.
The kitties also need their food and water filled daily. They do like a little scoop of wet food twice a day. Other than that, they just need love & attention (when they are not sleeping lol).
THE PLANTS:
I also have a collection of plants but they are all low maintenance ones (water 1-2 times a week).
For longer sits - Our 1/4 acre yard just needs mowed every 3 weeks & we have house plants that need watered once a week. The outdoor plants may or may not need watered depending on the rain. They usually do pretty okay on their own in the summer.
UPDATES:
During the time we are away, we are always available for you to reach out with your questions. We also have friends and family that lives in the area that can help out if need be. Other than that, we just appreciate updates on the kitties here and there (a photo, a text every couple weeks).
What are the good features of the property and location
We live in a historic home in West Bradenton (it's over a 100 years old!) Our home is about 7 miles from the beaches of Anna Maria Island (gorgeous!). The downtown is just 1 mile from our house.
We have a beautiful deck out back that it great to sit and enjoy a morning coffee. And in the evenings, the hot tub and sparkle lights are a real treat!
You'll love the parks in the area for kayaking, biking, and walking. We also have bikes and helmets you are welcome to use. Just let us know if that is something that interests you, and we will have them ready to go!
There are many great restaurants. We will share with you our "guidebook" of all our local favorites.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
The best way to experience Bradenton is if you have a car. Due to our insurance restrictions, we unfortunately are unable to lend you our car.
Our wood floors are original (so they are over 100 years old!) We do request that you remove your shoes. House shoes or slippers are welcome indoors!
We invite you to arrive later in the afternoon/evening of May 29 so we can show you around before head out for our summer trip.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
3 March 2025
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Testimonials
Cute Kitties & Beautiful Home!
Jennifer welcomed me warmly from start to finish. She had everything organized for my arrival to walk me through everything I needed to know about her home + to care for cuties Oakey & Sofie. The kitties were angels. Sofie loved to cuddle and play - so cute! Oakey kept his distance outside, but also so cute! Their home is ideal - cozy, plenty of space to relax (inside and out), close to the beach, and decorated so tastefully! Highly recommend :)
anna, United States, 5 Feb 2025
Fun House Sit Near Great Beaches
We had a wonderful time house sitting here. Jennifer and Allen were excellent hosts—very clear in their communication and always quick to respond, which made everything straightforward. The house was easy to take care of; it was well-organized and had everything needed for a comfortable stay. We also loved the location. There were so many beautiful beaches nearby, each one offering something unique. We loved exploring the different beaches. Overall, this was a fantastic house sit. The host made everything easy, the house was a pleasure to manage, and the nearby beaches were stunning. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a smooth stay and a bit of beachside relaxation!
Aimee, United States, 5 Aug 2024
Excellent location, cozy bungalow
We had the honor of spending some time at this lovely 1920's bungalow with Kitten and Oakey in November. When we arrived we were greeted by Allen and Jen who are super friendly, welcoming and warm. They prepared us thoroughly for the care and feeding of their furry family and home. We were provided with a "handbook" covering details of kitty care, nuances of the the house and even a curated list of things to see and do in the area. They made us feel instantly comfortable. Jen was easy to reach and very responsive on the few occasions that we had questions. Jen and Allen's house is a 5 minute drive from downtown Bradenton and a short drive to Anna Maria Island with it's gorgeous beaches. In spite of Kitten's illness, she was very sweet and easy going. Oakey, the outside boy, although shy is happy and enjoys a good petting session. He's super low maintenance to say the least. We're so happy to have had this opportunity and give it a huge thumbs up. Thanks Allen and Jen!
Lisa, United States, 5 Dec 2023
Short but Awesome
My stay was short but very enjoyable. Ms. Kitten did what cats do, after feeding and some loving hung out in the window sill most of the day. Oakley stayed to himself outside. A neat old house, very clean, was very comfortable. Jennifer and Allen were great hosts. Hope I can do it again. Mark
Mark, United States, 20 May 2023
Bradenton Cottage Caring for the Cats
We were not disappointed with our first USA house sit. Jennifer and Allen made us extremely welcome we enjoyed a evening with them before they left on there vacation. The cats could not have been more different in character and looks a couple of furry friends for a few days made this a homely stop over for us Florida. The cottage was right up our street lovely garden and outdoor space. We enjoyed this area Anna Maria Island, the gulf coast beaches, farmers markets and the river boardwalk all these activities within easy reach. Wish we could have stayed longer! If you get a chance to house sit here you will be very happy. All our communication was simple. Thank you both so much.
Alan, United Kingdom, 22 Dec 2022
Lovely home, animals, and people
I house/pet sat for Jennier and Alan for 2.5 months in the summer, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. What a great experience it was. Jennifer and Allen are so very thoughful and caring. They always showed a lot of concern for my well being. Their cats, Kitten, Oaky, and Nugget were all precious sweeties. Oaky and Nugget were mainly outdoor cats and Kitten (aka Puffer) was indoors. It was pleasure to take care of the cats and the home. I do not have a car but it was very easy to get to public transportation down the street on the corner. And I used one of their bikes as well. The area is beautiful. I could get to the beach in fifteen minutes on the bus. It was an ideal situation for me. If you get the chance to pet sit for Jennifer, Allen, Kitten, Oaky, and Nugget, I recommend you jump at the chance.
Elizabeth , 08 August, 2022
Organized homeowners, lovable kitties, and very desirable location!
Every aspect of our sit for Allen and Jennifer was positive. Their 3 kitties were lovable and easy to tend. Before arriving Jennifer emailed an extensive list of things to do and places to visit in the area. She had detailed instructions for the house and kitties printed and ready when we arrived. They welcomed us with a delicious meal and the time around the table felt like we were catching up with friends. The location is close to world class beaches and several preservation areas. We hope to have the chance to return.
Jerry & Cheryl , United States, 29 Dec 2021
Lovely home and cats!
We really enjoyed house and pet sitting at Jennifer and Allen’s house in Bradenton over Thanksgiving week. It is a lovely character house with lots of light and with a very nice back deck and hot tub. We enjoyed coffee out there in the mornings and a glass of wine at night. The area has plenty to do and see and the 3 cats were easy to take care of. Jennifer left great instructions and information and was very responsive to texts.
ANN, United States, 28 Nov 2021
Great location, cute kitties and gracious owners!
We stayed at Jennifer and Allen’s home for 10 weeks with their 3 cats and really enjoyed the kitties, home and area. Located in west Bradenton and just 7.5 miles from Anna Maria Island - we visited the beaches there at least 2 times a week. The area (south of Tampa and north of Sarasota) has lots of history, parks, & museums to explore as well as foodie places and breweries. Jennifer and Allen offered their guest room for the night before they took off for their vacation and even prepared dinner for us after we had a long drive day. They were well organized with all house and pet instructions written out and were were very responsive with any questions or situations that came up. All 3 cats were easy to care for (2 outdoor, one indoor) and had their own distinct personalities. Kitten was the queen of the house, Oakey the shy guy and Nugget a young rambunctious orange tabby. Their home is 100 years old so has some cool design features and built ins, original wood floors, doors and windows and as an older home does have smaller closets and kitchen. We loved the creative mid century-modern decor. With 3 bedrooms, and one bathroom - the layout was plenty of room for us. If you want to explore the gulf side of Florida, enjoy some of the best beaches, and get an idea of how old Florida was (and still is in many respects), Jennifer and Allen, with their kitties, offer it!
Norma, United States, 12 Sep 2021