Two Cats in the Country

About this assignment

Responsible, clean and neat, enjoys rural areas and small towns, patient with our two cats and willing to follow their routine. Must be able to drive, and scruff a cat if necessary.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Feed cats: twice a day plus evening treat, let in and out at will, clean litter box and fill water dish daily.
Water plants once a week.
Add hot tub chemical every other day.

What are the good features of the property and location

We live on 23 acres, about 2 miles NE of the little town of Montgomery, MN on a dead end gravel road. The house is a rehabbed 1910 Arts & Crafts bungalow style with 3 bedrooms (one an office now) and 2 1/2 baths. Our property borders Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and a small wildlife lake. Our acreage is wooded and young prairie. We're within an hour of Minneapolis-St Paul, navigable rivers for canoe/kayak, and a choice of golf courses are nearby.

We have a hot tub, and in summer a garden that you'd be free to eat out of or ignore.

We have two indoor/outdoor cats that need to be fed, scratched, let in and out, and given treats and catnip. One is half deaf, so requires someone to pay attention when she's outdoors, though generally she won't go far without a person to lead. The other can be bossy about being let in and out. Both cats enjoy a group walk to the end of the driveway or around the shop any time you'd like to take them.

We're about 25 min from the Minnesota River for boating, with lots of smaller rivers within 45 minute drive. There are hiking trails along the Minnesota river and in parks within 35 min drive, and there are lots of WMA's in the vicinity for exploring. Bike trails are within 35-40 minutes. We're about an hour south of Minneapolis, about 40 minutes NE of Mankato.

The cats are the main responsibility. We have a house cleaner who comes every other week. The utilities will be on auto pay. The veg garden will be on automatic watering, and you'll be welcome to eat from it. We have fast wi-fi you'd be welcome to use, of course. We have Netflix and Prime for movies and tv shows.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

Our property is rural. We are two miles from a small town (PO, grocery, drug store, etc), and 45-60 minutes from Minneapolis-St Paul. You must be able to drive.

Our cats were feral until nearly a year old, so they have minds of their own. One is very friendly, athletic, and likes to hunt outdoors. The other is shy, cannot be picked up, is deaf in one ear, and if you make friends with her she’ll love to go for a walk with you in the morning or evening. They can’t be left outdoors if you leave for the day, and we’d prefer that they not be kept indoors alone more than 6-7 hours as they get anxious.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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