Bringing home owners and house sitters together
House Sit in rural Charente, France
France, Ventouse, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Pets
- Cat(s)
This winter, both cats have shown a dislike of going outdoors to toilet so we have been re training them to use litter trays. This can be hit and miss so some clearing and cleaning up is needed unfortunately. Neither are on medication or special food but
Dates
- 8 Jun 2025 to 23 Jun 2025 (9 sitters have applied for these dates)
About this assignment
A single person or couple happy to stay in our rural home to look after our 2 elderly cats while we attend a family wedding in Ireland and take a week's holiday in Crete. The housesit period is flexible either side of the dates shown.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
Our spoilt 19 year old cats, Bobbie & Rosie, have in recent years
developed more needy personalities- both becoming very vocal and demanding of our attention (Bobbie particularly). They do usually spend most of their time outdoors in summer months but it is difficult to know whether they will still do that this summer. Rosie sleeps most of the time but Bobbie lives to eat (by the way, Bobbie is the black & white skinny one!). Looking after them is the only responsibility you will have.
What are the good features of the property and location
The location is quiet and lovely, with views down to the river Son/Sonnette. We are in a small hamlet 8 miles from the nearest town, Mansle, and 20 miles from our nearest large town/city Angouleme. Our home is an old stone farmhouse which we are still renovating. It currently has a kitchen /dining room, sitting/living room, 3 bedrooms (2 ensuite), a bathroom and a downstairs outhouse with loo. There are 3 patios/
terraced areas to sit out in and a small hot tub. The house is rustic but has all the necessary home comforts, WiFi and television with Amazon Firestick. We also have a landline. The kitchen and sitting rooms have wood burners (rarely needed in summer months) and we have other supplementary heating sources if needed.
The land does not need any maintenance as it is a project we have not yet got round to!
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
The house is very rural - which is great for those who seek solitude or nature, however, a car is essential. Our surrounding unfinished areas, such as courtyard and barn, and the many steps in and around our home make the house unsuitable for small children or those with restricted mobility. Our elderly cats are fearful of other animals therefore unfortunately it wouldn't be possible for our housesitter to bring their pets with them.
June in the Charente is usually very pleasant but has been known to be wet.
Our previous housesitters have loved the peacefulness and beauty of our location and the friendliness of our French and English neighbours.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
5 January 2025
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Testimonials
A loving, warm, kind & magical experience
Where do I start.... Rob & Nuala are the best ever....I love them both and their adorable cats Bobby & Rosie too... From the onset I was warmly welcomed into their home and they could not do enough for me to make sure I felt comfortable.... I spent Christmas in their beautiful home, met their friends and it was the most beautiful experience of peace and stillness too...and Nuala even invited me to stay on longer with them when they arrived home again because I was in-between house sits. This was my first house sit and I loved the experience ....what more could I ask....a comfortable home and 2 little sleepy cats to keep me company... Thank you so much Nuala & Rob
Sinead, Ireland, 24 Feb 2023
Fallen in love with the cats Rosie & Bobby
Our first contact via email and phone felt like we were friends for a long time already. Nuala & Rob made us feel at home straight away. They made us a tasty welcome dinner. We spent a lovely 3 weeks at their home in November 2021. We made long walks from home through the country side, drove by car along beautiful villages and saw many castles at short distance. We helped Rob a little by organizing the work shed. In the backyard we enjoyed many times sitting in the sun with a drink in our hand and a cat on our lap. The 2 cats Bobby and Rosie are so, so sweet. We tried to take them home with us (which failed of course). We even taught them to use the cat flap. Many thanks to Nuala and Rob for giving us their trust. Warren & Maria, the Netherlands
Warren & Maria, Netherlands, 4 Feb 2022
A dream!
This was our first house sit through this site and it has been a joy. Because of Covid and Brexit, our plan of meeting Nuala and Rob before they left didn't work out but we sent each other long emails, chatted lots through WhatsApp and they were always available if anything popped up. I feel like I know her and we still haven't met! Nuala couldn't have been kinder or more helpful, I feel very lucky. We arrived in early December and it can get cold - we were unlucky with Storm Bella rushing through as well! But there's a big fire in the kitchen / living room, as well as lots of nice throw blankets, electric blanket on the huge double bed, a towel heater in the ensuite bathroom and a bunch of other heaters as well. The cats like to claim your lap as soon as you sit down too! Nuala had put all kinds of thoughtful touches to make it very welcoming for us - everything was clean with loads of spare towels, linen etc. The cats are adorable - Rosie and Bobbie have very distinct purrrsonalities and are super cuddly. We ended up staying much longer than originally planned for various reasons and have wonderful memories.
Nicholas, 17 January, 2021
House in the Charente region in France
Nuala and Robert are wonderful people, if just a wee bit eccentric. Very easy to work with, and very accommodating. They left detailed instructions about the house and region, and introduced me to several of their neighbors and friends (who really love them) before they left. The house is in very rural France, in a tiny hamlet. Not luxurious, but has all the basic things needed for living. It was a wonderful experience exploring and getting to know a bit about real France. Remote and basic area, so not for someone looking for high-end shopping, cultural arts, and organized entertainment. Very safe area. The night sky there is awesome.
Sidney, 10 January, 2019