Beautiful house and garden with 2 indoor cats in idyllic Sonoma Wine Country town of Sebastopol

About this assignment

Someone reliable and trustworthy who will not only love and care for our 2 indoor cats but will also take good care of our home. The person must be patient and feel really comfortable around cats. Comet in particular needs a lot of attention and thrives on social interaction. And of course we want someone who will respect the local community and environment. Our home is in a close knit residential street on the edge of a charming little town as well as being close to the Sonoma Coast, San Francisco, wineries and State Parks galore. We are looking for someone who will mutually benefit from this arrangement by enjoying all that is on offer here while we are able to enjoy our time away free from worry.
No smoking ever please! No loud music or parties. No overnight guests. We would expect the house to be kept clean but will provide a housekeeping visit at the end of the stay.
Prefer 1 person or a couple only.
And for peace of mind, someone who will feel comfortable sending us frequent updates!

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Our cats Comet and Clair are both 8 yrs old. They are not siblings but they have been together all their lives. They have never been outside and we want to keep it that way. Our house is big enough for them to have lots of space to run around and climb but they need human interaction and playtime too. They of course have a litter box which needs to be cleaned twice a day. But it is carefully hidden behind closed doors, with a secret entrance for them and a litter Genie for scooping also out of sight. They are fed twice a day at specific times if we are home. They also get treats between meals and especially after playtime. Clair is very shy but enjoys a game and a cuddle but usually only when Comet is asleep . Comet is a little bit of a bully at times but as long as he can release all his energy he’ll be calm and quiet and desperate to snuggle on your lap.So playing and interacting with the cats is a must. Of course you’ll need to change the water in their bowls at least once a day. We do leave them alone overnight sometimes with an automatic feeder so that’s an occasional option if you want a night away.
There would be no real gardening to do per se. We do have a gardener who would come by at least once during your time here. But the planters would need watering and a bit of leaf sweeping would be great if needed.
The doors to the outside must never be left open in case the cats get out. We do sometimes put them upstairs or in the laundry room with doors closed if we want to open the kitchen doors to the deck for an extended time. Likewise windows should only be open enough that they can’t climb out on the roof. To be honest they don’t really attempt to go outside but there’s always a first time.

What are the good features of the property and location

Our house is very comfortable. It is a restored Victorian circa 1895 and has taken us many years to renovate. It’s still a work in progress! The ceilings are high and it is roomy and full of light and sunshine. The garden is beautiful if I do say so myself. There is no garage but parking on the drive for 2 cars as well as easy street parking. There is a separate small rented cottage on the property but separated from our space by fences and flowers and a private gate and entrance affording us both complete privacy. Our tenant is quiet and respectful and her own little cat roams the garden and sits on our deck talking to Comet through the window. There would be no responsibility related to the rental. We are located on a residential street in downtown Sebastopol , a charming quirky wine country little town in the heart of West Sonoma county , California. From here you can walk to a multitude of restaurants, coffee shops , wine tasting rooms and supermarkets. The beautiful Pacific coast is a 30 min drive away and San Francisco approx. 1 hr drive away. There is an open air swimming pool literally 5 mins walk away. And we are surrounded by many gorgeous wine country towns such as Healdsburg, Calistoga, Napa and more just a drive away.

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

Well obviously you must love cats! You certainly would need a car to enjoy all the surrounding areas. There are extremely limited public transport options. The bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs so that would have to be considered in the event of any mobility issues.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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