Pet sitting stories
Pet sitting since 2018 until now
August 2018 : 1st experience with my neighbours' tiny rabbits
Our next door neighbours asked me to look after their 2 rabbits during their summer holidays. This was my first pet sitting experience, near Avignon. I built a big shelter for these 2 small animals in our garden, in order to protect them from our cat and dog's curiosity...
I fell in love with Rasta & Rockette. They were tiny compared to Nuage, our border collie (32 kilos) and even Zig, our black cat (6 kilos). Rasta was a little scary : when he got stuck one day in a fence, I discovered his teeth were much too long what his master had not noticed.
My vet cut them just in time, he could have starved, not being able anymore to eat...
Pet sitting via Nomador
Pet sitting via Nomador
June 2018 : 1 female dog in Mallorca during 2 weeks
I've done my first "professional" pet sit alone, in Valdemossa, a small village on Mallorca island. 17km distant from Palma.
The owner had nicely picked me up at the airport. As I could use buses and taxis, I did not need to rent a car. I had to keep Maggie for 2 weeks. A lovely dog that her owner prefered to keep off the leash in town, but local police did not agree at all...
June 2019 : 4 wild cats on Costa Brava
I went again to Spain one year later : my husband and I drove to Cataluña. We were invited in a huge contemporaneous house looking over the sea.
Bonnie, Diane, Lune & Trompi were very wild cats. Two of them used to vanish for a few days, what I was not aware of... It made me very anxious but their masterwhen I warned her, was confident she would return. Since then I ask all owners what are their pets' s habits !
*Pet sitting experiences + Trusted house sitters*
July 2019 : 3 dogs (a lab, a whippet and a bouledogue), 1 cat, 8 hens in UK
We went, my husband and I, to the Cotswolds. Vincent stayed with me only one week, I remained alone 2 weeks more after his departure. We flew to Bristol and rented a car.
Marley, a whippet, Maddie, a labrador (18 years old !) and Loki, a young french bouledogue were all friendly. There was also a very loveable cat Chi, and several tropical fish.
Sheep and 3 horses were also staying on the estate but they belonged to an owner's friend, who took them in charge.
We did not know Cotswolds region and were amazed by the charm of all these stone villages marvellously preserved, and by the beauty of National trust gardens around. Malbesbury was our favorite.
September 2019 : 1 cat during 2 weeks close to my home
I drove to a village near Cucuron, to look after Mimi, a female cat. I stayed there alone during 2 weeks. Mimi was quite shy and very independent . She lived mostly outside, sleeping under a fig tree or a olive tree.
As this sit was only 90 km from my own home, with the owners' permission, my husband came during a week-end with our dog, Nuage, a border collie. I kept him attached while i read near the pool...
Although he was used to live with my own cat, I did not want to take any risk : Nuage could have frightened Mimi.
December 2019 / 4 black cats near my home
|
I went alone to a house near Uzès, 80 km from my home to look after 4 black siblings.
It was not easy to know who was who : I counted and checked every night Baloo, Fluffy, Miss Fluffy & All black in order to be sure each of them has gone back indoors...
February 2020 : 1 Jack Russel terrier in Guernsey
I went alone to Guernsey. The owners let me use their car. Scheggia, a very sweet terrier, who hardly barked, needed company.
As a storm burst suddenly over the Channel, we were all aware our flights from and to the continent would be cancelled. Due to much too strong winds our plans had to be suddenly modified. Instead of a full week, I stayed only 4 days on the island ! In order to be able to go back to France.
August 2020 : 2 cats + 5 hens in England during Covid
We went together, Vincent and I, for 3 weeks in Kent. We rented a car in order to be able to visit the area. We had to look after black & white Lily and ginger Tommy, Sadly, the oldest cat, Lily, who was very sick and 21 years old, passed away soon after our arrival. Tommy did not seem to even notice she was not there any more.
Again this sit gave us the opportunity to visitsome marvellous gardens in Kent, often belonging to National Trust. We enjoyed a lot Chartwell, Leeds castle, Edenbridge and Igtam Mote. Restrictions due to Covid made our visits very calm, far from crowds...
December 2020 : 2 cats at Xmas in Charente (France)
I went alone to Saintes, driving under a heavy rain 700km to the west of France. I spent 9 days around Xmas, looking after 2 twins both 6 years old.
If Toto loved cuddles and to sleep by my lap when I was reading, Ludo prefered to stay all day long in his basket. He followed me once in the garden but the weather was so wet he did not feel often to go out !
May 2021 : 1 old golden retriever + 2 cats in Paris under Covid times
.JPG)
I went alone to Paris, by TGV (high speed train) which takes less than 3 hours from Avignon. No need of a car in the capital ! I
spent a week there, very pleased to be back in the town where I
lived all my life before "emigrating" to the south of France in 2007
Dustin was a 13 years old Golden retriever who loved to go out, although he walked very slowly and sometimes refused to go any further. Kenya ,a 14 years old cat was obviously the "chief" of the menagerie. Silver, the youngest cat, was 9 years old. She was fascinated by pigeons flying over the balcony. But ignored me totally.
June 2021 : 3 cats during 1 week near my home
I looked after three lovely siamese, 1 year old, during one week in Provence. These sibblings, with long or short hair, chased all day butterflies, mice and birds. I managed to save one of their preys from their claws and that young swallow, quite afraid, could fly back to a tree !!Unfortunately, the owner did not want me to publish their photos and even mention their names or that sit location on my blog. As I always ask permission, I do respect her decision of course.
July 2021 : 2 cats near Barjac (France) during a week end
June 2021 : 3 cats during 1 week near my home
I looked after three lovely siamese, 1 year old, during one week in Provence. These sibblings, with long or short hair, chased all day butterflies, mice and birds. I managed to save one of their preys from their claws and that young swallow, quite afraid, could fly back to a tree !!Unfortunately, the owner did not want me to publish their photos and even mention their names or that sit location on my blog. As I always ask permission, I do respect her decision of course.
July 2021 : 2 cats near Barjac (France) during a week end
I sat alone Cindy & Jazzy. That sit in Occitanie, only 80 km from home, was much too short to be accepted by these 2 shy cats. It lasted only 3 days. The owners had decided to go to England as soon as the borders reopend, they closed again later, Covid bursting again !
I sat alone Cindy & Jazzy. That sit in Occitanie, only 80 km from home, was much too short to be accepted by these 2 shy cats. It lasted only 3 days.
The owners had decided to go to England as soon as the borders reopend, they closed again later, Covid bursting again !
September 2021 : 3 hens, 2 ducks, 1 siamese cat in the SW of France
Vincent, my husband, came with me to Villeneuve sur Lot. It took us 6 hours by car to reach this region famous for its gastronomy and its marvellous "bastides"(villages built in medieval ages) we were enthusiastic to discover. We could do some tourism as no dog was waiting for us.
We had to look after 3 hens, called Poulkirit, Poulinda & Poulyvette, 2 young Indian runners named Klaxon & Sonnette + a female siamese Ti'chat.
October 2021 : 1 golden retriever puppy (5 months old) during 9 days
I went alone, 500 km from home, to sit a cute female puppy. It took me 5 hours to drive to Nyon (Switzerland), a small town on the bank of lake Léman in Vaud region, famous for its vineyards on terraces (Unesco heritage)
March 2022 : 2 labrador puppies (4 months old) near my home
I looked after 2 puppies in Luberon,
22 km only from where I live. That lovely house was quite remote and I enjoyed the marvellous panoramic views over hills, olive and cherry
trees, the beautiful sunsets.
Toad and Bowser were cute black labs who loved to play with balls, to chew sticks & my trousers... 
As I came back a fortnight later to spend again 4 days with these energic pups, my husband came with Tahoe, our own 2 years old dog, with the owner's permission. Tahoe was delighted to play ball with his new canine friends. It was fun. No agressivity, never.
April 2022 : 1 black cat during 5 days not far from home
I sat alone Quipu, a 5 years 1/2 old black cat, quite wild in Lourmarin.
It was again a short sit (5 days only around Easter) not far from home.My
husband could keep our own pets at home and visit me easily : the 2
homes were only 50 km distant. He was an outdoor cat, not very fond of
cuddles.
June 2022 : 3 cats in Provence again during 3 days for the 2nd time
It
was the second time I was invited to look after these 3 sibblings cats whose names I'm not allowed to give by their owner, who refuses I
publish any photo !
I kept them only 3 days alone. Still fascinated by the panoramic views all around this marvellous typical provençal home.
July 2022 : 1 young Basset Griffon in the south of France
Lola loved walks in spite of the heat but pulled hard on the lead.
A lovely house on the edges of St Rémy de Provence, a beautiful garden, a nice pool... What else a dog sitter would need ?
July 2023 : 1 young Springer Spaniel in England during 2 weeks
We kept Smidgen, a lovely female springer spaniel in Torquay (Devon) during 2 weeks.
We took her everywhere with us. On the beach, in restaurants, in woods. Smidgen, 2 years old, was a joy to keep, she was cute and tender.
We loved this beautiful location facing the sea.
.png)
September 2022 : 1 rabbit and 2 young dogs ( a boxer + mine)
A very short 3 days sit 60km from home in Nimes,
in south of France : Ringo, 2 years old, and a 6 years old cute female rabbit, Crumble. I drove over there, and came with my own dog Tahoe, 2
years old too. The owners agreed, we have tested 3 weeks before they would get along well.
Ringo & Tahoe had great fun together, they were delighted to play, chasing balls. They remained all day in the garden, Crumble being locked in a room.
September & october 2022 : 3 cats again near Apt
I sat in this lovely home 4 times, it's only 60 km from my home.
Unfortunately the owner does not want me to mention her 3 cats'names names and the location or publish any photo of them although they are superb...
A decision I respect of course as I always ask permission.
October 2022 : 3 dogs (an english setter, a border collie + my own mutt) during a week
A 3 hours drive to reach Bages, near Perpignan in France. Tahoe was invited to sit with me 2 hunting dogs, Beau (a 12 years old border collie) and Diego (5, an english setter).
This time it was not much fun and joy all day, not agressivity either, only mutual canine respect... Quite indifference towards my mutt !
December 2022 : 1 dog, 2 cats in Spain
It took us 5 hours to drive to Cabrils, near Barcelona.
My husband and I were invited to sit Reggie, a 3 years old dog. The 2 female cats were mature : Maggie, 8 years old and Wally 9 years old were very different.
Reggie was a cute and well trained dog, fantastic on the recall, quiet in the car, who loves to sleep with humans.
Maggie was the cat who loved cuddles, we hardly saw Wally, the shy one ...
March-April 2023 : a young dog, a black cat ; an old dog; an old cat in England
We've done 3 short sits in England around Easter, flying this time : we spent 2 weeks to Cambridgeshire, then a week to Kent and in the end we stayed another week in Whiltshire.
Bobby blue, 3 years old, was a cute covapoo extremely well trained. We took her everywhere with us. In restaurants, shops, gardens : she behaved marveloussly.
Penelope, her owner, let us her car which helped !
Black pudding, a 13 years old female cat, was a real cuddler, always on our lap. I was delighted, as I missed my own cats, who are much less tender...
.JPG)
Charley was
an old chocolate labrador, a very friendly chap.
Being 13 years old, he
did not play much, was unable to run or jump with his heavy arthritis,
slept a lot but liked short walks.
We could take him on buses (when he was tired on our way back) and pubs : England adore pets !
Muffy, a 13 years old white cat was rather shy at the beginning, but she finally adopted us.We only heard that princess cat purr when I groomed her : she loved that !
We rented a car in Whilthire in order to visit the area.
June 2023 : 1 female cat, near Nice
Honey, 4 years old, was a very distant cat, I never managed to approach this rescue during this very short sit (3 days only).
She came inside her owner's home only to be fed and hid afterwards in the garden.
August 2023 : 1 female Bengal cat in Paris (with Nomador platform)
Liloo, a 8 years old magnificent Bengal was a shy cat too , but she finally came to my lap.
That sit was short too (only 5 days) and I'm pretty sure she would have accepted to be cuddled later on.
With the TGV (high speed train) Paris and Provence are less than 3 hours distant.
Mid september-mid october 2023 : 4 dogs in USA in 3 sits
Pepper, a 11 months puppy, only 2 kilos, was very cute : this long haired Jack Russell, too, followed us everywhere during 11 days.
She was happy to come with us from Melrose, driving north to Cape Ann and south to Cape Cod.
We were lucky as her owner had let us her car. She loved (and was loved by) human beings and other dogs.
November 2023 : 4 days with S., P. & C in Provence
Although the owner asked me again to keep 3 felines (for the 5th time), I am still not allowed to publish any photo. Or give their names, what I find rather strange : they appear on the listing ! I do regret that interdiction as they are gorgious, lovely and now run to me as soon as I open the door !
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
We went to Ombria by car, a long drive with a stop in Genoa.
Bella, a rescue who had lived for years in the streets, was a cute dog we took everywhere with us. She behaved well in the car, in streets, in restaurants. Although small, she was very courageous to climb stairs when we did tourism.
Oakie was a shy cat who kept distant until the last day
March 2024 : a week in Madrid with 2 mature cats
We took the train this time instead of a flight.
Leon & Frijol, 8 & 7 years old, loved to stay on the terrace, walking on the balcony 8 floors above the street.
They had been trained to pay attention but we were rather anxious they would jump to catch a pigeon..
.
May 2024 : 2 days in Tarascon (south of France) with 3 cats
Pushkina, 4 years old, was not playing much with the black twins Minka & Boy, the male and female fluffy ones who were a little younger than her.
The 3 felines could remain invisible for hours, hiding in the bushes of the garden. Minka was the only one to come to me, lying first on the steps of the staircase near my bedroom then asking for cuddles.
May 2024 : 2 young cocker spaniels in Havant (England)
.jpg)
We spent the whole day in the train, from Avignon to England via TGV & Eurostar and then from London to Hampshire. A long journey.
Ollie, 4 years old and his nephew, Eddy, only 10 months old, were adorable but real bundles of energy. We took them everywhere with us : in pubs, in cars, even on buses. They loved to walk on the beaches, to swim in the waves, to take baths in muddy streams on rainy days.
Juin 2024 : 1 dog and 1 cat in Bargemon (south of France) 
We drove to this village in Gorges du Verdon, 200km from our home, to keep during 10 days Skye, a lovely 5 years old Lagotto Romagolo & Mac, a sweet 7 years old cat.
Skye enjoyed to play all day with her ball and loved to swim in the pool. She got along with Mac.
I was rather anxious he would fall from the 6th floor if he wanted to jump on birds. But no bird was flying close. And a fence had been added toprevent him to do so...
September 2024 : 1 cat in Biot (south of France) during a week
Honey is a very shy cat who seems to ignore sitters. Abandonned when younger she probably does not trust much new faces, especially male ones...It took her a whole week to begin to accept my cuddles although it was the second time I kept her !
November 2024 : 1 dog in Gascogne during a week
Dottie was not shy for long.
This 6 years ol female springer spaniel was a really easy hunting dog, very obedient off the leash. Calm in town, nice in cars.
January 2025: 1 blind dog in Luberon during 8 days
A very quiet dog, who loved cuddles and walks, for sure a little lost to find his way to his bowl of water or his dry food. But so brave !
Mars 2025 : 1 dog, 2 cats, 5 fish and 2 tortoises in south of Spain during a week
Lily a 13 years old tiny Chihuahua, was a very kind dog. She followed us everywhere, prefered to sleep by our lap than on her couch.
Smudge & Saffa were kept apart, in a small room. They were strictly indoor cats.
April 2025 : 1 dog in Marseillan (France) during 12 days
Roxie, a 5 years old Cairn terrier, was an affectionate dog, who followed us everywhere while we visited Pezenas, Agde and Occitanie.
Affectionate with human beings, kind with dogs, but unpredictable with pigeons, cats and noisy kids on bikes !
April-may 2025 : 1 blind dog in Ménerbes during a week
Living in the dark since he lost his second eye before Xmas, must be very hard...
May 2025 : 1 cocker spaniel in London during a week
Mara, a sweet 4 years old Cocker spaniel was a dream of dog : obedient, calm, kind. Who was a ball addict and able to walk 4 miles a day without looking tired !
We were lucky to live near Holland Park where she could play freely, unleashed.
June 2025 : 1 cocker spaniel in Cotignac during 3 days
Maddy, a 3 years old female was in love with my own dog. I had been allowed to sit with him, it was only a 2 hours drive.
Both played for hours in the garden, catching unfortunately burrs and spikelets in their hair I had to take away.
June 2025 : 1 Border terrier in Buisson during 11 days 
Nellie did not look at all 11 years old. She climbed quickly the staircases, ran like a young lady !
Nellie did not look at all 11 years old. She climbed quickly the staircases, ran like a young lady ! Again I was allowed to sit with Tahoe, but this time they ignored each other. Never tried to play together. As we faced a heat wave, I took them both to our home where there was a pool and shade.
August 2025 : A Short hair cat in Peyriac-de-mer
Amstrong was a young cat who was not supposed to jump on the garden walls, not strong enough to be able to come back so I needed to pay attention.
His masters were anxious as they had lost lately their beloved 17 years old cat.It was the first time they left him for a few days holiday.
October 2025 : a working cocker spaniel and a cat in New Alresford (England)
M. Grimes did not like much the female cat Nora, he was rather jealous when I wanted to cuddle her. It was a very short sit, less than a week.
November 2025 : a female cat (Pumpkin the dog stayed with his masters) in Gordes
December 2025 : 2 weeks with an old rescue dog in Grasse
Tahoe came with us to sit Titus, a thin and deaf dog during Xmas. If Tahoe was allways ready to play, to fetch ball, Titus, being much older was less active and prefered to sleep.
.jpeg)
.JPG){kind=link}
He made us rather anxious as he did not eat much. But the 2 dogs were very nice together, enjoyed to do tourism, behaved nicely in restaurants 
