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CHARMING FARM HOUSE & CAT SIT, Oct 28, 2026 to Mai 8, 2027

Switzerland, Neckertal, Sankt Gallen
Legendary MindMyHousie Gold star

Pets

  • Cat(s)

Mosquito & Findusina, my two beloved meows

Dates

  • 28 Oct 2026 to 9 May 2027 (No sitters have applied for these dates yet. Be the first!)

Testimonials

They have 2 testimonials (view below)

Facilities

They have WIFI

About this assignment

Initial note: For the ones who contacted us before please write to us again should you be interested in this sit. We are interested in couples only.

Also, I would like to mention that the given time is basically devided into two sits (or units) at the same house which would be best if it can be taken as one (meaning from the same couple).
The reason is, that I will be coming back from India on Jan 9, 2027 and will have four weeks to turn things around before leaving to South Africa until Mai 8, 2027.
In these four weeks you are very welcome to stay in the house of course, or utilise the time to explore Switzerland or other countries or things to do.

Our beloved Mosquito, the king of the house, and Findusina, the queen of the family, an abandoned lovely female who choose to stay with us. Both are looking forward for you to talk cat language with them, pet and play and schmuse and care for them.
And a beautiful house and garden is waiting for you to spend the late autumn/early winter days until spring comes in Mai.

As for us, my husband and I, we expect you to be responsible to the house and garden where there's always lots to do to keep it in shape, so you won`t get bored. However, things in winter are easy in the garden and don`t need that much maintenance like in summers. Snow shovelling, clearing the drive way if needed... watching the kitties play in the snow and shovelling a walking path for them so they cannot get lost. Remember, it might be freezing cold (winters). It might. Climate change has told us a different experience in recent years.

We also want you to be a good communicator with us, so that we know, everything is ok. A peaceful set of mind is important for both sides. Plus, it’s just lovely to be in touch about things.

We hope that you are sportive and physically in good shape, NON-SMOKING and no heavy drinkers! We have no problem with diverse eating habits, but do prefer organically grown food and very less to no meat eating (red meat).

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Takeing care of our adorable two cats who are very special to us. On Oct 21, 2023, Mante had followed his brother over the rainbow. I don't want to go into details here, you all can imagine how painful this is.
Now currently, Mosquito is "the man on four legs in the house". He loves to cuddle at night and comes in for food only during the day, he loves to roam around outside in the most awesome natural environment. And now, Fundusina came, saw the lovely place, and stayed. She is just so adorable, listens to her name, looks straight into your eyes, and is so loving and a very talky one. She loves to play like anything!
Usually, I plant vegetables which could be harvested and enjoyed (some grow also in winters). This year we will have lots of pumpkins to eat for you. The rest of the land provides different fruit trees, like plums, apples, black and red currents, raspberries, gooseberries etc.)

No need to say, keep the house in order as you will find it, shoot pictures in doubt and take notes, and clean as it would be your own, at least once a week, preferably on weekends. We don’t mind should you want to move things around but it would be great and very appreciated if we find them in the same place as we have left them. This all refers to cleanliness.
(When spring comes, you might need to cut the grass in the garden with a mechanical lawn mower (good excersise), the garden should stay in shape, and take care of vegetable beds etc., not in winters, but in April, Mai 2027), watering when hot, etc. the normal thing. Also give some some water to the fig tree and other plants in the green house, and in the house as well.
When autumn comes, it's nice to spend some hours outside and rake leaves falling from a huge walnut tree (if not all collected by the time we are leaving), or shuffle snow in winters to be able to exit the house door (smile!).

What are the good features of the property and location

If you are nature or outdoor loving persons then this is the location for you.
We live outside the little village of Brunnadern in a 200+ year old farm house of which we are so happy to can call it our own. The snowed in hills or lush countryside greens of Toggenburg, Switzerland, Kanton St. Gallen will go straight into your soul. The house and property is located at the rim of the forest, totally quiet, no street access, in the middle of a nature protected area with birds of prey, deer, foxes, even lynx, and hilly pastures and a big and white covered mountain almost year round, called Säntis...It looks a bit like Kashmir, Swiss Kashmir, gorgeous with one word. And, we have our own two water springs that provide the house with mountain-fresh drinking water.

Needless to say, the house is perfectly equipped with hot and cold water, toilets and bathroom with shower, and a nicely equipped kitchen where close to nothing is missing.

Distances: about 50 min to Zuric airport and about 35 min to St. Gallen with larger possibilities for shopping and entertainment. For your daily needs there are two small towns in five minutes driving distance.
To bring your own car would be good for your personal convenience, or a liability insurance if you drive ours.
However, should you have no car, we can help out with our Subaru outback 4x4, equipped with winter tires, for you to get groceries. But you must be able to drive an automatic (on the right side!).

(In summer, the garden provides all kinds of vegetable and herbs, which we would like to have taken care of as well, and you can eat from there whatever is ready to be harvested, lots of fruits included.) In winter it will be deeply covered with snow and you can cross country ski or go with the snow shoes (my favourite) right from where our house is, or you can drive to the ski areas nearby. Hiking is possible at both times of the year. Basically all seasons provide their own charm.

The house is perfect for editing a film, writing a book or composing or playing music (no neighbors!). Also painting and sculpting in the wood shop barn is possible to a certain extend.
Absolutely non-smoker wanted! No alcoholics (in moderate version only), preferred vegetarian!.
Since the house has no road access, it's completely quiet and tranquille. There's no such things like traffic sounds, exhaust smells or anything polluted or poisonous around here. However, the dirt road is drivable to the house when free of snow.. In winters parking is up the road on a parking spot that belongs to the house (180m walking distance).

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

You need to be able to live in a wild romantic place and consider that you do not have direct neighbors living next to the house. They live in viewing distance, but however, in a distance. You have to be able to be good on foot and physically in a sportive condition and mindset. We heat with wood in the cold months (no need in summers. Winter: There are two fire places which need to be heated in winter times regularly, otherwise some pipes might freeze. Cut wood is provided, and we expect you to be able to cut more when needed. You will have a head start on this but expect that you fill up the stock again. This will provide your every day`s exercise... and it`s easy. We will show you how this can be done for free.

We recommend that you have a valid drivers licence, and/or that you can ride a bike, or again, be good on foot, on snowshoes, skies if you like, or can drive the Subaru.
We have a collection of skies in the house for your outdoor pleasure in the winter( bring your own ski boots), and also a pair of excellent snow shoes provided for you. Also, we have two mountain bikes and two racing bikes which you`re welcome to use (sometimes need some fixing). Maintenance of both bikes and skies and snowshoes is by yourself.

In case you come by car, 4x4 is mandatory to get here and move around in winters. You must be able to drive a car.

No one please may apply without obtaining a private personal liability insurance.

Be prepared to live with lots of snow that provides beauty and clarity on its own, while it is a lush and green summer.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

Last updated: 2 September 2026

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About this home owner

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Testimonials

Wunderschöne Zeit mit zwei süße. Katzen

Wir waren im Winter 2018 in dem schönen alten Haus in einer Traumlage und bei den beiden Süßen Katzen bei Brigitte. Die Katzen sind Freigänger, sehr verschmust, war eine wundervolle Zeit.

Judit, September 2023

  • Friendly
  • Reliable
  • Tidy
  • Organised
  • Helpful with problems
  • Gave good instructions

An unforgettable Swiss winter with Mante & Mosquito

What a wonderful three months we spent in this special corner of the world! One of the greatest joys of house sitting is colliding with like-minded people all around the world, and this sit was no exception. Brigitte is a warm-hearted and welcoming kindred spirit, and it was our absolute pleasure to care for her Elefantenhaus while she travelled to India to campaign for elephant rights. We arrived in the coldest part of the year and the snowy landscape felt like a different planet. The house itself feels like stepping back in time; a character-filled 200-year-old farmhouse nestled in a quiet valley with the forest creeping almost to the back door. The two cats Mante and Mosquito were our faithful companions through the depths of winter, two brothers who love nothing more than a snuggle in front of the wood fire and who will greet you in the mornings with the most hilarious chorus of chirps. Brigitte has the most incredible cellar full of homemade preserves and frozen berries collected during the warmer months, and you’ll feel like you’re defrosting a little taste of springtime with every berry. Living in the Elefantenhaus definitely encourages a slower, simpler pace of life, while still providing a fast internet connection for working online and keeping in touch with the outside world, and it’s only a short drive to the nearest town to buy groceries. We would definitely recommend this sit to active people, as the walk from the car to the house through the snow, fully-laden with groceries, is not for the faint-hearted! A good level of fitness will also help you manage the quirks and eccentricities of the house, as well as climbing up and down the stairs. We had a lot of fun using the skis and snowshoes Brigitte provided, and chopping wood for the two wood-burning stoves helped us beat the winter chill and stay fit. Switzerland has some of the most extraordinary natural landscapes on the planet, and watching from the studio windows as the sun set over the Säntis mountain became a daily joy. This place is a hiker’s dream, and you can hike directly from the garden over the rolling hills and through forests filled with deer and foxes. If that wasn’t enough, it’s only a short car trip to the stunning Appenzell region with amazing trails, cable cars and mountaintop restaurants. This sit really was an unforgettable experience, and I’m sure this won’t be our last visit to the Elefantenhaus. Thanks once again to Brigitte for trusting us with her cats and home, and we look forward to meeting again!

Imogen, May 2019

  • Friendly
  • Reliable
  • Tidy
  • Organised
  • Helpful with problems
  • Kept in contact
  • Gave good instructions