Cat lover(s) needed to care for six cats in Central Algarve - one mile from beach

About this assignment

We’re looking for a cat lover/cat lovers to feed and provide a loving environment for our six outdoor cats from September 26 to October 11 or 12.

We're looking for an individual (or couple) who loves cats and will take good care of our much-loved feline family.

While not biological brothers and very different in personality, Caesar and Bruno get on extremely well. They groom one another and will often sleep with their limbs intertwined. Inevitably, these super-cute moments are interspersed with squabbles and play fights.

The younger ones – Tyson, Nettie, Storm and Midge – are equally engaging and live in our home with us.

Caesar

Caesar has been part of our family since he was seven weeks old. Our ginger boy is slightly older than Bruno and far less vocal. He is affectionate but is not a lap cat. He doesn’t like loud noises, particularly music, vacuums, etc. He does like smelly shoes.

Caesar is more discerning with his food and knows what he likes (unfortunately his favourite food changes regularly). He is the one who is more likely to bring home a little present from the field below. We do our best to save these small mammals and birds; however, it's not always possible. Of course, this means our cat sitters must not be too squeamish.

Because Caesar makes so little noise (he cannot purr properly), there is a danger of him getting shut inside our kitchen cupboards. This has happened a few times in the past few months, so it’s essential to be aware that if he’s not around he could be trapped.

Bruno

Bruno is the chatty extrovert. He is more of a wanderer than Caesar. He tends to be greedier so sometimes we will feed Caesar in another room.

We adopted Bruno from a local cat charity in January 2023, when he was believed to be around six to seven months old. He’s a great little character who absolutely adores his big brother. He is not a lap cat but is more likely to climb all over you.

If Bruno was locked in a cupboard you would hear him. He is not a quiet boy.

The Ferals – Tyson, Nettie, Storm and Midge

These four have given us much joy and heartache since they arrived in our garden last year. Sadly, Midge lost her eye in a seagull attack and the others all caught feline panleukopenia in December. Two of their siblings died and Storm was in hospital for a week.

The kittens are now healthy and happy; however all remain nervous around strangers. Our previous cat sitters reported that, while the kittens would turn up for food at the appointed time, they were not looking for cuddles or affection. This may, of course, be different with another cat sitter.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Feeding all cats twice a day and topping up their water (inside and outside). We leave hard food out throughout the day/night and feed soft food morning and teatime. We wash the cat dishes at least once a day.

Our cats are fine to be left all day (as long as there is always dried food and water available). We'd prefer they weren’t left overnight unless it's an emergency.

We have a cat flap in the front door, which all our cats use. We leave the kitchen patio door open for access to our rear garden (which is very safe).

We’d also like you to water our garden every few days.

We would expect the house to be kept clean and tidy in our absence.

Absolutely no smoking in or around the house.

We have used petsitters several times - and have been petsitters ourselves - thus it's really important to us to find people who value reliability, trust and honesty.

What are the good features of the property and location

Armação de Pêra is a small seaside resort which is popular with Portuguese families and really only gets busy in July and August.

There is a wide, paved promenade along the seafront with numerous cafes and restaurants and the sandy beach stretches for several kilometres. Just beyond Armação to the east – and within easy walking distance – lies Salgados lagoon, one of the most important freshwater wetlands in the Algarve. It’s very popular with birdwatchers and is a fantastic place to stroll, cycle and run.

On the hill above Salgados is Pêra, a typical whitewashed Algarvian village with cobbled streets and great views, and, if you fancy an evening stroll there’s a great wine bar and several restaurants in nearby Porches (unless you are vegetarian, we can certainly recommend A Rampa – although booking is essential).
In terms of location, Armação de Pêra is approximately 53 km west of Faro, about 15 km west of Albufeira and 47 km east of Lagos. Ferragudo, Carvoeiro and the iconic Praia da Marinha are all a short drive away, while the Serra de Monchique (with the Algarve’s highest hills) are just over 40 km away.

There are supermarkets – Lidl, Continente and Pingo Doce – just one kilometre from our home. Sudoeste Retail Park is 4 km away – and the larger Algarve Shopping is just under 12 km away.
Access to the N22 motorway is approximately 4 km from our home.

We live in a three-bedroom townhouse (about 25 years old) with sea views from the first-floor terrace and a field directly below us (with footpaths crossing it). We’re the last-but-one property so there is no passing traffic.

We offer our house sitters a double guest room on the ground floor with a private bathroom (shower only) located a few metres along the hallway. There are front and rear gardens (although the rear garden is an ongoing project) and a front terrace where you can enjoy a beer or a glass of wine.

We have Netflix and fibre internet. One of our upstairs bedrooms is set up as a study so there is a desk available for digital nomads. There is a second desk in our own bedroom if you need it.

We don’t offer luxury – or even a swimming pool – however, we hope our proximity to the beautiful Algarve coast will make your stay perfect in other ways.

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

We live on a hill so you’ll need to be relatively fit to walk back from Armação de Pêra (the quickest route is the steepest, but we can show you our preferred walking routes).

The bus station (really just a pull-in) is just over one kilometre away; from here you can catch buses to Silves, Albufeira, Portimão and Lagos.

The nearest train station is about 7–8 km inland at Poco Barreto.

You can survive here without a car, but your stay is likely to be more enjoyable if you have your own wheels.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer you the use of our car because we will be needing it.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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