One sweet lazy cat and the beautiful City of Porto!
Portugal, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District
Pets
- Cat(s)
One cat, he is 12 years old, big guy, sweet and lazy, has one toy he is addicted to
Dates
- 15 Jul 2026 to 22 Jul 2026 (No sitters have applied for these dates yet. Be the first!)
About this assignment
Loves cats and gentle with our boy, Karellen. He loves to sit on your lap and snuggle with his favorite afghan while you watch TV. He is the sweetest cat you will ever encounter. He is very aloof, takes time for him to warm up. Wait until he comes from you, he hides and sleeps most of the day.
Responsible, maintain clean home, respectful of our home, sends daily updates of our cat. Non smoker
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
Taking care of our cat which is very easy as he mostly is aloof until he gets use to you then he will sit on your lap every time you sit down. Our home (condo) was built 2025, no maintenance. Keep our home as clean as you find it. We keep a very clean home so that sitters feel comfortable and at home. Kick back and enjoy yourself while you take care of a real sweetie. If you accept the sit I will email 2 comprehensive documents that will give you all the preparation information you need before you arrive.
What are the good features of the property and location
We live in a 8 unit condo complex (no rentals) in a beautiful old neighborhood. Brand new complex, opened July 2025. it's pretty quiet except for an occasional ambulance as the public hospital is a 5 min drive. There is also a 24/7 365 farmacia a 15 min walk.
Guest bedroom has TV, small balcony, and private bathroom. Plenty of closet space.
There is a washer and dryer utility room off the kitchen.
We are in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. 5 minute walk to Santo Ovidio Metro to downtown Porto. We sit on a hill that is steep but not very, I use the road out front to walk down to the METRO because it's more direct. I use the road at the back entrance because the sidewalks are better and I think the incline is lower. Anyone can do this walk, probably a 8 minute walk up.
Nighttime is quiet. Spectacular Italian restaurant within walking distance. Food market 2 blocks away. WiFi 6G, very fast for digital nomads, and printer available. No matter the season Porto is alive with culture, fine dining and music. Porto airport is about a 10Euro drive, you don't need a car but if you have one we have a garage. Beautiful views of the ocean and Porto, stunning view of Porto at night. There are lots of Uber and Bolts and they are very inexpensive.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
We do not allow shoes anywhere in our home including balcony for sanitary reasons.
We need our sitters to come the day before (July 15th) we leave on July 16th to become familiar with how to take care of Karellen. In addition, we give you a full tour of our home and how things work. If you need to stay an extra day or two at the end, feel free to do so.
We are retired Americans from the Washington, DC area. Ken is a retired internationally known Judicial Architect. Carrie is a retired Computer System Engineer with the United States Court System and the U.S. State Department. Spent the last 4 years before full retirement as a substitute teacher, had many assignments with intellectually disabled children. 1 daughter who lives and works in Germany for the last 12 years. We lived in the Algarve for 3 years, we moved to Vila Nova de Gaia the end of June 2025.
We do not use a cleaning person, no one can clean better than us, and our place is not huge but very comfortable.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
25 February 2026
Sitemap
MindMyHouse.com – https://www.mindmyhouse.com/sitters/assignment/41957
Testimonials
Very pleasant stay, thanks to Carrie, Ken, and Boo, the overlord
What interests me most about pet sittings is meeting the owners, the relationship with the four-legged friend, and of course, their daily environment: well, I was delighted! Carrie and Ken welcomed me with great kindness and care. I love their openness, their fluidity, and the way they made me feel their confidence, because Boo is their pearl! and I understand them. Boo is a quiet companion with a charming personality; he knows what he wants, without ever going overboard. His affection is sincere and loyal, because you couldn't tempt him with a treat; he's not greedy. A really interesting companion with a "little soul"; I love him! With a beautiful, well-kept apartment and wonderful life plans, Carrie and Ken opened a window on their lives for me, and I really enjoyed the time we shared. Thanks 1000 times! You won't find a cat that's so easy to look after, because there's no question of looking after it. He lives his life in the apartment and on the terraces, and enjoys life that way. For me, he's a bit like the Snoopy of felines; « I’m happy people » Carrie, Ken, take care, and please keep in touch; it's good to have friends in this world!
BAUMANN, France, May 2025
Wonderful time sitting for kind Carrie, Ken and Karellen
I had a truly wonderful experience house and cat sitting for Carrie and Ken in Portugal, caring for their adorable cat, Karellen. From the start, their communication was clear and consistent, keeping me informed even when their plans changed slightly. Carrie and Ken went out of their way to make me feel welcome. They greeted me with a delicious home-cooked dinner and extended their hospitality again when they were home between trips. I really enjoyed our conversations about travel and the relaxed evenings we spent together. They are such a kind and engaging couple, and I felt completely at ease in their company. Karellen is a delightful cat with a sweet personality. He loves to cuddle and was such great company during the evenings, making the experience even more enjoyable. Their home is beautiful, and I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to enjoy some winter sun while staying there. It was a perfect mix of relaxation and connection, and I’d gladly house sit for them again.
Lorna, United Kingdom, December 2024
A perfect sit to wonderful Karellen in beautiful Algarve
I had a lovely time cat & house sitting for Carrie and Ken in Albufeira. Their 'little' boy, Karellen is an absolute darling. It is rare to meet such a sweet, gentle, loving, clean, and well behaved cat, and that's exactly what 'boo' is. It's been a pleasure to have him keep me company while working, taking sun, watching movies, and falling asleep. I miss him already. Carrie & Ken are a lovely couple and they gave me a warm (and tasty) welcome on my arrival. Our communication was great before and during the assignment. I was left with clear instructions and everything I might have needed during my stay in their beautiful and comfortable apartment. I am very grateful for the opportunity of staying with Karellen while exploring Algarve, and would not hesitate to repeat this experience, as much as recommend it to other sitters. Thanks Carrie, Ken & Karellen!
Anna, Spain, December 2023
Paradise & unique cat in Albufeira!
We were very lucky to find Carrie & Kenneth back in December - we agreed on a sit in January that got canceled - we are very grateful to them for this, as they communicated it all clearly and at the first moment, they knew, giving us enough time to find other house-sits. We felt immediately that they are honest, kind, and open people who excel at communication and organization. We kept in touch for a few months, then they asked us if we would like to sit for them, even being flexible with dates to fit around our schedule. When we first met them, we immediately felt at home and welcome, they were hospitable and very calm about everything - despite it being their first time having cat-sitters over in Portugal. It was a pleasure to get them to know more over dinner or just talk about life and stories from our lives. It was our first time meeting people from America who moved to Portugal and we felt very grateful to meet them - it was inspiring for us to see the reality they have built for themselves. The house-hand over was PERFECT - everything was written down, and organized, showed exactly how to use everything (Erika seriously fell in love with the vacuum cleaner, it is a thing of beauty!) - and answered all of our questions and concerns. Carrie has a great gift with words, she "disarmed" me in the most kind and calm ways possible - it is hard to explain but you can certainly feel it when you meet her. We arrived earlier and spent the night before Carrie & Ken left to let the cat get used to us -> in hindsight this was the best move and we appreciate Carrie & Ken doing this as it helped Karellen get used to us quicker. Karellen the cat - nicknamed "Overlord" which is very fitting. We could sense that he is still getting used to Portugal and the new apartment, and now new people - he was not distant but certainly careful and observant - the first night he came to our bedroom to sit on the edge of the bed and observe us. Karellen is a unique cat that loves eye contact and being near humans - he has his routines and is very easy to fall in love with. Especially if you find him curled up in a closet with your clothes, purring away, completely happy. He will let you know when and where to pet him, he is not afraid to ask for attention and human assistance :) The apartment is a newly built, modern, SPOTLESS, with fantastic views and every luxury comfort you can imagine, including one very comfortable couch. With the windows, you can make a very nice breeze through all the rooms. 10/10 We would recommend everyone who will get the opportunity to meet Carrie, Ken, and Karellen to don't hesitate and go for it! They are wonderful beings and it was a privilege to meet them all. The only problem we had, was saying goodbye to Karellen after 10 days - it was such a short time with this unique cat! We would LOVE to come back anytime to cat-sit for Carrie & Ken!
Kamil, June 2023