Spend Christmas in Winnipeg: Two Loving Cats + Cozy Home

About this assignment

We’re looking for a responsible, caring house sitter who truly loves cats. We have two adult/senior cats who are affectionate, enjoy company, and will happily cuddle on the couch (and sometimes in bed). They like mild playtime and the occasional treat, but mostly they just appreciate having people around.

Our ideal sitter is:

- Responsible, mature, and handy in case something arises while we’re away
- While we’d like you to spend time at home with the cats - feeding, caring for, and keeping them company - we certainly don’t expect you to stay in all the time. We’d be happy for you to get out and enjoy what Winnipeg has to offer in the winter.
- Physically able to shovel snow as needed and willing to water our many houseplants once a week
- Happy to send a short update with a few pictures of the cats every few days so we know they’re doing well
- Preferably mature couple, but open to the right person/couple
- Non-Smoker

Winnipeg is lively in the winter with a festive atmosphere (always something going on in the city), but it can also be very cold. We’re looking for someone who will be comfortable with snowy conditions and cozying up at home with our cats.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

- Feeding the cats in the morning and evening (dry food, wet food and fresh water)
- Cleaning the litter box every day or two
- Playing with the cats when they’re in the mood, giving them attention, and offering treats
- Providing us with short updates and a few photos of the cats every few days
- Contacting us right away if any issues come up with the cats or with the house.
- Shovelling the front and back pathways, driveway, and steps if it snows
- Watering our many houseplants once a week (takes about 10–15 minutes)
- Bringing in mail and packages from the front door step
- Putting garbage and recycling out on collection day once a week
- Generally keeping the house tidy and letting us know if anything arises
- Check hot tub to make sure water level is normal once a week (general maintenance not needed)

What are the good features of the property and location

The House:
- Large open and bright kitchen for the cooking enthusiast.
- Comfortable dining area to eat, play board games, do puzzles or relax and watch the snow fall.
- Living room with stone electric fireplace / feature. Cozy up, read a book or watch a show
- Large soaker tub in the main bathroom for those cold winter days
- Comfortable main bedroom on the main floor level
- Lots of windows and skylights bringing in lots of natural light to soak in. Winnipeg is one of the sunniest places in Canada, even on those frigid days.
- Nice patio and outdoor fireplace to sit around with a hot chocolate (we can leave some wood for burning if interested).
- Theater room with projector and surround sound downstairs to watch some of the best block busters or big games
- Outdoor hot tub if you can brave the cold getting in and out
- Dart board, Foosball in the basement entertainment space
- Chromecast to cast anything from your computer connected to TV’s
- Fast wifi and Bell TV included
- The house is only a 15 minute drive from the airport, shopping, amenities, cafes, parks, the zoo and downtown is only a 20 minute drive.

The City:
- Canada Life Centre – catch a Winnipeg Jets NHL hockey game or a live concert
- Assiniboine Park & Zoo – beautiful grounds to explore, plus festive lights in the winter (special polar bear exhibit!)
- The Leaf – a stunning new botanical sanctuary featuring Canada’s largest indoor waterfall
- The Canadian Museum for Human Rights – an iconic architectural landmark and fascinating museum
- The Forks Market – local food, unique shops, and a cozy atmosphere during the holidays
- The Forks Skating Trails & Rink – one of Winnipeg’s most magical winter experiences (skate rentals available)
- Thermëa Nordic Spa – a relaxing outdoor spa with hot pools, saunas, and steam rooms (especially wonderful in the snow!)
- Downtown breweries, restaurants, and bars — plenty to explore if you’re a foodie or craft beer fan (we can provide a list of our favourites)
- Seasonal music, festivals, and holiday activities happening all across the city
- Manitoba Museum & Planetarium and other museums around the city
- Exchange District – heritage architecture, art galleries, and trendy cafés (especially pretty lit up in winter).
- Royal Canadian Mint – tours of where Canadian coins are made
- Fort Whyte Alive – nature reserve with trails, wildlife viewing (bison), and snowshoeing/cross-country skiing in winter.
- St. Boniface – Winnipeg’s French Quarter, with cozy cafés, historic buildings, and a beautiful cathedral ruin.
- Local winter markets – holiday craft and food markets leading up to Christmas.
- Holiday lights tours – many neighbourhoods (like Tuxedo or along Wellington Crescent) are famous for beautiful Christmas lights.
- Arctic Alley, an outdoor gallery of vibrant murals featuring Arctic animals
- Comedy clubs close by, including a speakeasy called the Basement
- "Activate" and escape rooms close by

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

- Need to be okay staying in a colder environment over the winter
- Must have/bring proper winter clothing. You could borrow some of ours if you’re the right size. We do have lots of hats and mitts that you can borrow, but boots and jackets might not work.
- Uber is extremely accessible from our place (usually a couple minutes away), there’s other public transit as well and amenities are not far away.
- Security cameras on the front and back of the house, but we will not have any inside the house during your stay.
- No smoking
- No parties
- If sitters want to bring any company over, this would have to be cleared with us first
- We have friends and neighbours close by that will be contacts if there’s an emergency or questions

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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