Hummingbird haven w/ 2 cats 19 Oct - 3 Nov

About this assignment

We're looking for a mature, responsible non-smoker who communicates well. We find that sitters who've owned a home usually understand how to treat someone else's home with respect. Minding our cats is the main responsibility here, and keeping them inside is paramount. Minding our indoor and outdoor plants is easier. There's little to nothing to do for the tortoise except admire him if he's out and about.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

The kitten named Pizza and the cat named Josie should be fed twice daily, and their litter boxes should be cleaned once daily. Pizza still has the zoomies. Josie is blind, on a special diet, and moves more slowly ... even getting underfoot sometimes. So it's critical to walk slowly, and use caution when opening doors to the outside. The cats get exercise going to their catio. Tank, the Sonoran Desert Tortoise who we care for, will probably be brumating during this sit. If he's not, we'll give you instructions on his permissible food (largely native plants).

Plant care in the desert Southwest depends a lot on temperatures, so we'll get more specific on this once we begin live discussion and we know what's predicted for weather at that time. In short, almost all of our outdoor plants are on irrigation systems, which need monitoring but very rarely any action. We water indoor plants only once weekly.

What are the good features of the property and location

If you live where it's cold at this time of year, you'll love Tucson's sunny days. There's great hiking and biking in the area. Also wonderful is anything related to astronomy (e.g., the Mirror Lab), birding e.g., Madera Canyon and our own yard), or food (e.g., Tucson is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy).

Our home in midtown Tucson is simple and relatively quiet. You'll be in our guest bedroom, which has a queen bed and its own bathroom. Our yard is big for the city and green for the desert. Like a lot of people in this area, we harvest rainwater and use solar power. Writers and birders often enjoy our home. And, the neighborhood is super friendly. It's easy to walk in the neighborhood.

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

The desert Southwest can be hot, even during the time of this sit. That and the general lack of water in this area make it critical to attend to water usage. While our pets do not require constant attention, we'll ask that you give them breakfast and dinner in person and that you clean their litter boxes daily. Day trips that fit between their meals are easily doable.

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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