Christmas Holidays in Northamptonshire - Cat and Tortoise

About this assignment

We're looking for a house sitter to stay at our home over the Christmas holidays to look after our cat and tortoise.
The cat is friendly and easygoing — she has outdoor access (cat flap/lets herself out) and enjoys the occasional cuddle, but is happy pottering around on her own too. Feeding and fresh water once or twice a day, plus a bit of company, is all she really needs.
The tortoise will be hibernating/brumating for the duration of the stay, so care is minimal — just an occasional check to make sure conditions (temperature/humidity) are stable. We'll leave full instructions.
We're after someone reliable and comfortable with a low-maintenance pet-sitting setup — this is a relaxed home with easy-going animals, ideal for a sitter who wants a quiet Christmas base.

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Daily responsibilities:
Top-up the cat food as needed (morning/evening) - she is a self feeder so this is easy - and keep water fountain topped up
A bit of company and the occasional cuddle when she wants it
Check on the tortoise to make sure her enclosure conditions (temperature/humidity) stay stable — she'll mostly be asleep, so this is a quick daily check rather than active care
General house-sitting duties: bring in post/parcels, take bins out on collection day, keep the place looking lived-in
Occasional/as-needed:
Water a handful of houseplants

What are the good features of the property and location

Our home is on Blandford Avenue in the North End area of Kettering, Northamptonshire — a quiet, well-regarded residential street of family homes.
It's a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house. The sitter would have their own room (our daughter's bedroom) to themselves. There's a large garden, though it's fairly quiet in winter rather than a big draw at Christmas time. Street parking is available right outside the house, and we have fast wifi throughout. Two televisions both with AppleTV boxes.
For downtime, The Beeswing pub is a short walk away, along with a Co-op for everyday shopping. Kettering town centre, with more shops, cafes and restaurants, is a short walk/drive further on, and the railway station has direct links to London St Pancras (around an hour). It's a quiet, settled neighbourhood — a relaxed spot to spend the holidays.

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

Christmas dates specifically — this means being away from your own family/friends over the holidays, so it suits someone who's happy with a quiet Christmas at home or has already made other plans for the day itself
One bathroom, shared with no one else (the family will be away) — but worth noting for anyone used to en-suite setups
Cat's outdoor access in winter — she'll be coming and going in cold/wet weather, so the sitter should be comfortable towelling off muddy paws and keeping an eye on her in shorter daylight hours
Tortoise care is minimal but still a responsibility — brumation needs stable conditions, so it's not a "leave it and forget it" job even though she'll be asleep
Location — a residential street in Kettering; a short walk to a pub and Co-op, but you'll likely want your own transport for a bigger supermarket shop or to explore further afield over the holiday period
No car needed for day-to-day, but useful to have if the sitter wants to get out and about during a quiet week
Own room provided, but it's a family home, not a self-contained annex — good for someone happy with a homely, shared-house feel rather than full separation

Can I bring my own pets?

No, sorry.

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