CATS R US. Fluent in All Cat. 15 Years.

More information about this house sitter

Last update December 2:
Hello. We joined Mindahome in early 2010 so we know the ropes.
We rely mainly on word of mouth for our references and always have people available who will vouch for us. There are reviews online here too.
Shorter terms ( a week or so, max maybe 21 days ) are preferred please.
Booking for 2026 now. No more this year thank you.
We are of course fully vaccinated (all regular Covid jabs and the various others) with the evidence available. Cats (oriental and all others) are our specialty, or a chook or a bunny or two ... even stick insects. Fish are easy. Or even no pets at all! Nice dogs - Patricia is great with them - are fine.
IF you're planning well ahead, you can lock us in now. That would be great. We have two regulars, two possible repeats, and two others booked in for 2026 but there's plenty of space available.

We did have South Australia last year until end March for our former Siamese pals Ken and Neville from Sydney. That was just marvellous. Last month two regular Ragdolls in lovely Brighton Le Sands. They specialise in zooming and would go well in a Simon's Cat episode. Back there again soon. We regard them as our number ones and see them quite often. Highly intelligent, devilishly devious when THEY want something... just gorgeous.
A year back saw some heartbreak as both much adored Artie (21) and dear little Max (19) have used one of their nine; so we have no regular ACT sit any more. However we met the GORGEOUS Sookie this past month and we have our fingers crossed to meet up again.
I always remember the wonderful book, so to both T and L who lost elderly darlings this year, and to W, who lost her dear Max not that long back, "Somewhere a Cat is Waiting"... so who can say???

THE STORY (Donald at the wheel):
Thankyou for considering us, We sit cats, and we're tops with oriental cats.
I speak Oriental Cat - all dialects. Love them! I love trying to outthink them, especially Siamese and Burmese, who'll give it their all and try every trick.
All origins, shapes, sizes. From white and blue to jet black.
Also Calico etc. Birmans... Love sweet fluffy Raggies! Burmese a special favourite too. But I'm good on local lingo too. Tabby language is important. Versatility.
Can do the usual/unusual things too (eg fish, tortoises, even stick insects and silkworms). Cats are our thing. Easygoing tailwaggers (preferably relaxed and letting their world pass by in comfort) are quite OK.
Thank you.
Donald.

THE 15+ YEARS HISTORY:
Began at Mosman many years ago. We recently finished our ACT sit with delightful chatterbox, 20 years old tortoiseshell Artemis. Yes, she was 20! A marvel! Late note- vale dear little Arty - you had a great life... Tonia and John so sad but a cat will come by... they always do... word goes out... cat needed...)
In Melbourne much of pre-Covid. It does seem such a long time ago! There again last year. Rozelle Sydney was a favourite and a regular. Wonderful spot and lovely people. However the two rascals there relocated to SA. A beautiful stay in Maroubra with Nala the tabby and as mentioned we had a short notice ACT regular with Artemis the ancient one. And now we have lost marvellous Max. We completed a lovely short stay at Bundanoon with two magic residents, former rescue and now much adored cats.
Others at Blackheath, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, West Ryde and Avoca Beach, Batemans Bay, Womberal, Cronulla, Tormina, Mosman, etc. Melbourne again. Two chooks and an elderly very established cat at Batemans before the horrid fires. Seems an eternity now. Eli was gorgeous. His resident slave recently informed me that he has now moved to his next of nine lives but he had a great run. We gave up most alcohol together. Easier for him of course. Very wise cat, Eli.
Cronulla was a bit further back with two beautiful ladies, one Birman and the other a Ragdoll.
Three very independent types plus a bossy chihuahua/jack russell at Newtown, then at Banksia, and more recently a witches’ trio in Hornsby. Met up again at Darlington Sydney.
Just had time in beautifulCooma - lovely little cat (one of those you wish you could sneak home with!) and adored Canowindra.
For those who go back a long way, I lost Lyndal who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, and have been so fortunate to find Patricia.
She tolerates my eccentricities!
Sydney is very easy for us as we’re only two hours away at beautiful Lake Macquarie. Twin city to Newcastle. They have the beaches. We have The Lake.
Also Port Macquarie. Coffs area an all time favourite. My closest pal was in Coffs (lost him last year) and we'd be delighted to do gorgeous Sawtell etc (26 times Sawtell as the family grew). Most ancestral roots in Victoria. From Peter Lalor to Ned Kelly we're fine.

If all that suits, go for it!

(Us) Born in Australia
Lived in several countries (as opposed to "visited there"). Been in many other countries, travelled widely; love movies and music (although I believe that much good music probably stopped around 1985); Beethoven is King; avid readers and theatre-goers; have loads of awesome grandchildren each (but of course they live with their parents!); clean and healthy. We care about property and we're careful with ours and other people's.

I know a fuchsia from a gardenia/ magnolia... and I can tell a hawk from a handsaw. Patricia is a serious gardener! Quite obsessed by gardens.
All cats are fine. I speak and understand Cat. They often have quite important philosophical things to say. Had lots of them, met plenty during Mindahome time, and love them. I never met a cat that could resist the old charm for long... and we know all their tricks when it comes to pills and needles... even aware of "phhhttt" (sideways audible ejection of an offending pill) when associated with medications.
Have to admit we both rather like chooks too...there's something about a chook, chooking its way through the garden. I do have quite a lot of contact with birds in general - Love all birds except Indian mynas. Got some tame maggies, kookas, blue faced honeyeaters, and gorgeous rainbow lorikeets; they're real cadgers but thugs - who'd have thought it?

nb. As a former teacher/uni lecturer visiting many schools, I had police checks more than once. Non-smoker, light alcohol. Patricia was with YACS and so had police checks regularly. She is also an antique specialist (no, not me!). Everybody loves Patricia! And she is a top gardener.
Please note also that we’ll spend EVERY NIGHT and often all or much of the day at YOUR place. A commitment well ahead is not a problem (quite the reverse)... and that's probably all you ever need to know!
As Carole King says... You just call out my name... ???

By all means ASK any question if there are any remaining (???) and you’ll receive a straight and honest reply. Phone references on request.

Best of everything.
Donald and of course senior partner Patricia.
Cats R Us. Read more...