CATS R US. Fluent in All Cat. 16 YEARS.

More information about this house sitter

Last update February 13:

Hello All. 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.

Booking for 2026 right open through for as far ahead as you wish. 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! Sorry but NO DOGS.
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 but there's plenty of space available. Later in the year is good but must be a maximum of a fortnight please, as there are commitments we have to work around.
We did have South Australia in 2025 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. We see them in June. They specialise in zooming and would go well in a Simon's Cat episode. 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. And Dear Neville has gone. Gee it always hurts, even though we are just the sitters! However we met the GORGEOUS Sookie this past few months 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??? I suspect a little black and white stranger might have sneaked in the back door?

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 and Tonks are special favourites 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 really our thing.
Thank you.
Donald.

THE 16 YEARS HISTORY:
Began at Mosman many years ago. We loved our ACT sits with delightful chatterbox, 20 years old tortoiseshell Artemis. Yes, she was 20! A marvel! 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 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 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 then Banksia in Sydney.
Just had time in beautiful Cooma - a lovely little cat (one of those you wish you could sneak home with!) and we 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.
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