I’ve been pet sitting a lot lately. I’ve been doing this on and off for years. I usually take care of cats and sometimes dogs.

There’s something about loving other people’s animals and looking after their homes that is calming and soothing. It’s probably the notion that this duty stems from trust, which makes it meaningful. When pet sitting, I do my best to treat the house like a camp site: Leave No Trace. This means leaving everything the way it was found. I treat other people’s homes better than my own, even. And of course, the animals need lots of love while their families are away. My introverted nature generally makes me more sociable around animals than people, so I give them as much attention as they like.

When pet sitting, it’s very important not to pick favorites among clients and their cats to ensure that everyone gets the same kind of loving treatment. Of course, like people, cats have different personalities. Some are more affectionate, and others need more space. Regardless, I still love them like they’re my own.

When it comes to looking after the house, I mentioned the Leave No Trace principle. This is because when people come back to their homes from a trip, they’re probably tired. My job is to make everything look nice so that they come back to a clean and pleasant setting. I do my best to leave the home the way I found it. Not only does it impress them, but that often influences their decision if they would like me to look after their home and animals in the future.

Whenever I’m pet sitting, I often send pictures and updates at the family’s discretion. The families miss their pets, so I give them a peace of mind that everyone is being well loved and cared for. I’ve rarely ever had anything go wrong, and if something were to happen, they would get notified immediately. I’m pretty careful and like making sure everyone is safe.

Often, I get asked to come back. Not only has trust been established to look after everything, but the animals and I have built a solid rapport. I’m always happy to do so.