Community Forum: March round-up

As the month of March comes to a close, we’ve got a spring in our step and we can’t wait to share the latest from our Community Forum with you. 

In this edition, we’re bringing you everything from captivating conversations to awe-inspiring photos, as well as a few new topics. We’re excited to introduce our Member Spotlight section which will give you the chance to get to know each other a little better.

We’re also keeping you up-to-date on the latest additions to our platform, as well as shining a light on discussions around caring for cats and making a difference to the lives of the sitters and owners you meet.

Must-read discussions

Cats are famous for having a bit of a sassy streak (it’s all part of the charm, right?), and it can be tricky to know how they’ll react to having a sitter take their pet parent’s place. That’s why, when @Maggie8K struck up a conversation about the unique behavior of each and every cat, we had to pounce! Our cat-savvy members shared some great tips to avoid getting bitten or scratched by cats, including allowing cats to warm up to you in their own time and learning how to read their body language.  

We also want to give a shout-out to @Lassie, who shared her cat foster experience on the thread:

“My experience: cat owner for 17 years, fostered 85 cats so far (from newborns to seniors, friendly to terrified), daily work with stray/feral cats, and pet-sat many other cats. Even with all that experience, I am still learning”. 

Props to you, @Lassie!

Member spotlight

Today we’re celebrating @Cuttlefish, the house sitting duo known on the Forum for their epic hashtags! They kindly agreed to answer some questions for us:

• How did you get into house sitting?
  “Yearning to travel again post-Covid but at a slower pace. Quite a few people had said it would suit us. As a new couple, it was an exciting adventure together that could take us anywhere. 2.5 years, 17 countries, and 30 sits later, it was a smart plan!”
  
• Tell us about your favorite house sit so far
  “So many good ones. The most memorable was an off-grid northern Thailand sit for a month living in a treehouse taking care of 36 animals.”
  
• What’s your favorite book?
  “Shantaram.”
  
• What’s one key thing have you learned since house sitting?
  “Always have a plan B (& C!).”

• What’s your favorite animal?
  “Hippos are pretty amazing.”

• What’s your favorite song?
  “Colours by Black Pumas.”

• Where in the world would your dream house sit be?
  “The Bahamas sounds nice.”

Next time, this could be you! If you fancy your moment in the spotlight, please send Jenny or Carla a DM.

Forum member shout-outs 

@pietkuip has been on hand to reassure anyone who’s got less than a 5-star review that they can continue the sitting adventure! He’s also been encouraging new sitters who are struggling to get started:

“Hi @Rach-1

It took me six applications to get a sit. That was at Christmas, it is easier then. After the first review, your chances will be a lot better.

You could apply to short sits with the “low applications” label, especially when there is not much time left 🙂”.

@HelloOutThere’s wife broke her foot and needed surgery, so the team would like to wish her a speedy recovery! 

@Maggie8K shared having to unexpectedly nurse a dog at the end of its life during a sit. She did incredibly well, and we were glad the community could help support her during this sad time. 

@Silversitters continues to point members in the direction of Membership Services and is always on hand to share help desk articles and anything else that assists members in need!

Top pics

@wendy_chicago captured this photo of Bowie with a snazzy new camera lens, and it’s too cute not to share! 

@Catgoddess_99 shared pics of the Gundvagen fjord in Norway – what a photo!

The topic of captivating wildlife photos also had us in awe – here’s a pic of @Makelikeanapeman meeting a whale in Mexico! 

What’s new?

Beta-testing of the new inbox

We’re excited to announce that the new inbox is being beta-tested by some of our fantastic Forum members. There are plenty of exciting updates on the way, and the feedback we’ve received so far has been invaluable in helping to shape the inbox – watch this space!

New owner categories for reviews

We’ve launched new categories for reviewing owners, which means sitters will be able to give far more detailed feedback after their sit. 

Have you seen the new favorites page?

Now all your favorite sits and sitters have their very own page! With extra filter options and listings/profiles that appear in chronological order, finding and keeping track of what you've saved is easier than ever. 

An update on closing posts

We love keeping our members in the loop about how things work on the Community Forum, so this should clear up any confusion over closing posts. 

What else have the community been discussing? 

Have you had a positive effect on an owner or sitter?

@Smiley started this heartwarming thread about the impact members have had on the community, sparked by the moment she inspired a home owner to try a fresh start. The discussion continued on how to (gently) encourage people to declutter their homes and the various definitions of ‘clean’.  

The places we go, the people we meet

Self-professed storyteller @Amparo shared an incredible story about conversations with strangers during an unexpectedly long journey to a house sit. 

“Each and every one of us has a story. We have unique experiences when we travel and come into the homes of strangers who sometimes become friends, some you may even want to carry a faucet across 3 continents for. Some will be there when you least expect it and some you may never know their names,” she said.

Are you ready to spring into action? 

Join our Community Forum today and become a part of conversations like these or simply have a read of what other people have to say! Share your stories, learn from others, and let your ideas blossom!