How a cat sit in Hawaii led to enriching friendships - Julia’s story

At TrustedHousesitters, we like to think we make the impossible, paw-sible. When Julia applied for her first sit outside of Oregon, USA, she never knew this would lead to such an extraordinary experience: cat sitting in Hawaii not once, but three times! Julia’s pet sitting adventures began when she went to house sit in Hilo for Wendy, Todd, and their 15 fabulous felines in October 2022. Despite the amazing backdrop, Julia had a few nerves and reservations beforehand:

“I felt a bit apprehensive about traveling to Hilo for the first time and managing a house full of cats, uncertain of how well I would get along with them. However, Wendy and Todd made the transition seamless by staying the first night with me.”

Wendy and Todd took the time to introduce Julia to each of their cats. Not only did this help make the cats feel more comfortable with a new presence, but it allowed Julia to settle into her first sit outside of mainland USA.

“While I had extensive experience with local pet sitting in Oregon, where I live, this was my first venture into travel pet sitting through TrustedHousesitters.”

Thanks to Wendy and Todd’s thoughtfulness and patience, it kicked start Julia’s dream house sit in Hawaii:

“This thoughtful gesture significantly alleviated my nerves and laid the foundation for a wonderful stay.”

And so began Julia’s first Hawaiian house sit adventure!

The beauty of building bonds

Once Wendy and Todd had left their home and kitties in the capable hands of Julia, it was time to settle in and start enjoying the Hawaiian cat sitting lifestyle:

“The most memorable aspect of my stay was undoubtedly the opportunity to connect deeply with so many cats and explore the beautiful island of Hawai'i in my free time. Each cat had its own unique personality, and it was a joy to get to know them all.” 

For those unfamiliar with Hilo, it is the quintessential Hawaiian island with thick, lush landscapes and gorgeous white sandy beaches. For those unfamiliar with cats, they’re four-legged mythical furballs who can read minds and provide amazing cuddles.

Of course, as a sitter, you always equally adore the pets you’re caring for. But, Julia did have a bit of a soft spot for two particular paw babies:

“I formed a particularly special bond with Tabitha and Oreo. These two cats slept in the master bedroom with me, and over a few nights, they warmed up to me. Their affectionate snuggles not only made me feel incredibly welcome but also helped ease the homesickness I felt for my own cats back home. Their companionship turned the experience into something truly heartwarming.”

The purr-fect hosts, some would say!

“Their companionship turned the experience into something truly heartwarming”

Since the first fabulously furry experience, Julia has returned twice more to house sit in Hawaii for Wendy, Todd, and the kitties. Through this, the three of them (or eight of them?) have developed a lifelong friendship and bond, one that Julia has begun to treasure:

“We have maintained regular contact, checking in with each other periodically, which has strengthened our bond. This ongoing relationship has been incredibly rewarding, transforming what began as a pet sitting arrangement into a friendship.” 

The purr-ks of pet sitting! Not only has this benefitted the three humans, but it’s also provided a great experience and sitting option for the cats too:

“Each visit has been filled with warmth and positivity, and it’s been wonderful to see how much the cats have grown comfortable with me over time.”

Igniting a passion for travel pet sitting

The combination of being able to explore an amazing place like Hawaii, surrounded by pets, making new friends, and saving accommodation costs, has paved a new way of life and travel for Julia. After all, who hasn't pondered the question of how to live in Hawaii for free before, and with the added bonus of staying with and caring for cute furry friends in the process? Now that's the dream.

“The positive and enriching experience I had with Wendy and Todd in Hilo has definitely inspired me to pursue more travel pet sitting opportunities.” 

While her most recent and upcoming sits are based around her home in Oregon, USA, she plans to return to Hawaii and also explore new pet sitting adventure opportunities:

“This experience has ignited a passion for travel pet sitting, and I am excited about the possibilities it holds for the future.”

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Julia! We’re delighted you had such an incredible experience and we can’t wait to hear what you’ll be doing next. 

If you’re looking for some more inspiration, you should check Jess and Tom’s story - building bonds has been an important foundation for their pet sitting adventures too. They’ve also cared for some rather unusual fur (and feathered) babies.
Otherwise, search for your own house sitting adventure in Hawaii, and discover the magic of pet sitting.