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personHouse sitter

Kathy

Sandpaper Kisses Wagging Tails

Picture of House Sitter, House Minder and Pet Sitter at House Sitters America, United States. User Sandpaper Kisses Wagging Tails
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About me

personSingle

72, Retired & creative

I love caring for your pets, plants and property. Pets warm up asking for love on their terms and we become well acquainted. Highly organized & warm by nature I enjoy getting to know each of you.

sellRates
Free

Note: Open dates September 20-30 in Santa Fe or Alb NM area & from October 7, 2025 I will consider ... Read moreNote: Open dates September 20-30 in Santa Fe or Alb NM area & from October 7, 2025 I will consider other states with owner paid travel due to rising costs. I look forward to hearing from you.

I do apply for Paid sits on this & other sites many homeowners contact me directly. Some extend others ask me to return multiple times.

Tips are welcome and appreciated via Venmo, cash or PayPal. Thank you

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favoriteWhy we love house sitting

Sitting fulfills my nurturing side I enjoy discovering your pets quirks & giving individual attention. No pets no problem keeping your property safe & plants thriving is fun. Every sit offers challenges & culinary adventure (Pescatarian non smoker, clean living).

Communication with pictures keeps you informed and able to relax. My specialty is mid to long term sits & I am familiar with onsite Airbnb or renters (separate entrance), and sits with no pets, security cameras. Ask me in advance & I’ll work with you to accommodate.

Experience: July 2016 to March 2020, 12 states from Florida to the west coast & in between. Rural acreage (1-40+ acres) & outbuildings (25+ miles to shop) plus city apartments, homes, and estates. Chickens, wildlife & wild bird ... Read moreCommunication with pictures keeps you informed and able to relax. My specialty is mid to long term sits & I am familiar with onsite Airbnb or renters (separate entrance), and sits with no pets, security cameras. Ask me in advance & I’ll work with you to accommodate.

Experience: July 2016 to March 2020, 12 states from Florida to the west coast & in between. Rural acreage (1-40+ acres) & outbuildings (25+ miles to shop) plus city apartments, homes, and estates. Chickens, wildlife & wild bird feeding. Orchards, greenhouses, weather events & more.

A former driver ed teacher & State tester in Colorado, a road warrior job & government employment (passed rigorous law enforcement checks) led to care & upkeep of your vehicles.

Fast forward to after pandemic when full time house sitting resumed May 2022, in NM and evolved into long (3-9+ month) & repeat sits in NM, CO, AZ, CA. Many owners contact me directly and others book travel when they know I have an opening.

Tips welcome & appreciated (cash/Venmo/PayPal). Thanks in advance I look forward to hearing from you.

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Pet care

It takes a calm demeanor to bond quickly with multiple types of pets on a continuous schedule.
Dogs - it’s less the size or breed & more the training I do best with less reactionary well trained walkers & those with a playful nature in a fenced yard or with acres to run. Border collies, Golden ... Read moreIt takes a calm demeanor to bond quickly with multiple types of pets on a continuous schedule.
Dogs - it’s less the size or breed & more the training I do best with less reactionary well trained walkers & those with a playful nature in a fenced yard or with acres to run. Border collies, Golden Retrievers, mutts, Poodle, even a Chihuahua, Labs, & more call me friend.
Cats - Bengal, Norwegian Forest, Siamese, Feral rescue, too many to list I am a cat whisperer with years of ownership & pet sitting expertise.
Health conditions include asthma, various digestive issues, arthritis, elder pets, rescues & more. I work closely with owners & their vets. To date no loss of pet on my watch.
Please be honest & share any & all characteristics up front to ensure your worry free travel & safe pets.

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petsWilling to care for these pets

DogsDogs
CatsCats
FishFish
Chickens/Ducks/GeeseChickens/Ducks/Geese
NoneNone

Trust

Platinum member36 months+
reviews5 star reviews
demographyPolice check
diagnosisReferences

diagnosisAbout my references

Additional references available on request & often specific to your area.

Availability

eventNext 6 months

May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct

eventCurrent bookings

2025: 17-28 May | 28 May - 6 Jun | 6 Jun - 7 Jul | 7-11 Jul | 13 Jul - 20 Sep | 30 Sep - 6 Oct

chairOn a house-sit right now

Preferences

scheduleHouse sit duration

2 - 4 weeks, 1 - 2 months, 2 months +

where_to_votePreferred locations

California: Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico

travelTravel plans

As of October 2025 I am in the process of creating a home base & changing to paid shorter sits in the local area. Unless a long term sit presents itself & I can’t refuse. Thanks for your interest.

Reviews (16)

Kathy was very flexible and accommodating when scheduling her sit at our home. She took a lot of time and care to learn about the needs of our pet. We felt comfortable that she was capable and conscientious. She was good about keeping us updated with texts and photos. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a home/pet sitter.
Kathy was reliable and thorough. I'm very grateful!
Kathy was great. Sent photos. For some reason Peanut was barking while she was there but she communicated and my ideas worked and Peanut settled after the first day. I arrived home quite late and at my invitation Kathy stayed an extra day. When we went up to bed Peanut was at her door trying to get in!! LOL. Clearly they had bonded. House was in same condition as when I left; couldn't ask for more than that. I enjoyed chatting with Kathy over a tea. Would definitely recommend that you have her ... MoreKathy was great. Sent photos. For some reason Peanut was barking while she was there but she communicated and my ideas worked and Peanut settled after the first day. I arrived home quite late and at my invitation Kathy stayed an extra day. When we went up to bed Peanut was at her door trying to get in!! LOL. Clearly they had bonded. House was in same condition as when I left; couldn't ask for more than that. I enjoyed chatting with Kathy over a tea. Would definitely recommend that you have her pet/house sit. Thanks Kathy

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We were lucky to have Kathy as our sitter during this holiday season. My cat fell in love with Kathy. Kathy is down to earth and honest. It was such a peace of mind having Kathy care for our cat, Simon and our home.
Thank you so much for your generous gift card & tip. I am beyond grateful it was enjoyable to meet you, Simon & your family. Safe travels.
If you are lucky enough to have Kathy reach out to you for a sit DO NOT DELAY. She is kind, responsible and took beautiful care of my home. She also bonded with my cat and gave him all the attention necessary to make his few weeks without us actually exciting! Also, her comunication with me while i was in Italy was perfect. Grazie Kathy!!!
1 of 2 reviews from this owner
Kathy is great with our kitties. They enjoy having her stay with them and always cuddle up to her. We appreciate her communication and thoughtfulness. She leaves the house clean and takes care of all the basic house duties while we're gone. Kathy is a great person to call for your next sit.
Kathy communicated with us but due to other circumstances was not able to stay with our animal for the planned stay. We did let Kathy know ahead of time about our dog and she assured us she'd be able to handle her. This did leave us in a bind and we ended up having to pay for a dog sitter which was a very unplanned expense. We appreciate Kathy's communication but the situation was unfortunate.
The safety of your & all my owners pets is of utmost importance. Leaving your sit after days of continual communication with your husband while trying to stay put my own housing at risk. Tessa and I bonded in the confines of your home (she slept glued to my side). On walks her reactions were scary ... MoreThe safety of your & all my owners pets is of utmost importance. Leaving your sit after days of continual communication with your husband while trying to stay put my own housing at risk. Tessa and I bonded in the confines of your home (she slept glued to my side). On walks her reactions were scary with me literally hanging on to her leash while she lunged and barked upon seeing or hearing other dogs. I was not told in advance 1. Chad stated, that you Meghan rarely walk Tessa, she spends much of her time with him riding in his truck. 2. trying to keep her separate from your renters whose apartment entrance is through the backyard was problematic. I was not introduced to them and was told Tessa had not met them. In 8 years sitting this is the first time I had to leave for safety reasons.

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I can't say enough good things about Kathy. She was highly professional from beginning to end, and my cat loved her. She was able to handle unexpected issues without breaking a sweat. My water heater sprung a leak while I was gone, and she seamlessly coordinated with a plumber to have a new one (upgraded model that I choose) installed the next day. She also handled minor sprinkler issue with the help of my neighbor, who had nothing but praise for her. Highly recommended. I would not ... MoreI can't say enough good things about Kathy. She was highly professional from beginning to end, and my cat loved her. She was able to handle unexpected issues without breaking a sweat. My water heater sprung a leak while I was gone, and she seamlessly coordinated with a plumber to have a new one (upgraded model that I choose) installed the next day. She also handled minor sprinkler issue with the help of my neighbor, who had nothing but praise for her. Highly recommended. I would not hesitate to use her again.

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Thank you Dave and please thank Larry (neighbor) for allowing me to ask questions. He and his wife were very helpful, I’m grateful!
Kathy was a dedicated sitter and our kitties and plants thrived in her care. She took excellent care of the house and garden, and reported regularly on the house and cats. We were able to trust her implicitly with all aspects of our home. We recommend her to anyone looking for someone easy going, caring, and trustworthy.
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Kathy was so positive and helpful during her visit. She took great care of our pets and was very communicative and clear! I would recommend her to watch your pets any time, except when I need her again! :)
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2 of 2 reviews from this owner
Kathy was a wonderful sitter. She knows exactly what to do with cats and handled our rambunctious kittens well. She took great care of the house, cooked extra chicken for the kitties and kept us happy with cute pictures of Milo and Millie while we were away. I appreciated Kathy's communication and kept us a breast of the goings on at home. We'd definitely have her sit for us again!
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Kathy was an excellent guest in our home. She took great care of my two kitties. They seemed to miss her after she left!!! I would use her again in a minute. Contact me if you have any questions.
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Kathy did a great job of housesitting our dog and cat. She sent us frequent updates on the animals via texts and we appreciated that. She walked our dog daily and I know he enjoyed that. I would recommend her to anyone wanting a house sitter.
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Kathy was an exceptional housesitter for our cat and a lovely person. Kathy is quiet, calm, and dependable. Pictures of our cat were sent often while we were away. Her experience with pet sitting proved valuable when I nearly forgot to include Veterinary details before we left. The house was tidy when we returned. I highly recommend Kathy for housesitting and will call her for future housesitting needs.
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Kathy McElveny was just what the doctored ordered. She bonded with our 3 cats quickly, keep us appraised of how they were doing, sent us pictures of our babies and gave us peace of mind while we took a month off to do a road trip from the west coast to the east coast and back again. She took one of our babies to the vet when needed, secured our home during a fall storm and keep the house in good order for our return. We would recommend her for taking care of YOUR babies when you need someone to ... MoreKathy McElveny was just what the doctored ordered. She bonded with our 3 cats quickly, keep us appraised of how they were doing, sent us pictures of our babies and gave us peace of mind while we took a month off to do a road trip from the west coast to the east coast and back again. She took one of our babies to the vet when needed, secured our home during a fall storm and keep the house in good order for our return. We would recommend her for taking care of YOUR babies when you need someone to give you peace of mind for your travels.

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We could not have found a better fit for our first house sitter. Kathy is extremely conscientious and caring, She kept our home in tip-top shape while we were traveling and went way above and beyond expectations. Kathy was an excellent caretaker for our cats and property. Our cats adored her! They were very well cared for in our absence and possibly healthier upon our return than they were when we left. We would not hesitate for a nano second to recommend Kathy for any house sit. She will ... MoreWe could not have found a better fit for our first house sitter. Kathy is extremely conscientious and caring, She kept our home in tip-top shape while we were traveling and went way above and beyond expectations. Kathy was an excellent caretaker for our cats and property. Our cats adored her! They were very well cared for in our absence and possibly healthier upon our return than they were when we left. We would not hesitate for a nano second to recommend Kathy for any house sit. She will always be our first choice to house sit for us any time she is available.

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