I do cat sitting, and after the basic feeding and scooping duties, I like
to spend at least half an hour, sometimes an hour, just hanging out with
the kitties - because I LIKE THEM! That's why I do it! I now have a few
regular folks I've cat-sat for several times, so I've gotten to know the
kitties and have developed relationships with them. They like me, and want
me to play with them, brush them, cuddle on the couch with them, and so
on. Hey, these people have TVs. I know how to relax with the remote in one
hand and a cat purring on me. :) If I didn't need the money, I'd do it
for free, at least for my friends.

I just did two concurrent catsitting jobs last weekend (over Christmas)
and one of them was a sleep-over. This was for a very cute tabby girl
who was the only cat in a tiny apartment. At first she didn't seem very
impressed with me, and didn't like me to pet her very much (although
she did enjoy nuzzling my fingers with her nose, and rubbing her cheek
scent glands against my hands). But she kept her distance otherwise,
until I discovered some of her favorite games. Then I was her best friend. :)

The other job required me to stop in once a day and let the cats in from
outside so they could eat. There was a cat flap in the door, but it only
opened in one direction - from inside to outside. So if I left the house
with either or both of them inside, they could get out if they wanted to,
but then couldn't get back in again. This was because there was a
neighborhood cat who would come in and pee in the house. This job was
very easy and just required me to show up, open the back door and call
them. If either was around, they'd come in and chomp on the dry food,
which was always down for them to free-feed on. But I would hang out for
a while because one of the cats liked to cuddle with me on the person's
bed, and get brushed. The other one was more remote, but would occasionally
meow at me for pets and scritches.

I really enjoy cat sitting!!

Joyce