Unfortunately my family doesn't have dates. We really have no idea when we will next have to go away.
We live in a 4 bedroom home with lots of surrounding land.
About our female, spayed, non-declawed cat:
Isis is a very sweet, loving girl, however, she is very picky about who she likes (and who she will come near). She hardly ever likes men. :( It took her a very long time before trusting my husband!
She is our only cat. We had another cat who died recently. She never liked him and was not kind to him.
Isis does not like young children. She may be okay with a female teen.
She likes quiet. Loud people frighten her. A new person would have to move slowly at first.
And lastly, as much as I hate to say this: very big people frighten her. This includes very tall and obese. (So embarrassing!) I don't know if someone fell on her or what the story is, but if a person is big, she will NEVER come out!
Due to my asthma and Isis', we must have a non-smoking sitter and a person who doesn't wear perfume, sprays. Isis' asthma is managed solely with keeping her environment safe.
Isis has low grade cardiomyopathy. She's doing really well! In the summer, we keep the house cool. Our windows are closed and covered when it's hot out and unfortunately the air conditioning is kept running to cut the humidity when that's a problem.
In the winter, the house can not be kept too cold because it will increase her wheezing. It can be very hot inside the house during the day because of the placement of the windows (really hard to believe but it's true). You could then of course drop the heat. We live far up North, care would need to be taken that it not get very cold for yourself, Isis, and our pipes.
Isis takes a pill for her liver and also one for her pancreas. The pill for her liver must be given to her in a pill popper. She likes to be pilled! She must be fasted before the pill for her liver and fasted for an hour afterwards.
The pancreas (for pancreatitis, Isis is not diabetic) medication is crushed in baby food (this interestingly doesn't go as well occasionally as pilling goes). Isis also takes crushed potassium as directed by her veterinarian. This is also mixed into baby food.
Isis is afraid of lightning. She doesn't go outdoors but she will hide when there is a storm.
Isis loves water. Sometimes she will play in it.
She's very playful although she can be rough. If she likes you and is allowed to scratch you, she will without mercy.
She gets into trouble often. She is one of those cats that must get into everything. You can't leave a plastic bag around. You have to be careful about what is left around. We've had vet emergency trips because of this.
You wouldn't know Isis is sick but she is.
Sharpening her nails on the box springs (so violently you will think there is a small quake) is how she will wake you! If she does this, it means she really likes you.
Lastly, a family member has anaphylactic food allergies. It will be important that a sitter is very careful and attentive to this. Avoiding cross-contamination would have to be practiced OR we will buy ahead of time safe foods you like to eat (eliminating the allergens) to avoid an emergency room trip. It's worth the cost.
If you are not well knowledgable of cross-contaminating and all derivatives of the allergens, it is a difficult thing to learn in a short amount of time.