I am looking for a non-smoker to look after my house and cats for a 8-12 month period, as I am going away on sabbatical. My house is located on a 49-acre lot in rural eastern Quebec. There is a small grassy pasture and the rest of the lot is wooded. The house is approximately 1100 sq. ft, and consists of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a large open-plan kitchen/dining/living room, a loft that could be used as a 3rd bedroom, plus an unfinished basement. It has large windows (lots of light) and a deck. There is a 2-car separate garage, and a small, currently unused, barn/stable. Care would involve normal house work (house cleaning, lawn mowing), and pet care. There is no fancy landscaping to take care of. Snow removal will be left at the discretion of house sitter (snow-blower and shovels available, or could be contracted out). Most importantly, I have two young (1 and 2 year old) female cats, who live mostly indoors, and will need lots of loving while I am away. Located in a very rural area, this might be an ideal retreat for an artist. Fluency in French would be an advantage, although this may be ideal for a house-sitter keen to learn French.