The HouseHolders
Below are a few testimonials from our most recent happy home owners. For serious inquiries, we are able to provide more references and contact information.
Private Residence, Oakland, CA
Kat and Jon are great cat/house sitters. They recently stayed with my two 5-month old kittens while I was out of town and took excellent care of them both. Since this was the first time I had left the cats since adopting them, I was initially worried about how they would respond to new people. All my concerns went away when Kat and Jon came to meet them. My kittens took to them immediately. I think they might have been happy that I was gone because each kitten had a person to themselves!The checklist Kat provided helped me organize all my information about the kittens so we could both referred to it. Kat sent regular updates and Jon sent me lots of kitten pictures. Everything is the house was clean when I returned, and my kittens acted as if I hadn't been gone more than a day.I highly recommend Kat and Jon and will use them again!
- Rockridge Kittens owner
Private Residence, San Francisco, CA
I was utterly thrilled with Kat and Jon's petsitting service! My boyfriend and I went away for 18 days, which is the longest I've ever left my dog and cat with someone else. Furthermore, I had never before left my pets with strangers. I am someone who tends to get very nervous when leaving my pets for a long time, but thanks to Kat and Jon, I was able to relax and enjoy my vacation without worrying about some pet-related disaster. From our first night away, even before boarding the plane, I'd already received email updates and photos of my pets, happy in Kat's lap. During my entire trip, Kat and Jon were consistent about sending photos and emails, sometimes several times a day. It was amazing! I was completely confident that my pets were happy and safe in their hands. I would absolutely recommend their service to any pet or home owner who plans to travel.
- San Francisco Dog & Cat owner
Private Residence, San Francisco, CA
I haven't done many formal reviews but I had such a great experience with Jon and Kat that I feel compelled to share.Jon and Kat stayed in my home and cared for my 8 year old lab Cocoa for three weeks while I was on vacation in Central America. I was a little worried about being so far away and potentially out of reach in case anything went wrong but was put at ease with Jon and Kat from the very beginning.A few weeks prior to the trip (before the madness of packing and scrambling w/ last minute details) Jon and Kat came over to meet Cocoa and for us to get to know each other. I could tell right away that they would be a great fit. They were warm, friendly and laid back. As we discussed the few behavioral quirks/issues I'd noticed with Cocoa over the years I could tell from their past experiences that they could expertly handle any incident that might arise.As departure day approached Jon and Kat gathered all the key contact and health/behavioral info they needed which further put my mind at ease that they were the right choice to care for Cocoa (and my home).Right before the trip I discovered Cocoa had an ear infection that required daily ear drops for a week. Based on my impressions of Jon and Kat, I knew they'd have no problem keeping Cocoa on her meds and on a speedy road to recovery in my absence ... and I was right. They were fabulous! They didn't bat an eye when I asked them to keep Cocoa's ears clean and the meds flowing ... and when I got back the infection was gone!!During the trip I couldn't have asked any more from Jon and Kat. After our grueling days of laying on the beach and exploring the jungles of Costa Rica :-) I would check my email to find wonderful updates from Kat (with expert quality photos from Jon). It was amazing. I got the feeling Cocoa was having just as much fun as we were. Maybe more?When we got back from the trip the house was in great shape ... complete with clean sheets, mail sorted and a wonderful note from Kat welcoming us back. It was an amazing vacation made even better by the knowledge Cocoa was being so well cared for at home. I would absolutely have them care for Cocoa again and highly recommend them to family, friends and anyone else who loves their pets.Thanks Jon and Kat!
- San Francisco Chocolate Lab owner
Private Residence, Oakland, CA
Kat & Jon did a wonderful job watching over our apartment and taking good care of our cat while we we're on vacation. We felt completely comfortable leaving our cat and our home in their care. Kat was great at communicating updates by email. They even left the apartment in better condition that they found it. On top of it all, they both seem like really great people!
- Downtown Oakland Cat owner
Private Residence, San Francisco, CA
Jon and Kat took care of my two cats, Samson and Miranda, at my flat in San Francisco, for 3 months this summer. They were wonderful. I found them to be trustworthy, competent, responsible, and reliable caretakers of the cats and my home. Over a period of 3 months a lot can happen in a household, and they handled everything with skill and clear communications with me throughout that period of time.
They were so loving with the cats. The two cats are older and can be quite demanding. With past pet sitters, they have remained aloof for up to two weeks after my departures. With Jon and Kat, they quickly responded and behaved much in the same manner that they behave with me on a regular basis. Jon and Kat's comfort level and familiarity with pets is so obvious and apparently is communicated to the animals when they move in.
As other reviewers have noted, Kat takes over with the communication links and Jon is a meticulous organizer. They make such a good team. They helped me with all sorts of tasks like starting and driving my car every two weeks, sorting my mail and sending me the pieces that needed attention, taking up to date photos of the cats and sending them electronically along with notes about the household and the cats on a weekly basis. Kat would email me more often if anything came up that needed attention and some joint decision making. The flat was super clean and tidy when I got home.
Jon and Kat are warm, personable, talented, and interesting people. I felt so safe with them caring for my precious cats and my home during my absence. I definitely hope to work with them again in the future. I highly recommend that anyone who is considering leaving their home and their pets with good people, go with Jon and Kat.
- San Francisco Cat owner
Private Residence, Oakland, CA
Kat and Jon house-sat our dog Buddy when we went on vacation for 10 days. Before we left they came to meet Buddy and us, so everyone was comfortable with the arrangement. Prior to the trip, they sent us a very thorough checklist of information we need to provide them, and offered to take care of anything that needed to be attended to besides Buddy.
While we were gone they emailed us pictures of Buddy having fun, so we could tell he was doing great. When we came home, I think he kind of missed them and he wished we could all live in the house together. Throughout, Kat and Jon were totally reliable and awesome to work with it. I hope they are available next time we go somewhere. 6 stars!
- Rockridge Dog owners
Private Residence, Alameda, CA
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​I met Jon and Kat through my daughter and they were available to housesit for me during a recent three-week trip. I have a small East Bay bungalow with a large front garden, raised veggie beds, numerous potted plants, and a neurotic cat that all required attention. Jon and Kat saw to everything carefully and professionally. I will ask them back whenever I have extended absences, and hope that they will be able to come again.Their services were valuable to me in these areas: 1. My extremely noisy, very high strung, little princess cat got her meals AND lots of genuine TLC and tummy rubs (which she adores). J&K sent me pictures, so I wouldn't worry and could see how content she was. 3. My garden flourished under their care. 3. Thanks to their thorough sorting of my mail, it was the easiest return I've had from a trip. I was able to work through the business that had piled up very speedily. It was also great to come home to fresh sheets and a clean house. 4. Having the house occupied increased its security and gave me great peace of mind while I was away. I could, and did, literally forget about it and concentrate on the trip. Thank you House Holders!
- Alameda Cat owner
April 2013 - May 2013
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Private Residence, Oakland, CA
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Jon and Kat took care of our house, dog and bird for somewhat over two weeks. They did a great job; we received unsolicited reports on our dog (Willow) and a few problems came up (fleas on Willow mostly) and they took care of it really well and quickly. The house (plants, etc) were well cared for, and when they came over for a glass of wine and beer some weeks later, Willow was greeted them as long lost (or not so long lost) dear friends. They will take care of Willow and our house again in a few months. I doubt Willow knows that going to happen, but I'm sure he will be excited to be with them again. They did a great job.
- Rockridge Dog & Bird owners
Private Residence, Rockridge, CA
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​Kat and Jon were the most attentive house-sitters we've ever had. They were very respectful of our things in our house and took very good care of my two needy cats. This is likely in part to Kat's attentive manner. She is very communicative and will not hesitate to clarify about instructions. In addition, she will gracefully ask about other possibly situations that might arise. For example, she suggested I sign a medical release for my cats just in case the vet was unable to reach me. They both show great initiative and I would not hesitate to utilize their services again.​​
- Oakland Cat owners
​​The Barkissimo, Emeryville, CA
Kat and Jon were my first B&B managers and boat caretakers and they set the bar ridiculously high. I can only hope to find replacements half as amazing as them. Over the five months we spent operating my B & B together, I felt immediately that I could trust them with everything and they never disappointed. In addition to smoothly running the daily operations of the B & B and helping with maintenance, they went above and beyond by setting up a computer and internet based schedule system to manage the helper shifts and take reservations. I was able to leave them in charge of my home and business for most of the time they were here, and they proved to be completely responsible and exceptionally competent. These two would be an enormous asset to any place they go and it saddens me deeply to see them leave, but they leave with my blessings to bring their wonderful energy and extraordinary ability to wherever they end up. ​
- Captain Scott, Emeryville Boat and B&B Owner
Toodjay Emu Ranch, WA, Australia​
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I have known Kat and Jon since they arrived in Western Australia on May 17th 2012 to begin working on our farm. We are a mixed farm, in the Avon Valley of Western Australia, having mainly sheep and emus. Kat and Jon readily learnt the various chores that were required of them which included collecting emu eggs from nests in the bush, feeding 100 adult and juvenile emus, feeding 350 sheep and checking water troughs and pumping water to various points around the farm. They also maintained our vegetable and flower gardens, lawns and kept our house yard neat and tidy. The fed our domestic chickens, dogs, pet sheep, and ostriches on a daily basis. They kept their house very neat and tidy and respected our vehicles when driving on the roads. As we are a tourist destination they enthusiastically embraced being tour guides and retail entrepreneurs to the various visitors we had. I have no hesitation in adding that they are both trustworthy, kind and conscientious and I wish them well in their endeavours.
- Kip & Charm, Western Australia Ranch Owners​