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groupHouse sitters

michael & Cathie

The Perfect Pair

About us

groupCouple

michael: 63, massage therapist/ecologist/musician/composer/animal lover

Cathie: 63, Restauranteur/small farm owner/animal lover

sellRates
Free

Hello! We are Michael Kowal and Cathie Mckim, interested in house/pet sitting for extended periods of time throughout the United States and Canada. We have years of experience taking good care of our own homes, as well as domestic animals, from cats and dogs to horses and chickens.We have been house/pet sitting part time for many years, and have been doing it full time for 2. We are a healthy, happy, outgoing couple who not only enjoy animals, (ESPECIALLY DOGS AND CATS!), and caring for plants, ... Read moreHello! We are Michael Kowal and Cathie Mckim, interested in house/pet sitting for extended periods of time throughout the United States and Canada. We have years of experience taking good care of our own homes, as well as domestic animals, from cats and dogs to horses and chickens.We have been house/pet sitting part time for many years, and have been doing it full time for 2. We are a healthy, happy, outgoing couple who not only enjoy animals, (ESPECIALLY DOGS AND CATS!), and caring for plants, but love hiking, biking, theater, reading, music, and all aspects of culture. We pride ourselves on taking care of owners' homes like our OWN, with GREAT attention to detail, diligence, and cleanliness. We've been 'on the road' of house and pet sitting for four years now, and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

Cathie has extensive experience in the food industry, owning and operating four very successful restaurants over a period of 25 years, including food and beverage management for a five star/five diamond resort. She is a life long cat and dog lover and owner and has managed a small farm with goats, chickens, guineas, rabbits, dogs and cats as well as a small home based food coop.

Michael is a massage therapist, ecologist, wildlife biologist, published author, poet, musician, composer, and has worked extensively as a hiking guide throughout the United States. He is a dog/cat/horse lover/owner and has great experience working on small farms since boyhood. We would be EXTREMELY interested in talking with you about giving you the VERY BEST house/pet sitting experience you've EVER had! AND, we come with EXCELLENT REFERENCES!

We love meeting new people, (often making GREAT friends with former home owners we have sat for!), traveling, and taking great care of other's homes, pets, and plants like our own. Our years of personal experience with people from all over the world in many walks of life, professional to private, have given us a background rich in intuitive caring, and dedicated service to others. We love what we do, we love meeting people, and we love caring for animals.
Below is a short list of some of our house and pet sit references:

Lisa Beluzo
413-210-7151
4483 Cotton Creek Dr
Mt Pleasant, SC

Mary Truslow
203-451-4630
40 Church st
New Canaan, Ct

Amy Mckim
912-399-6315
526 Clement Circle
St Simons Island, Ga

Amanda and Gary Johnson
386-265-3314
88 Central Ave
Ormond Beach, Fla 32174

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Pet care

petsWilling to care for these pets

Dogs

Cats

Fish

Birds

Trust

Platinum member36 months+

reviews5 star reviews

Availability

eventNext 12 months

Unavailable

Aug

Sep

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Dec

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eventCurrent bookings

2026: 11 Jul - 12 Sep

chairOn a house-sit right now

Preferences

scheduleHouse sit duration

1 - 2 months, 2 months +

where_to_votePreferred locations

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont

Reviews (5)

JUDY ( New York, Nov 2016 - 1 month 2 weeks)

Michael & Cathie were the perfect house/pet sitters.we highly recommend them. 5 stars! After being away for 6 weeks it was so nice to come home to 2 happy cats, a very clean house & Cathie even had a pot of chicken soup waiting for us! We were sent many photos of our cats & home which allowed us to feel relaxed while away. Michael & Cathie went above & beyond caring for our home. Raking leaves, shoveling snow etc. we feel like they have become close friends & look forward to having them house ... MoreMichael & Cathie were the perfect house/pet sitters.we highly recommend them. 5 stars! After being away for 6 weeks it was so nice to come home to 2 happy cats, a very clean house & Cathie even had a pot of chicken soup waiting for us! We were sent many photos of our cats & home which allowed us to feel relaxed while away. Michael & Cathie went above & beyond caring for our home. Raking leaves, shoveling snow etc. we feel like they have become close friends & look forward to having them house sit again!

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JOAN (Woodstock Valley Connecticut, Jul 2020 - three and half month)

Michael and Cathie were wonderful. They took great care of our kitties, fought off the beavers cutting down the trees, kept pond mostly clear of weeds!! They kept in touch with us and we would love them to sit again!!! Oh yes, they also left the house in great condition, didn't have to do a thing except unpack!!

House care

Garden care

Pet care

Communication

michael & Cathie:

Joan and Joe are fantastic people and we consider their place THE most beautiful we have ever sat for. They were always very communicative with us, and were very kind and giving even before we actually began the sit. The kitties are exceptionally delightful and kept us constantly entertained. This ... MoreJoan and Joe are fantastic people and we consider their place THE most beautiful we have ever sat for. They were always very communicative with us, and were very kind and giving even before we actually began the sit. The kitties are exceptionally delightful and kept us constantly entertained. This is a place of great peace.

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BETHANY ( North Carolina, Sep 2019)

Cathie and Michael are conscientious and carrying. We have had the opportunity to work with many house sitters over the years and highly recommend this couple. They took pains to fully understand our needs regarding cats, house and garden care. When we got home, the cats were well-loved and happy and the house was extremely clean. They were fun to get to know and we'd happily work with them again in the future.

MARY (State College Pennsylvania, Dec 2016)

Michael and Cathie house/pet sat for us for an extended period—December to June. With this long sit there were many responsibilities, and they really came through for us. Our two cats are older and have veterinary issues (kidney disease and IBD) that required diligence, patience, and care. They took Charlie for twice-weekly vet visits for fluid treatments and administered meds twice a day to Buster, developing a good workable routine. Additionally, they developed a sweet rapport with ... MoreMichael and Cathie house/pet sat for us for an extended period—December to June. With this long sit there were many responsibilities, and they really came through for us. Our two cats are older and have veterinary issues (kidney disease and IBD) that required diligence, patience, and care. They took Charlie for twice-weekly vet visits for fluid treatments and administered meds twice a day to Buster, developing a good workable routine. Additionally, they developed a sweet rapport with our kitties, playing with them and providing lap and snuggle time. Our notoriously shy Charlie really took to Cathie! With respect to our home, there were a number of tasks that were necessary, among them snow shoveling in the winter months and yard cleanup and lawn mowing in the spring. Michael performed the unpleasant, but necessary task of gutter cleaning. We arrived home to a clean and orderly house with a freshly mowed lawn and other thoughtful personal touches. Most importantly, our cats were in better health than when we left! We experienced good communication before, during, and after the sit. We have enjoyed getting to know Michael and Cathie and hope that our paths cross in the future.

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JON AND CLAUDIA ( Connecticut, Oct 2016 - 3 weeks)

Cathie and Michael are the perfect pair to care for your pet. We were gone for several weeks, and felt comfortable that Klara, our Jack Russell, would do well with her new friends. Upon our return we learned, from Cathie and Michael, that everything went smoothly. Our neighbors commented on how impressed they were with the dedicated attention Klara received. Hopefully, we can call upon Cathie and Michael again the next time we travel. Jon and Claudia