Madolline Gourley has done her share on travel in recent years, even managing trips within the country as the pandemic has disrupted many of our vacations. Even better, she did this without paying for accommodation. Oh, and there’s always cats to cuddle with at the end of the day. Did I mention that? How does she make this unlikely tour happen? By bringing her feline expertise to cities around the globe.
The Australian-born girl got her first job as a cat sitter in 2017 after learning about a co-worker who received free accommodation while sitting at home. Gourley thinks it’s an interesting idea, if she can apply it to international travel. After some research, she signed up for a sit-at-home website and started building profiles. In particular, the idea of finding work for sitting cats appealed to her due to her past experience of working with cats.
She said, “I’ve had cats since I was little, and my mom is also a big fan of cats. She’s also had cats all her life. When I found out the whole house/pet was sitting as an accommodation, I just wanted to take care of the cats because I only take care of cats. ”
She feels that to be the best babysitter she can be, she should stick with animals she already has experience with. Cats fit the bill.
The first lucky cat to hang out with Gourley was in San Francisco. Gourley arrives at her 10-day work holiday destination and discovers a near-new, one-bedroom apartment close to many local attractions. Between general household duties, mealtimes, cat play, and some updates for fur parents, she can wander around San Francisco and soak up its sights and sounds. Plus, at the end of the day, have a grown cat comfortable enough to sleep in bed with her.
After receiving stellar reviews from the cat’s people, she was ready to move on. The first trip was the beginning of many other such adventures across Australia and other American cities, from waterfront apartments in Boston to a house in suburban Cincinnati to a house designed according to the mountain architecture in Boulder. In each place, she gets free accommodation in exchange for some house cleaning, gardening, and cat company. In total, Gourley has seated more than 40 cats, all of which she says she remembers names. Of course, there are a few things that are particularly memorable.
She explains, “There was a cat, a Birman cat in Launceston (Tasmania in Australia), named Abel. Abel hid in his master’s bedroom closet for the first few days. He only goes out to eat, and going to the bathroom is usually done in the middle of the night. The few times I caught him in the restroom, he ran and hid. A few days later he was less scared and then he wouldn’t leave me alone! He would follow me everywhere and was so cute. He would also jump straight into my bed as soon as I jumped in it. “
Currently, she is at home in Sydney, taking care of a cat she also watched over Easter. Pixel, as he is called, is extremely curious and makes his presence known.
Gourley said, “He reminded me of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. He’s quite large and has an English/Scottish shorthair face. He also has to check anything you bring home. So I went to Zara the day before (after-Christmas sales are a thing in Australia), and as soon as I put the paper bag on the floor, he shoved his head in. Then I went to Manly Beach yesterday and bought a dress. from a store. Same thing happened… as soon as I put it on the floor, his head was in there. He also loves to sit on the vintage denim backpack that I bought a few weeks ago. Another ‘odd thing’ he has is that he will drag the owner’s postcards down the fridge to get your attention. “
Australia has been very strict about movement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns causing a stir around the world. As things calm down, Gourley is looking forward to returning to her American adventures in early 2022. She actually made a sitting cat in Brooklyn in March 2020 when the cases started happening. in New York City. That trip was fraught with uncertainty as the cat owner’s travel plans were underway and the city was largely deserted. However, she had a lot of fun with the cats. The companionship of cats always enhances her experience, even if it’s a bit crazy like that original pandemic adventure.
She said, “I especially think for me, when I travel alone (by choice), leaving the cat home, cared for and attached, is like having a surrogate friend. While you can’t engage in actual conversation, it’s still great if you have a cat to keep you company. And their antics will always make me laugh. Traveling the home route and sitting cats has also introduced me to some pretty cool people. I follow some of them (and their cat accounts) on Instagram and then there are some people I talk to quite often.”
She looks forward to sharing her upcoming adventures in 2022 with cat lovers and fellow travelers. You can see what she’s up to, read about her past travels, and learn more about her cat pals at onecatatatime.co. She also has plenty of advice for those interested in taking the same travel route, one that has saved her over AU$30,000 on accommodation over the years.
She says it’s important to find out your cat’s habits in advance, have all the information you need on what to do if there’s an emergency, and be on the lookout for posts that seem a little too specific about what’s going on. expected around the house. If it sounds more like a contact than you want to sign up for, check out the other listings. She also says that things are more competitive than when she first started. It might be best to start locally and fill out your profile first.
If you’re looking to follow in Gourley’s footsteps and combine your love of travel and cats – or if you like most of the Internet and want to see adorable cat pictures – visit her website or follow her on Instagram. Her blog on how to get started is a good first read.
