Cat sitting and house-keeping in semi-rural area just west of Bangkok, Thailand

Details

• 

  Description

  Bonjour à toutes et tous,
  
  I'm the lucky "carer" and humble servant of 6 cats (4 Siamese, 1 lovely grey Oriental and 1 young fluffy black and ginger half Persian).
  
  I've been living for nearly 15 years with the Siamese who are extremely nice but sometimes impudent and dirty: some of them (especially Bob, Bobine and Ping Pong) LOVE peeing on new things (make sure to leave your valuable and fragile items somewhere safe).
  
  In September 2012, I rescued a lovely (even if he loves chewing backpack straps [please make sure he cannot access yours]) grey cat from the street. His name is Laski (the one dressed as Santacat in the pictures below).
  As he was the last one who entered the house, so there have been conflicts from time to time mainly with Bob, especially at night; so you might be awaken by their "argument" and you will have to stop any potential fight.
  
  In July 2016, someone abandoned a very young and sick kitten in a beer box in front of our former place's door... :-(
  Since she was so lovely and got along quite well with other residents, we have decided to keep her in the family.
  
  My furry family members (I'm insisting on the fact that I see them as individuals and not as pets) are super friendly and love spending time with people especially during meals time (the young black and ginger half Persian usually comes at that time to beg for some food).
  Since I grew up on a farm, I don't mind that kind of behaviour but I can imagine that some people may not feel at ease.
  
  If you're a hygiene freak, I guess you do not need to read further down: our place is not the right one for you.
  
  ************************************************************************************************
  
  WHO I AM:
  
  100% VEGAN by heart / 95% successful* and non-drinker mid-40s French Metalhead interested in:
  
  ° Cats (Siamese particularly);
  ° Animal rights;
  ° Vegetarian/vegan food;
  ° Alternative Education;
  ° Permaculture;
  ° Eco houses;
  ° Japan;
  ° 渋み;
  ° Metal music;
  ° Live music;
  ° Korean and Japanese films;
  ° 20th century French literature.
  
  * I never eat meat and cheese nor I drink milk but many Thai products (such as bread!!!) include tiny quantity of milk powder or eggs :-(
  I do my best to get the 100% vegan alternative but sometimes it's not possible, that's my 5% failure rate...

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The neighbourhood we live is mostly Thai with virtually no foreigners living there. So, most of the people don't speak English but they are always friendly and ready to help the many people visiting.
  So it will be a genuine semi-rural-life experience among locals especially at the little restaurants and at the market when you go shopping there.
  
  P.S. Please make sure you dress and behave properly: I already got complains from previous neighbours who felt "attacked" by the outfit and behaviour of some volunteers.

• 

  Help

  ** VERY IMPORTANT - MUST READ **
  
  Read the full profile before sending any messages/requests. (7 minutes reading time)
  
  ** VERY IMPORTANT - MUST READ **
  
  ****************************************************************************************************
  
  Workaway published a list of great tips in "How to be a great guest" which can be found in "Information for Workawayers" whose link is accessible at the bottom of the page in "INFORMATION" main menu
  I strongly advise to read if you have not done it yet.
  
  ****************************************************************************************************
  
  No internet and no Wi-Fi at home.
  Coming to our place will also a way to cut away from the all-day web connectivity.
  If you feel that you cannot live without your phone and/or laptop next to your hand when you are in the presence of other people, no need to read further down, we won't be the right place.
  (#7 Workaway tip: "Disconnect From Technology")
  
  Please also note that I do not use a smartphone and therefore I do not use any communication apps.
  So please do not ask and/or give me Whatsapp/Line/etc. ID since I do not use them and please do not use WorkAway messaging service as one of them: it means no endless ping pong messages and please be courteous and polite.
  
  ****************************************************************************************************
  
  We need workawayers to take care of the furry family and their home while I'm away or I'm working outside (meeting for my association or at the recording studio) and to keep the house clean.
  As you may be on your own in the house for a significant period of time, this placement really suits persons who are happy to keep themselves busy/amused.
  
  When I am away for long periods of time (more than 5 days but that has become very rare), I always try to find at least 2 people to make sure that my companions are always well looked after and to be sure that there will be at least 1 person in case someone would cancel at the last minute (it happened too many times already; see no show, negative or neutral feed-backs below).
  
  Here is the list of the things to do and the time it takes:
  
  * learning who they are (especially their name), how they look like (in order to recognize them) and what makes them happy (it depends on your memorization skills);
  
  * giving them fresh water every 3 hours from waking to bed time (10 minutes);
  
  * cleaning their litter at least 4 times a day (10 minutes);
  
  * feeding them with little amount of dry food along the day since they only like crunchy bites and leave the rest once it is limp and/or damp because of the Asian humid weather (5-10 minutes) - You will need to wake up around 6.15/6.30 am for their "breakfast";
  
  * Feeding Doudou (the smallest cat) with wet food in the morning (around 6.15 / 6.30 a.m.) and anytime in the day when she asks for it.
  The 5 other cats always want to lick the leftovers. So please "spoil them" a bit.
  Make sure to wash the plate once the "wet meals" are finished.
  
  * playing with them (it's up to you);
  
  * petting them (it's up to you);
  
  * GIVING THEM SOME LOVE (the more, the better!);
  
  * (when I'm away for long periods) sending me emails if I am abroad or SMS if I am in Thailand every 2 or 3 days to let me know that they are doing well;
  
  * preventing the potential fights between them (you might be awaken at night even if it has become quite rare over the years...) it also means to make sure they are safe and well when you go out (even for a very quick errand):
  
  * cleaning the territorial pissing when it happens (5 minutes);
  
  * sweeping and mopping the floor (of the 3 rooms, not only the living room with CLEAR WATER, no detergent because of the chemicals) every morning for your own comfort and the health of the cats (usually it takes me 10/15 minutes);
  
  * keeping the outside floor tiles clean (20 minutes twice a week);
  
  * keeping the house clean and tidy for everyone's comfort;
  
  * if we have a meal together and I did the cooking, I count on you to wash the dishes;
  
  * closing the doors at 5.00 pm to make sure the mosquitoes stay outside for the cats' and your own comfort. (5 minutes);
  
  * switching on outside lights at 6 pm to make sure cats can see what happens when they play outside. Please keep some (at least kitchen and front) switched on all night long for the cats having a night errand;
  
  * before going to bed, make sure that all the 4 Siamese are in the house or in the garden (1 to 10 minutes depending on where they are/hide);
  
  ** Please note **
  
  The total amount of active work/chores is about 1 hour but please note that your presence is required longer than the usual 5 hours indicated on the profile.
  I'm making this clear because I have had a bad experience with a volunteer who refused to look after the cats one evening arguing that she had already made her 5 hours shift; obviously, she was not with us for the right reasons and I heard from her own mouth that she had a similar time issue with another animal shelter in Bangkok :-(
  
  So if you are the type of persons counting hours, no need to read further down.
  
  ***************
  
  My place is not a free place to stay with cats (I have very limited financial resources; I work FOR FREE for 2 NGOs and live on a very little alimony I get once a year and extra French online classes), it means that I will be more than happy to share the food I cook while at home but I won't be able to give you "per diem" while I'm outside for the day or away for longer periods than 24 hours.
  But please note that since it's a local area, food (at restaurants and at the markets) is pretty cheap so your stay should allow to save money for further journey while staying with us.
  
  I've been harsh but FAIR (see the negative feed-backs - some have not been published) and I will do it again and again with people who do not care properly about my furry companions.
  
  * Before you send a message, please make sure that:
  
  - you are available for the requested periods; I've had some kind of a bad experience with a workawayer who left right after her paper work, that she had to do in Bangkok, was done. It gave me the feeling that I was only an information center and a free guesthouse;
  
  - you are sure about your dates and that you won't change your plans (do not contact me more than 6 weeks in advance): I've been contacted by so many workawayers who made me waste some precious time by replying to their messages to finally read at the end: "sorry, my/our plans have changed for X reasons, bla-bla-bla, bla-bla-bla...";
  
  - YOU WON'T LEAVE THE CATS ALONE ALL DAY LIKE OTHER CAT-SITTERS DID... :-(
  It's fine to be out of the house for quick errands during the day time (they usually sleep from 10 am until 2/3 pm but later they are longing for company and need to be well looked after at night time.
  
  * Since,
  - I want the cats to be well looked after;
  - I can accommodate at least 2 persons;
  - I used to get many requests;
  you might be staying home with a fellow workawayer but I will always inform you beforehand to give you the opportunity to let me know your feeling about the other person.
  
  * No outsider allowed in the house: please understand that I only let people I know or I've been in touch with enter the "Cats' house".
  
  * Unless you are very mature and can prove it with your initial request no workawayer aged less than 22 years.
  I've had an horrible experience with an 18 girl who allowed a stranger (whereas the rule above was written) to stay at our place and she left him alone giving the possibility to do whatever he wanted. I let you imagine!
  
  * Never forget that THE HOUSE BELONGS TO THE CATS; you and I are guests. So you cannot do things that will disturb their routine (e.g. in our previous place, 2 workawayers kicked my lovely Doudou out of the bedroom because they did not want to be disturbed and wanted to enjoy it on their own; some woke up late and did not feed them nor open the door so they can enjoy the garden, etc, IT CANNOT HAPPEN LIKE THIS).
  + the cats love sleeping on the bed only with me, if I'm not home, you won't be able to sleep on my bed since they will not feel comfortable as it happened already.
  
  * Many volunteers really love my lawn but did not water it when it was very hot and dry, so please do not let it die and use the sprinkler at night and morning time (then the water does not evaporate too quickly).
  Thanks!
  
  When I'm home, I might ask you some little help for the general maintenance (extra cleaning) and beautification (mainly painting) of the house as well as help for food preparation if this happen.

• 

  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  Khmer: Beginner
  Thai: Beginner

• 

  Accommodation

  We live in a semi-detached house with a cute little garden in a typical middle-class "Muban" [=estate] in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom province, next to Bangkok (40 kilometres away from city center); "Wat Ngiu Rai" is a landmark you can easily find on e-maps; our home is located 3 kilometers away from there.
  
  You will either sleep on a floor mattress in some kind of guest room or on an IKEA's "Friheten" sofa-bed in the living-room.
  
  I do provide clean sheets, blankets and a pillow with its pillow case - NO TOWEL since I consider it as a personal item and I do not have the same washing machine as in hotels to make sure they are hygienically clean. So please make sure you have yours.
  
  *** IMPORTANT: UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED, NO ARRIVAL AFTER 6 PM ***
  
  You can come from the capital by public transport quite easily.
  
  Here are the ways to come here:
  
  * Taxi
  From Bangkok, it costs between 400 and 600 THB (a very good option if you are at least 2 persons since it will make you save a lot of time);
  
  * Train
  The cheapest and most unique experience. You can take local trains that stop at "Wat Ngiu Rai" train station and then walk 30 minutes;
  
  * Via Salaya by public transport + taxi/motortaxi:
  Take the bus 515 from Victory Monument (25 THB)
  in Salaya, you will need to take a taxi (70 THB) or a motor-taxi (70 THB)
  
  * If you are in Khao San area:
  You can take the 516 bus to "Sai Tai Mai" bus terminal and then interchange with bus 515 or 124 going to Salaya and then finish with taxi or motor-taxi;

• 

  What else ...

  * Workaway site warns people traveling to Thailand about the legal issues of their visit in the country, so I get many requests from workawayers for volunteer visa (called "Non-Immigrant O") which I cannot help with since I'm not a legal entity, which means I am not entitled to sponsor you, and of course, I am unable to provide any of the many documents you will need for the application at a Thai consulate/embassy.
  If you want to know more about this topic, you can find detailed and useful information from "Tasty Thailand"'s website by simply typing "tasty thailand volunteering" in your search engine.
  But the good news is that the position I'm offering should not create any problems in the unlikely event of a control by the immigration service since it's genuine personal help (no money involved) at a "friend (as the digital community likes to call it)'s place, which also benefits the local economy.
  So don't worry to stay with us ;-)
  
  * "Begpackers" not welcome; I recently hosted a volunteer who constantly wanted to raid my fridge and my food supplies whereas I clearly specified my little incomes which barely cover the household monthly needs.
  Coming to our place should based on and motivated by your love for animals and maybe also to get some rest, "refill your body batteries" and get ready for further adventures.
  To know more about them, you can read this quite witty The Guardian's article: "Young, entitled and over there: the rise of the begpacker" published on 22.07.2019.
  
  * NO DRUGS ALLOWED in the house and in the neighbourhood: it's Thai law!
  I had a very unpleasant conversation with a young Australian volunteer about this topic and I do not want to have it again. The rule is simple: NO DRUGS HERE!
  
  * NO MEAT OR DAIRY PRODUCTS ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE. PLEASE RESPECT THE FACT I BECAME VEGAN BY LOVE FOR THE ANIMALS;
  
  * No late-risers if you stay at the house: the cats (and I) usually wake up between 6.00 and 6.30 am to be fed and go outside and we want to be able to do as much noise as we want without worrying about the sleep of other people in or around the house;
  
  * When I'm not home: you will be able to enjoy my home-cinema (decent BENQ projector with 80'' screen) with many DVDs that should satisfy most of the tastes. Please note that you cannot watch after 10 pm since the partition wall is quite thin and the neighbours have already complained that they could not sleep because other volunteers watch films until early in the morning); (04.03.2023 update: I have not had the time yet to set up the system in the new house - it is not available at the moment);
  
  * I have (very) good French and English books that you can read while staying with us;
  
  * I will lend you an old bicycle so that you can explore the nearby area when cats sleep or when I am home;
  
  * Please feel also free to use the kitchen to cook whatever plant-based makes you happy;
  
  * Before volunteers arrive, I usually make a big cleaning to show how the house needs to be kept; I count on you to make sure you keep it that way and keep the kitchen always spotless;
  
  * There are water-filtering machines where you can refill empty bottles, please make sure there is always cold water in the fridge;
  
  * There are laundry machines and a many convenience stores in the village; a 7-Eleven is even less than 500 metres away from the house;
  
  * I don't have direct internet access, you will need to get a 3G/4G sim card at the local phone shop;
  
  * Smokers can ONLY smoke outside;
  
  * I'm not a tourist information office; I will be happy to share experiences and give some tips but I have no time to organize long trips around the country and/or SE-Asia;
  
  * I give myself the right to ask you to leave before the agreed date if I feel we (the cats and/or I) don't get along: I have had recently the feeling of being a prisoner of my own house;
  
  * I usually write feed-backs after you leave yours. So do not hesitate to write yours when your memory (and mine) is still fresh;
  
  * MAKE SURE YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE FULL PROFILE BEFORE SENDING ANY MESSAGE (don't make us waste some precious time - I have replied to each of the 700+ requests I received over the years!!! Please imagine the precious time I spent for less than 10% of people who actually came... )
  So, please be considerate and greet me with my nickname which appears more than 40 times in the feedbacks and write "Well-planned home-stay with Siamese cats" in the subject of your request and tell me about your history with cats.
  If you don't, it will simply mean you have not read the profile until the end; then I will have to decline your request since you have not read the tasks, conditions and rules.
  
  * Once you received my confirmation, please send me an acknowledgment of good reception as soon as you read it and in any cases not later than 7 days since I need a perfect visibility of my schedule.
  Thanks for your understanding.
  
  *** Final Word ***
  
  Because of too many bad requests and quite a few not so nice experiences, I made my profile look tougher and tougher and also as detailed as possible over the years so all info are available on this page so I would not need to repeat them over and over.
  However once you have read the feedbacks left by workawayers below, you should know that we are not the psycho-rigid people that we may first appear as.
  Your stay with us may make you want to come and visit us again as it already happened a couple of times ;-)

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  There are 2 comfortable spot to work with a computer in the house: a dining table in the living room and a big working desk in the veranda. As far as internet connection is concerned, I can help you to get at the local phone shop unlimited 4G 10MB/S for 30 days for 320 THB (10 USD).

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  There is enough space in the village to either park your vehicle in front of the house or a little further next to the big roundabout.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Feedback (53)