Cat sit a lovely furry family in the semi-rural area of West of Bangkok, Thailand

Details

• 

  Description

  [Update 02.09.2024: after a long period of administrative incertitude, I am finally enjoying a well-deserved long-term visa; which means, in theory, I should not have to spend time looking for volunteers to "save the day" after last-minute cancellations or no-shows.
  From now on,
  * I will only accept proper requests (please read the profile to the end to know what you need to write to be almost certain to get a positive reply) of persons who are genuinely interested in visiting us for authentic reasons;
  * I will contact workawayers nearby with profiles similar to previous volunteers who took good care of my companions and their home, so I will be able to enjoy longer hours outside without worrying about my furry family.
  Thanks for your kind understanding!]
  
  Bonjour à toutes et tous,
  
  I'm the lucky "carer" and humble servant of 3 adult (1 Siamese, 1 lovely grey Oriental and 1 younger fluffy half Persian tortoiseshell) and 4 old teenage cats making a total of 7!!!
  
  I've been living for more than 16 years with the last [he had 5 siblings in the past] Siamese who is an elder cat by now. His name is Bob and he is extremely nice but sometimes dirty: he used to 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).
  As he was the last one who entered the house, so there used to be conflicts from time to time mainly with Bob, especially at night (you might exceptionally be awaken by their "argument") and you will have to stop any potential fight.
  + because of the addition of the kittens, Laski also started to recently mark his territory...
  
  In July 2016 (8 years already...; time flew!), 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.
  
  On Thursday, February 8th, 2024 a sick 5-week-kitten was abandoned in a cage at the entrance of the lane where we live. He was so desperate that his little cries for help reached my ears a few dozen meters away.
  First I did not want to keep him because of a bad experience with Bob and the original plan was only to keep him safe for one night but the next day, the cage was gone and I had no choice but to carry on keeping him safe, luckily with the help of a workawayer who kindly accepted to arrive 10 days earlier to look after him.
  His name was originally "Sam" = "3" in Thai language; but I love calling him "Sammy" since it sounds sweeter ;-)
  
  I have been fostering 3 abandoned kittens since Saturday, April 20th.
  They are pretty autonomous but they love to play with humans as well.
  If you love young cats, then our house is heaven. ;-)
  
  My furry family members (I'm insisting on the fact that I see and consider them as individuals and not as pets) are super friendly and love spending time with people especially during meals time (the tortoiseshell half Persian and sometimes some of the young one usually come at that time on the table either to beg for some food or to be part of the conviviality).
  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-smoker/non-drinker mid-40s French Metalhead and PhD student (for the second time after having earned one in 2009**) interested in:
  
  ° Cats;
  ° Animal rights;
  ° Vegetarian/vegan food;
  ° Alternative Education (the topic I am doing research about at the moment);
  ° Metal music;
  ° Live music;
  ° Eco houses;
  ° Japan;
  ° 渋み;
  ° Haruki Murakami;
  ° Korean and Japanese films;
  ° Dystopian literature;
  ° 20th and 21st 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...
  
  ** The reason why I mentioned this is because many of my friends and people who know me always joke about the fact I see and pay a lot of attention to details in everything which surrounds me and in any actions I can witness but the years on this beautiful planet proved me that the idiom "The Devil's in the details" is correct.
  A word to the the wise! :-0

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The neighbourhood we live in 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 and authentic semi-rural life experience among locals especially at the little restaurants and at the many little shops when you go shopping there.
  You can also watch on YouTube [ask me for the link] a GREAT VIDEO of how life is in the village made by Japanese volunteers last November; by watching it, you will EXACTLY know what you will find here.
  
  P.S. Please make sure you dress and behave properly: I already got complains from previous neighbours in my old village who felt "attacked" by the outfit and behaviour of some volunteers.
  
  Please also note that the yearly renewal of my rental contract depends not only on my bevahiour but also on the general atmosphere that volunteers contribute to create; so please behave well and always show great politeness and respect with/for the locals.
  
  The neighbours are elder people with a close to 80 year-old-grandma living there so please do not make loud noise after 9.45 pm.
  Thanks for your understanding.

• 

  Help

  ** VERY IMPORTANT - MUST READ **
  
  Read the full profile before sending any messages/requests. (8 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 Wi-Fi at home: if you need to be connected, please get a 3G/4G connection.
  Coming to our place could also be 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 during convivial times (coffee/tea times and/or meals), 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 (it means that your messages should ALWAYS start with greetings and not directly with the info you want to share).
  
  ****************************************************************************************************
  
  We need workawayers to take care of the furry family and their home (please let me insist on that because I had cat whisperers who did not mind living in the mess and dirt they made while living with us...) while I'm away or I'm working outside (meeting for my association [which happens more and more] 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 extremely 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 feedbacks 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);
  
  * first thing in the morning when I am not home: opening windows and doors when you wake up for the cats breakfast - You will need to wake up around 6.00/6.15 am for their "breakfast" (3 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 + BIG AMOUNTS attract ants!!! :-( (5-10 minutes);
  
  * 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 messages on WA website 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 (rarely) happens (5 minutes);
  
  * sweeping and mopping the floor (downstairs and upstairs), 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 15/20 minutes) - please make sure you change the water from time to time;
  
  * 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 and pots & pans / if you did the cooking, I will be the one taking care of the washing-up (by the way, please note that for obvious hygiene reasons, I do not mix the sponges: there is one for the dishes, one for the counter and the stove and others for the floor, so please make sure you use the right one for each task to avoid any kind of poisoning) + make sure you wash things properly [I was and I am still surprised to see greasy plates, cutlery and cookwares after washing...];
  
  * closing the doors and mosquito nets in the whole house at 5.50 pm to make sure the mosquitoes stay outside for the cats' and your own comfort. (2 minutes);
  
  * switching on outside lights at 6.15 pm (front of the house and veranda) to make sure cats can see what happens when they play outside (2 minutes).
  Please keep them switched on all night long for the cats having a night errand;
  
  * before going to bed, make sure that Bob the Siamese are also in the house or in the garden (1 to 10 minutes depending on where he is/hides);
  
  ** Please note **
  
  The total amount of active work/chores is about 1/1,5 hour but please note that your presence is required longer than the usual 3 hours indicated by default on the profile.
  I'm making this clear because I have had a bad experience with a volunteer who literally refused to look after the cats one evening arguing that she had already made her shift (which she mainly spent laying on the couch looking at her smartphone and looking at me doing DIY work without offering any kind of help...); 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 meal-included position, it is a FREE ACCOMMODATION WITH MANY 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 meal 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.
  However, you can eat all the vegan instant noodles you want that are freely available on the shelf in the kitchen.
  But please note that since it's a local area, food (at restaurants and at the little store) is pretty cheap so your visit should enable you to save money for further journey while staying with us.
  
  I've been harsh but FAIR (see the negative feedbacks - 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 all sleep from 10 am until 3/4 pm but later they are longing for company and need to be well looked after at night time.
  [Update 2024: because the guest room became quite nice and welcoming in June, many volunteers spent their time there rather than with the cats downstairs when I am not home; I am sorry but the idea of welcoming cat carers is based on the need for their presence with them.
  So please know that you need to stay with them until bedtime when I am not home /until I come home.]
  
  * 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 a truly horrible experience with an 18 year-old 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!
  [Update 2024: I recently had a couple of bad experiences with volunteers over 40 who were kind of grumpy, blasé, and who did complain a lot. If you have been told you sounded like that, sorry, but we do not need this kind of behaviour and attitude at home.]
  
  * Never forget that THE HOUSE BELONGS TO THE CATS; you and I are GUESTS.
  So we cannot do things that will disturb their routine; e.g. in our first place, 2 of the very first workawayers kicked my lovely Doudou (who is gone now) out of the bedroom because they did not want to be disturbed and wanted to enjoy it on their own; later some other volunteers woke up late and did not feed them nor open the door so they can enjoy the garden, etc.
  IT CANNOT HAPPEN LIKE THIS!
  
  * 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 in early morning time (then the water does not evaporate too quickly) during the dry season; nothing to do when it daily rains.
  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 happens and we will share plant-based homemade meals to show you my gratitude.

• 

  Languages spoken

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

• 

  Accommodation

  We live in a semi-detached house with a cute little garden where yogi can practice in a typical middle-class "Muban" [=estate] in Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom province, next to Bangkok (45 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 sleep on an IKEA's "Friheten" sofa-bed in the living-room or on a floor mattress in some kind of guest room where music instruments are stored at the moment.
  And as soon as the place is ready, you will have your own tiny house on a land 2 km away from the cats' house but you will be expected to sleep at home when I am away for the night.
  
  I do provide clean sheets, a blanket 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.
  
  Please also note that in South-East Asia, people usually do not use toilet paper (you may discover the dedicated sprays they use) and therefore the draining systems are not made for it.
  So in case you want to buy some and use it, please make sure you do not throw it in the toilet bowl; just put the used one in a plastic bag and throw it away regularly.
  Thanks!
  
  *** IMPORTANT: UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED, NO ARRIVAL AFTER 5 PM, AND IN ANY CASE NEVER-EVER AFTER 8 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 350 and 700 THB (a good option if you are at least 2 persons since it will make you save some time);
  
  * Train
  The cheapest and most unique experience. You can take local trains (from "Thon Buri" [ธนบุรี / Stop ID: 4440] that stop at "Wat Ngiu Rai" train station [วัดงิ้วราย / Stop ID: 4012]) and then walk 35 minutes;
  
  * Via Salaya by public transport
  Take the bus 515 from Victory Monument (25 THB)
  + taxi/motortaxi:
  in Salaya, taxis or a motor-taxis are available from 60 to 100 THB depending on where you exit the bus;
  + songthaew (a passenger vehicle adapted from a pick-up truck with 2 bench seats fixed along either side of the back) departing every 20-30 minutes from this bus stop: " Salaya Railway Station / สถานีรถไฟศาลายา " (15 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 or 4-70E going to Salaya and then finish with taxi, motor-taxi or songthaew;
  - You can take the "Orange Flag" Chao Phraya river boat from the pier named "Phra Arthit [ พระอาทิตย์ ] [Stop ID: N13] to the pier named "Thonburi Railway Station Pier" [ ท่ารถไฟ ] [Stop ID: N11] and walk 12 minutes to "Thon Buri" [ธนบุรี / Stop ID: 4440] station to take the train.

• 

  What else ...

  * Workaway site warns people traveling to Thailand about the legal issues of their visit in the country, so I used to 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.
  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 hosted late 2022 a volunteer who constantly wanted to raid my fridge and my food supplies [including frozen already cooked meals I keep to save time when I am home on my own] whereas I clearly specified my little incomes which barely cover the household monthly needs.
  So please get your own ingredients when you cook.
  Coming to our place should mainly 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 was Thai law for many years until a recent unclear change of situation which saw the booming of registered Amsterdam's style "coffee shops" but public polls show that the majority of the general population is very unhappy with that "legalization" and wants to go back to old penalizing laws [actually recently planned for 01.01.2025].
  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!
  [Update 2024; despite this rule was written, a volunteer came in August with "light" drugs and he had the same apologetic discourse about substance as the Australian I had mentioned and his behaviour confirmed everything I knew before; so he had to leave. Please also note and be aware that 2 of my neighbours are old-fashioned policemen who do not tolerate what was forbidden for many years; so any user might simply end at the police station even if "it's [still] legal".]
  
  * NO MEAT PRODUCTS ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE. PLEASE RESPECT THE FACT I BECAME VEGAN BY LOVE FOR THE ANIMALS;
  
  * No late-risers if you stay in the living-room while I am home: the cats (and I) usually wake up between 6.00 and 6.15 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;
  
  * I have (very) good French and English books that you can read while staying with us, please do not take them away [as it has already sadly happened...];
  
  * Please feel also free to use the kitchen to cook whatever plant-based 🌱 makes you happy;
  
  * There are water-filtering machines where you can refill empty bottles;
  
  * There are laundry machines and many convenience stores in the village; a 7-Eleven is even less than 500 meters away from the house;
  
  * 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!
  The day you leave, while you prepare your luggage if it is the morning, I also count on you to go to the laundry machines place to wash your sheets with detergent, softener and coins I will provide and please wait the 60 minutes for the machine to have done the job and put them on the line for drying, I will take care of the folding later;
  
  * I don't have direct internet access, you will need to get a 3G/4G/5G sim card at a local phone shop or at a 7-Eleven ["TRUE" is best provider in the village];
  
  * Smokers can ONLY smoke outside in the garden;
  
  * I'm not a tourist information office; I will be happy to share experiences and give some tips during a meal or a coffee break 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 too many times the feeling of being a prisoner of my own house;
  [It last happened in August 2024]
  
  * Feedback:
  - I usually write a feedback after you leave yours. So do not hesitate to write yours when your memory (and mine) is still fresh so not later than a month after your departure [after that period, I won't leave any];
  - First-time volunteers with good will are also encouraged to contact us so they can be sure to get a feedback if they leave theirs within a month after their departure from the house;
  [If English is not your mother tongue and you use your native language to write yours, I will use French as a matter of equity.]
  
  * 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 almost 1000 requests I received over the nearly 10 years we have been on the platform!!! 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 69 times (!!!) Or my first name which appear 17 times in the feedback and write "Well-planned home-stay with elder and young cats" in the subject of your request and please also tell me about your history with cats; a discovery and/or new experience with them is totally fine as long as you are ready to take good care of them.
  [Update 2024: please also let me know which interest, apart from cats and animals, we have in common (please have a look at the list on top of the profile) and also how long you would like to stay [I do usually not accept 2/3 days visit; 1 week is the minimum but ideally 2 weeks are great since I will give me the time to organized and planned visits in Bangkok and other provinces and longer stays depend on how we get along.]
  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 with a copy and paste reply 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. If you fail doing that, I will consider it as a deal-breaker.
  Thanks for your understanding.
  
  * Trust is everything but it's also very fragile and it can be easily broken easily by miscommunication and/or bad planning.
  If volunteers cannot make it on the agreed date and time frame, it will also be a deal-breaker since trust will be gone.
  So make sure you can keep your words by anticipating things and any potential problems such as transportation delay or expiration of phone package and/or lack of phone credit for instance.
  
  *** 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.
  Many volunteers also told me that they really appreciated the fact that I NEVER asked for anything else than what was first described and that their stay was exactly the way it was presented.
  It also explains why I went into this level of details.
  However once you have read the feedback left by workawayers below (I think that the one left by Yun-Chu (Corrine) in August 2023 describes best what you can expect and the experience you can live here when I am very busy outside the house, so please read it.
  [Update 2024: please also read the one left by Alan in July 2024 covering many aspects of the life at home, including the cleanliness].
  Then 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 several times, like Artur who first came in 2019 and has become a close friend who visited us DOZENS of times since!!! ;-)

• 

  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 an even bigger dining table in the veranda. As far as internet connection is concerned, you can get at a local phone shop or at a 7-Eleven unlimited 4G 10MB/S for 30 days for 320/350 THB (about 10 USD). [Please note that the provider named "TRUE" is the best in the village; DTAC and AIS are so-so.]

• 

  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 on the main street.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

Website Safety

Feedback (71)