"I am a crazy cat lady, except for one small obstacle: I do not own a cat. Though my boyfriend and I discuss names for cats, like other couples do for children, renting in London has put a stop to adding one to our family. So I had pushed dreams of filling the cat-sized hole in my life to one side, only allowing myself momentary relapses when friendly cats crossed my path in the street."
"That was until I stumbled across the best solution to being reluctantly feline free: becoming a cat-sitter. It started when I decided to quit my job. Faced with the daunting prospect of living without a guaranteed salary, I was lured in by social media videos promising that any number of simple side hustles would make me happier, richer and freer. Initially, I spent five days and 60 setting up an Etsy shop. Four months later, I had made two sales (one from my brother) and a net loss. Next, I had a brief dalliance with affiliate marketing. No, I'm not sure what that is either. In a last-ditch attempt, I spent hours uploading my camera roll to sell on a stock photography website the vast majority of which did not meet the minimum quality threshold. Frustrated, poorer and stifled, I was on the verge of taking early, unpaid retirement from side hustling when I saw an influencer on TikTok suggest cat-sitting."
Renting in London prevented owning a cat, so cat-sitting became an alternative for feline companionship. Quitting a job prompted attempts at side-hustles—an Etsy shop, affiliate marketing, and selling photos—that produced little profit. Discovering cat-sitting via social media led to creating a profile on Cat in a Flat and securing bookings. Cat-sitting yields modest pocket money but is not a reliable sole income. Cat-sitting allows temporary ownership experiences and improves mental health. Specific client cats such as Figgy and Luna provided comfort through lap-sitting and physical contact, and Pickle is mentioned as a shy cat client.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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