Victoria

I have 2 older indoor/outdoor cats, one tom, one female. They stay indoors when no one is home and are let out through the sliding back door when someone is home. We usually leave the sliding door open in good weather to give them free range, otherwise they will make you nuts asking to be let out and in. They usually stay in at night and are pretty good about coming when called. If Jack (the tom) doesn't come in for the night, you don't need to panic. He will be there in the morning to get fed. There are 2 cat boxes to clean. We use biodegradable litter so it can be flushed down the toilet. I leave a bowl of dry food and a bowl of water out for them. They do not get wet food. If you want to travel up island for a couple days, they can be left alone as long as you put out extra food and water, and leave them inside with clean cat boxes. They also like to drink from the toilet (I know, weird!) so don't worry if you see them doing that.

We are just in the process of confirming dates and booking our tickets. Ideally we'd like to meet you before we leave so I can introduce you to the neighbours downstairs and give you the lay of the land.

Main floor of an up/down duplex. Nicely decorated, well maintained functional space. Outdoor deck with lovely view of south facing garden. Within walking distance of shopping mall and grocery stores, a block from the Gorge waterway. Centrally located, easy 15 min transit ride to downtown Victoria.

Our home is nicely lived in; the cats not very demanding. It's not a luxury home but it has some nice conveniences. There is a gas fireplace if the weather is cold and wet. It also has good circulation of air so it never gets too hot. Our bed is ridiculously comfortable, and the bedroom overlooks the garden. There is in-suite laundry as well as a dishwasher.

There is a vacuum in the hall closet and cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink. The cats sometimes will scatter litter around so we usually just sweep it into a corner (where you will find a broom) and vacuum it up when we clean. They have a scratch post and we will often give them each a pinch of catnip there. There are also cat treats in a jar in the dishes cupboard. They get a couple of pieces once in a while but they will try to convince you to hand them over all the time - don't be too much of a softie about this or they will sense your weakness.

We live in a fairly quiet, walkable neighbourhood with lots of trees. There are tenants downstairs with a 6 month old baby but we hardly ever hear them. We have an agreement to use headphones for tv after 9pm as their bedroom is below our livingroom. There is a small deck off the kitchen that we enjoy as an outdoor room. There is a garden but the use and maintenance belongs to the downstairs tenants so you can enjoy looking at it without the responsibility of it. There are a few potted plants on the deck and front steps that need watering occasionally (daily if the weather is warm). The neighbours are friendly and there are chickens living across the street. We are a (long hilly) block away from a lovely waterway, with walking paths and benches. We have internet access but no cable tv. However, if you want to watch movies or tv shows, we have access to Netflix and Shomi on our computer which you are welcome to use. You can also access the wifi if you want. You can listen to music through Google Music on the computer. We are within a 10 min walk of a movie theatre (7 screens including 3D and Imax). Downtown Victoria is easily accessible by car or bus with lots of close transit.

Victoria is a beautiful city and region. It is incredibly walkable with easy access to beaches, coastline, hiking trails, cycling paths, incredible restaurants, festivals and farmers markets. We are about a 10 min drive to downtown Victoria, a 30 min drive from the airport and a 40 min drive from the ferry terminal. There are lots of villages and towns to explore in the region. You can rent bicycles, scooters, motorbikes and sailboats. There are lots of attractions including a world class museum, the Parliament Buildings, whale watching tours, the Butchart Gardens, castles and gardens, and many parks. If golfing is your thing, there are about 6 golf courses in the region.