Community forum: November round-up

Woohoo - it’s time for another Community Forum round-up! From how to take the purrfect snap of your feline friend to member meet-ups, foster fails and more, it sure has been another exciting month over on our friendly forum.

So, what have our lovely members been chatting about this month? Get comfy, grab yourself a nice cup of coffee, and let’s get stuck in…

Topic of the month

This month on the forum, member @Karen-Moderator started up a great conversation all about how to get good pictures of cats (a daily struggle!).

As @Karen-Moderator pointed out, unlike our canine companions, our feline friends are slightly trickier to capture...

“They make eye contact just long enough to register that a camera is pointed at them… then quickly look or move away!”. Cats, am I right? 

As ever, our forum members were quick to share their tips and tricks. Member @GardenCat suggested this: “It’s all about lighting and getting down on the floor (or the bed) to the cat’s level. Also, close-ups!” 

While member @Amparo offered up this suggestion: “I use my iPhone and make sure it is on “live setting” and take the shot. Then, I click edit to select and save the right frame.” We’ll definitely be using that tip!

However, it was @Snowbird’s contribution that truly caught our attention… 

“When they’re in a middle of a yawn, some of the frames can look quite scary. At my most recent sit, Teddy was snooping in my bag after grocery shopping. I was right there with him, and soon moved the strap away for safety. He’s yawning and looks quite vicious, but he’s actually a sweetie!”

We never doubted it for a second! If you’re still in pursuit of getting that purrfect snap, be sure to head on over to this thread for even more great tips - or comment with your own kitty camera tricks! 

Category of the month

It’s our trending Meet Ups & Events category! This month, our members have been posting to arrange their own meet-ups in Mexico, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Europe, the USA... and more! 

If you’re visiting a new location on your next house sit, why not post about it in this category and see if any of your fellow members are also in the area? 

Forum member of the month

This month, we’re highlighting member @geoff.hom. From offering up advice on listings and profiles to helping out fellow members with the app and website, @geoff.hom is always there to offer a helping hand!

Thank you, @geoff.hom, and to all our members for helping to make our forum the wonderful place it is today!

Quote of the month

This month, it was this comment from @Julie-Moderator in the thread, Show us your foster pets, that truly warmed our hearts!

“This cutie was my first foster fail. Meaning I ended up adopting him myself. Greatest decision I have ever made in my entire life. I named him Trooper, because after everything he went through (extreme abuse and leg amputation) he is still a fearless, happy, loving pup. He’s such a Trooper!”

Foster fail? Perhaps, but we can’t imagine a better happy-ever-after! 

Photos of the month

Halloween might be over, but we loved these photos shared by member @Samox24 of their three-day(!) Halloween celebration in Malaga.

“We were very impressed with the effort and detail that goes into their costumes and makeup for their Halloween street celebrations … As for most public holidays in Spain, there are also traditional things that are eaten too! We tried Huesos de Santo (Saint’s Bones), these are finger-like tubes of marzipan filled with a sweet egg yolk mixture. The name comes from the bone colour they turn when baked…”

What else have the community been discussing this month?

Crossing that Rainbow Bridge 

Trigger warning: pet loss

We were so devastated to hear the sad news that @Kelly-Moderator's beloved dog-in-law, Baily Boy, crossed the rainbow bridge in this recent topic. Of course, our lovely members were quick to send in their messages of love and support, and @Kelly-Moderator left us with some very poignant words: 

“Please take a moment to hug all your pets and give some extra lovin’ and treats. It’s always such a short time they are with us but forever in our hearts.”

Our thoughts are with you, Kelly. ❤️

Signs of Separation Anxiety

In this thread, our members were discussing the topic of pet separation anxiety - namely, the main signs of pet separation anxiety (most of which occur in the absence of their pet parents), and tips on how to best manage it.

Member @Debbie shared her experiences from a house sit, plus this nugget of wisdom: 

“He was used to sleeping on the owner’s bed, so we did the same. This must have been the point that he realised that something was different and that it wasn’t his regular humans in the bed! 

Eventually, he settled and slept, and it only happened that one night … It’s so much easier when the dog is in their own familiar home, and sleeping in the place they are used to.” 

My Member Story: Top tips for Pet Parents

Finally, be sure to check out this post by our very own @Ben-Product, where he shares a link to his experience of using TrustedHousesitters as both a Product Manager and a member - plus his top tips for successful sits.

Ben has just jetted off to a house sit in New York, so stay tuned for his top tips for sitters coming soon!

Join our Community Forum

Got a burning question you’ve always wanted to ask the community? Or just fancy a chat about some of your favourite travel destinations or pets? Our Community Forum is the place to be. Pop along, take a look around, and get started by introducing yourself to the community. We’ll see you there!