Pet Sitting and House Sitting With RLS

What do you do when you love animals, but you are financially unable to keep one yourself, or your landlord will not allow you to keep animals inside their property? You can consider taking up pet sitting.

What do you do when you want to become a pet sitter and you also suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS)? That is a question I am currently tackling, diving headfirst into every eventuality to try and get in to preempt it before I take my first steps.

Pet sitting versus house sitting

If you are lucky enough to be sitting in a large property, then you can carry on plodding like you normally would, which is perfect if you are caring for cats — but not so much dogs. They require your attention 24/7.

Get the full rundown from pet owners ahead of time

RLS can be so overwhelming, so discombobulating, that you can forget things on a regular basis. Ensure you ask the pet's owners to write lists of all technical information; who wants feeding when, with what, and which treats; and grooming, etc., so there can be no errors, as these are peoples' families.

Set alarms for animals that need timely care

One of the biggest worries is surviving with an upside-down sleep pattern. Safety concerns are paramount when it comes to pet sitting.

Once again, cats are fine, as you can nap without too much to worry about. As long as you ensure alarms are set (and sound's turned on!), then reptiles, fish, and "independent" animals can be cared for after a rough night's sleep.

Doing my due diligence to not take on tasks I would not be able to complete, dogs are definitely a no-no for me when you have to keep them amused and walk them regularly.

House sitting: enjoy your staycation!

House sitting is an ideal job for somebody with RLS, as you can be awake at all hours and asleep during the day. As long as the house is secure, you can make the most of a staycation while ensuring you keep the property in the condition it was when you arrived. Other than that, enjoy.

Finding employment opportunities is difficult with RLS

Are there any employment opportunities that are suited to people who deal with RLS on a regular basis? If you are one of the lucky ones whose condition is controlled by medication nightly, then your life might be your own, with the exception of a couple of side effects from the tablets you take.

Others, who dread RLS arriving each evening, stand no chance of being able to lead what most people would consider a normal existence. Awake all night, asleep all day, with a small window of opportunity for bathing, eating, and entertainment each day.

There is hope for the future of RLS treatment

Whilst hoping for the life we have lost is a regular part of RLS, medications are being developed and improved with stunning speed. The most we can hope for is for our current medications to carry on working or be prescribed to us for some short-term relief.

Medical research investment in RLS is few and far between, as there is such a small pool of people who it affects. The symptoms and their results turn us into recluses, with very little sign of release into the sun, but there is always hope.