10 Tips for Boarding Your Cat

1. Always ask to see where your cat will stay. Check to see if the cage is clean, large, airy, and if bedding is provided. Notice if the setting could be stressful for your cat. Is a current Business License posted? Beware of any facility that will not allow you beyond the front desk due to insurance restrictions! There is NO insurance that does not allow safely escorted tours.
2. Make reservations early, especially during peak Summer months, Christmas, and other major Holidays.
3. As you begin packing for your trip, talk to your cat and explain your plans, describe the Cattery Resort and emphasize you will return and bring him/her home again. Cats that have been informed of their Cattery vacation are calmer and adjust better to boarding. Cats understand a lot more than most folks realize!
4. Because your cat may be uneasy about your preparations, he/she may disappear outside or hide indoors. On the day you plan to bring it to the Cattery, keep your cat indoors and confined. Frantic clients have had to cancel their boarding reservations and leave their cat to the elements because they couldn’t find it at the time of departure!
5. Bring something familiar from home … a favorite toy, a small blanket or towel, or even a small piece of your clothing (such as a T-Shirt or socks) … which helps make the adjustment for your cat to new surroundings easier. The item should be clean and small enough to fit into the Lodging. (Of course, all bowls, a cat bed, and the litter box are provided)
6. Always bring food for your cat(s), whether canned or dry. Allowing others to change their diet is not healthy for your cat. A change in food can cause diarrhea or even worse, your cat could refuse to each which can leat to other serious health problems. We strictly keep to our guests’ regular feeding schedules to avoid a disruption in their normal eating routine. Don’t forget to bring vitamins, medications and/or any special treats.
7. If your cat is prone to carsickness, remove water and food the night before you bring your cat in to the Cattery. After your cat settles into its Lodging at the Cattery, he/she will find fresh water and food to nibble when its tummy settles.
8. Please transport your cat in a plastic carrier. Cats do bolt out of their owner’s arms due to an unfamiliar noise or movement. It is nearly impossible to find and catch a frightened cat! If you have 2 cats, bring them in separate plastic carriers. The tensions of the car ride can make them irritable and being shoved together can and does start cat fights with even the best of friends. The COZY CATTERY also requests plastic carriers because they are the best escape-proof transportation for your cat in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation.
9. You might be surprised by your cat’s behavior when you bring him/her into the Cattery. Cats are, by nature, solitary animals, and when placed in a new territory inhabited by other cats, they sometimes display some defensive hissing and growling behavior. However, by the next day, most cats sense the territorial boundaries, snuggle into their cabin’s plush bed, and accept the pampering of the resort staff and usually become quite affectionate and even playful.
10. Bringing your cat home again is another adjustment for him/her. Hiding out or carefully re-exploring the entire house are common behaviors. It is a good idea to keep your cat indoors for a day or two as it settles into being "home" again.