16 Reasons to Put Your Cat in a Cattery While on Vacation
There’s nothing like looking forward to going away on vacation. No matter where you go, you often need to figure out who will watch your animals while you are away. For those with cats, this can be quite difficult as they don’t often leave the house. One option is a cattery, which is essentially a boarding center for your cat.
Boarding your cat in a cattery ensures that your cat will have great care. This can give you a sense of relief while you’re away. But it also ensures your furbaby won’t be alone and will get the attention she needs. Each cat is different, and the best catteries know how to tend to them individually.
If you have a cat, here are 16 reasons why you might consider putting your cat in a cattery while you are away.
Your Cat Will Stay Safe
This is one of the biggest reasons why many consider a cattery. Knowing that your furry friend is safe, can be a huge sense of relief.
Catteries know how to cater to your cat’s individual needs. Every cat will react differently to a change in environment; catteries are aware of this and try to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Often when cats are distressed, they find a dark and enclosed space. Catteries make sure to provide a safe space for each cat.
Making sure that your cat will be safe is just the bare minimum requirement for most catteries. Many go above and beyond to make sure that your cat’s visit is not just safe but fun as well.
Your Cat Will Never Run Out of Food or Water
While friends and family can be reliable pet sitters, catteries ensure that your cat will always be fed and have access to water.
Every cat has its own preferences as to how it’s fed. Some have constant access to food, some are fed on a schedule, and some have a specific diet. Catteries will discuss this with you before accepting your cat to their boarding facility.
Cats are often very picky about their water. Most like theirs very fresh, and far from their food. Keeping the water up to the cat’s standards is something you can trust reliable catteries to do.
If your cat has a specific diet, there are often times specialists at the catteries who will discuss a meal plan with you before your cat arrives. This brings relief to you, knowing your cat will be fed properly.
Your Cat Will be Given Attention and Love
One of the biggest worries most pet owners have about their pets while they’re away is making sure their kitty is given as much attention as you would normally give her. While pet sitters can be reliable, often, the cat is left alone by themselves. A cattery would ensure that it would never happen.
Ensuring the cats are always loved, cared for, and given as much attention as that individual cat needs, is very important in a quality cattery.
Each cat is different, of course, as far as their personality goes. Workers at catteries adapt to each cat’s needs and work with their personalities.
Those cats who are more independent will have a space where they can hang out by themselves. This also allows the cats who might not like other cats’ attention but like human attention to have somewhere where they can get that.
They Will Always Have a Clean Litter Box
Leaving your cat in the care of someone who doesn’t have one could very easily mean their litter box ends up dirtier than normal.
Cats are very clean animals, and having a clean litter box is something that catteries ensure your cat will have.
No Worries About Your Cat Running Away
Cats can become distressed while their humans are away, and moving them into a new location is a lot to put on the animal. Catteries will ensure that your cat stays safe and won’t be able to run away.
Depending on where you live and how much access your cat has to the outdoors, your cat running away while you’re gone can be a very real fear.
Catteries take away that fear and create a safe environment for your cat.
You Can Be Sure Your Cat Will Get Medical Care
One of the biggest reasons one might choose a cattery is because they can take care of a cat’s medical needs.
If your cat has medical needs, you want to make sure you leave your cat in the care of someone who will tend to those specific needs. Catteries have workers who are trained to take care of cats’ medical needs.
eaving a cat with medical needs with family or friends can be somewhat scary. Friends and family are trustworthy, but if you have a cat with certain medical needs, a cattery will make sure that care is given to them. This is another time a cattery might be your better option.
You Can Relax Knowing Your Cat is Well Cared For
Whether you are going away on vacation or business, knowing that your animals are well taken care of takes a large weight off your shoulders.
Knowing that your cat is in a safe space and being well cared for will improve your time away because you can focus on yourself and your time in a different place.
This is also why making sure to thoroughly research and communicate with who is taking care of your cat is important. If your cat is safe and you know it is safe, going away will be a bit easier!
Your Cat Will be Played with and Exercised
Cats need more attention than just love and cuddles. They also need exercise.
Cattery workers will make sure your cat is played with in a healthy way.
They’ll use toys such as:
- Lasers
- Strings
- Mice
Your cat will be given adequate time to play and exercise every day.
Some cats need to be exercised daily for health purposes. Leaving your cat with a cattery will ensure that happens.
If your cat needs a certain amount of exercise, simply communicate that with the cattery before leaving your cat there! They will make sure that your cat receives proper play methods and time and that they enjoy their time!
Your Cat Could Potentially be More Socialized
Cats are generally homebodies; they like where they live, and they each have the spaces they have made for themselves. This often time leads cats to not being very social with others.
Going to a cattery could potentially help your cat become a bit more social, not only with other cats but with other people as well. Of course, for the first bit of the stay, every cat will be nervous, but you may be surprised how much they enjoy other cats’ company if you give them a little time.
This could also allow your cat to socialize with new humans as well.
Many cats are quite adapted to their humans they live with but are quite shy in interactions with strangers.
Taking your cat to a cattery can allow them to interact with new people and possibly help them bring down their guard a bit.
Ensuring a Trustworthy Stay
If you are planning on keeping your cat in a cattery, picking one that is going to ensure a safe and healthy visit is very important.
when looking into catteries, you want to make sure to plan a visit ahead of time. You want to make sure you see the establishment and know your cat will be staying in a good environment.
This is also a good way to establish a relationship with the cattery ahead of time.
It’s very important you know that your cat will be in good hands. This is why researching your cattery is very important when planning a stay.
Your Cat Will be Closely Supervised
Most cats are fine left by themselves for a few days with someone dropping in once or twice a day, but this doesn’t mean something couldn’t go wrong while you’re gone.
Cats tend to be near their owner when they are home. Therefore most of the time, we know where our cat is and what it is doing.
When we leave our cats alone, there is always the chance something unexpected could happen.
Leaving your cat with a cattery ensures that she will be constantly looked after, and if something is wrong, the cattery workers will immediately know.
You Can Leave Your Friends or Family Out of it
Family and friends can be reliable; however, sometimes we just want to avoid potential conflict and leave them out of the whole arrangement of caring for our pets.
Just in case something happens, having your cat stay at a cattery ensures that your friends or family aren’t placed in an uncomfortable position. If something goes wrong at the cattery, they are fully responsible.
Catteries Have Safety Standards in Place
When researching a potential cattery, make sure you are going for one that ensures your cat will be safe around other cats.
Leaving your cat in the trust of others is already a difficult thing, but ensuring that your cat will be safe and remain healthy is essential.
Most catteries have rules on vaccinations and require all cats to be up to date before they are allowed to board at the cattery.
This means that you will need to prepare your cat for going to a cattery in advance and make sure they are up-to-date on the vaccinations required in the area.
Another safety standard that will be practiced at a reputable cattery is that food and water bowls, as well as litter boxes, are never shared.
This is important because cats do tend to be a bit territorial about those things. Making sure they have their needs met, so they feel more like they are at home is incredibly important.
Caretakers will Tend to Your Cats Needs
Many cats have specific needs, wants, and things that they like.
When picking a cattery, go for one that will really take into account these needs and be there for your cat in every way possible.
Cats all have their own unique personalities; caretakers will note what each cat likes and what they need to have a calm experience.
Some cats, particularly older cats, might have different needs than that of a kitten. Catteries will take this into account and make sure your older cat is cared for based on these specific needs.
If You Only Have One Cat…
If you only have one cat, then taking your cat to the cattery might be an even better idea. If your cat is with you more often than not, then your absence will make your cat quite lonely.
If you are going away and you know your cat would be all by themselves, then bringing your cat to stay at a cattery could prevent them from feeling lonely while you are away.
Of course, you know your cats will miss you while you are gone, so anything to make them feel more loved in your absence, the better.
If Your Cat Has Separation Anxiety
Many cats can get very attached to their humans, or they have previous issues developed from when they were a kitten. Sometimes, you won’t know what issues a cat might have until they have lived with you for a few years.
Leaving a cat alone that experiences separation anxiety can cause many issues for the cat. Cat sitters at home oftentimes aren’t there are much as these cats might need them to be.
This is another example of when taking your cat to a cattery would be a good option.
Doing this would assure you that your cat is being looked after and that someone is around who will spend quality time with your cat.
A Few Essentials Before Booking A Cattery
Before Booking a cattery, the most important thing is to do research.
Of course, you want to make sure your cat is going somewhere safe and reliable.
Safety is the biggest priority; you want to make sure the facility is not only sanitary but that your cat will be safe with the caregivers and other cats as well.
When They’re Open, Fees, and Special Instructions
You also want to look into the cattery’s hours of operation and preplan the times you will drop-off and pick up your cat before leaving on your trip. Many catteries have specific hours, so you want to ensure that your travel plans can work with their operations.
Before taking your cat to the boarding facility, you also want to make sure that you have communicated with them about any special needs your cat may have and how the cattery will take care of those needs.
Look into the entire cost. Many times, catteries have extras they can charge such as:
- Extra daily playtimes
- Cameras that allow you to check on your furbaby any time of the day or night
- Special cots for your prince or princess to sleep on
Just make sure you are getting what you want and that you aren’t spending money on something that isn’t worth it.
Create a plan B. In case something doesn’t work out at the cattery, make sure that you have a plan B before you leave. This could be a relative or a friend who can help if necessary. Be sure to communicate with the cattery about an emergency contact if one is absolutely needed.
Conclusion
Choosing a cattery to care for your cat or cats while you are away can be difficult. Make sure to do research and communicate with the cattery beforehand about everything you are going to need from their services.
Catteries make sure your cats’ individual needs are cared for and that they are given the love and attention they deserve while you are away. Of course, this can be a bit of a stressful process if the cat has never been to a cattery since most indoor cats never really go too far from home.
Good catteries do their best to make the transition from home to cattery as stress-free as possible, although with cats, there’s nothing to really make the transition completely smooth.
Overall, catteries are great options for so many reasons, and if you choose the right one, your beloved feline friend will have a good stay, and you can have a relaxing vacation.
Sources:
http://catterydublin.ie/cat-boarding-benefits/
https://www.aucklandkennels.co.nz/benefits-of-a-cattery/
https://www.veryimportantpets.co.uk/2018/the-benefits-of-choosing-a-cat-sitter-over-a-cattery/
