Happy New Year to all my amazing clients! Thank you for visiting my blog to learn about all things cats! Whether it’s health-related tips, adorable cat decor finds, local events, or the latest cat products and books, we love to talk about CATS! We’ll also share updates about our cat sitting service in Longmont, Colorado and any new specials or offerings we have for our clients.
Today’s blog topic is about cat boarding. A situation that occurred over the Christmas holiday is still fresh in my mind, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explain why cat boarding is definitely not recommended over having an in-home cat sitter service. It’s a concern that lingers in my mind frequently and comes up often for many cat parents.
A few days before Christmas, I read a post on Boulder Collective Facebook from someone frantically searching for a cat sitter on very short notice to care for her two cats. She had initially planned to board her cats at a facility but couldn’t leave them after seeing the conditions. Her words from the post perfectly summed it up:
“I just took my cats to a place to board them for the week while I am out of town, but I just couldn’t leave them; it was like a cat prison.”
She later added in a personal message:
“I just had no idea about these places; the pictures on their website were nothing like reality. This place actually got really good reviews on Yelp; I just couldn’t believe it. These cages were tiny, and there were tons of them lined wall to wall in this small room; it was so incredibly depressing.”
The term “cat prison” truly captures what many boarding facilities are like for our feline family members. Despite their polished, modern websites or glowing reviews on Google and Yelp, these facilities are not designed with a cat’s well-being in mind. Cats cannot get out of these cages for exercise like a dog might. Even the more upscale boarding options—those with condo-style settings—don’t resolve the core issue: CATS LIKE THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT. They need their smells, their territory, and their belongings to feel secure.
Cats don’t adapt well to change, travel, or the presence of unfamiliar animals. They thrive on routine and stability, and removing them from their home environment often leads to undue stress. Stress in cats, like in humans, can cause a host of health problems, and being in a boarding facility increases the likelihood of picking up illnesses like viruses or upper respiratory infections.
While my Christmas schedule was packed, I couldn’t bear to leave this woman and her two cats in such a distressing situation. I scrambled to fit her into my schedule because I felt awful for the cats and wanted to ensure they could stay safe and comfortable in their own home.
This experience inspired me to make this my first blog post of the year—to educate people about the pitfalls of boarding and why a professional home cat sitting service is the better choice. By hiring a trusted, insured/ bonded cat sitter service, you can travel for vacation or business with peace of mind, knowing your cats and home are in the best hands.
Look for more blog posts related to this topic!