Most of the time, cats are a more sober presence in a household than dogs. They don’t require as much activity and cuddling. Most breeds prefer being left alone, especially by people they don’t know well. Because dogs are naturally open and cats are more reserved, it can be tricky to get the latter ready for an extended trip.

Cats take some time to adjust to a new environment and would probably hide away in a corner or a dark space when staying somewhere that is not their home. That might cause them anxiety, which might be a reason for them to skip meals. So that your cat doesn’t feel the strain of being away from home, get them ready for their road trip by doing a few simple preparations.

1. Research the facilities of your boarding place

Your cat will be making your chosen boarding place their home for several days or weeks, so you would want them to be as safe and healthy and happy as possible. Tour more than one place. Make sure to inspect for unpleasant smells or disorganized areas. If possible, find out how many people will be taking care of your pet and whether they have scheduled interaction periods with staff and/or other cats.

You’d want your pet to stay somewhere they have access to a range of environments—they should be able to play both indoors and outdoors in comfort. At The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre, we offer stroller rides in the summer.  Cats like to go into high places, so we have resting benches and nooks at different levels, private litter areas. Find out if the cat boarding facility has views, provides sunshine, observation windows for activity, musical or television stimulation, and if they are separated from noise and dogs. Do the cats get out of their room? Are they provided stimulation and enrichment, a la carte puzzles and catnip and treats? These are all questions worth asking and answers worth knowing in finding the right cat boarding place for you and your cat.

Aside from getting pets to feel at ease, the facility should also be mindful of how pets’ immune systems react to their surroundings. Choose a place with lead-free paint and environmentally conscious groundskeeping, along with pet-friendly cleaning products and eco-friendly cat litter.

2. Have a trial stay before your vacation

Before committing to a place for your cat, you might want to set up a shorter stay than the length of your entire trip. Most cats take a bit of time to settle in, so longer than one night is recommended. This is so you can anticipate how they might behave when you have to leave them for much longer. When you have the trial stay, chat up the personnel about your cat’s personality and preferences. Letting them know how your feline friend normally behaves will make the adjustment easier.

After the stay, get as many details about your cat’s behaviour as possible. Did they behave out of the ordinary? Were they friendly or at least tolerant of staff and other cats? At The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre, our cats see other cats when they have their playtime but we do not intermingle the cats, unlike the dogs. This will give you clues on how they might behave during your actual out of town trip.

3. Keep with your cat’s vaccination schedule

You must vaccinate your pet with all core vaccines, period. Boarding facilities always require vaccination certificates that are current or up to date.

4. Give your cat some semblance of home

Bring your cat’s favourite cat food with them to the facility. Consider leaving them a piece of your unwashed clothing as well, because its smell will help them associate life at home with their new surroundings.

It’s very important that stressed cats eat. If they don’t eat they can become dehydrated and quite ill, and they can go downhill very quickly. This makes it very important for us to find out all the cat’s favourite foods and treats and if it’s allowed to be offered appeasing foods like tuna for example. Will the pet care facility be able to take your cat to the vet if necessary?  At The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre, we board many diabetic cats. Find out if administering medication to your cat is available and if it costs extra – at The Paw, it doesn’t!

We have pheromones in a diffuser going all the time in our cattery. Some cats are severely distressed by separation, and synthetic pheromones may help them adjust to their temporary home quickly and without much fuss.

5. Say goodbye quickly

When it’s time to leave them at the facility, say goodbye like you would on a normal workday or school day. Making a big deal of your departure would alert them that this is not the usual separation, which will increase their anxiety.

Conclusion

Leaving your pet can be difficult. Do your homework, research and tour all the boarding facilities that are available for you. You will know when you meet the staff or owners if they able to answer all your questions and concerns. Do you like the cattery, does it meet your standards and requirements, are the other boarding animals happy and do they seem content? If you can see them, what are they doing? Can you phone or check to see how your pet is doing? Do you receive periodic pictures and updates? You will certainly feel better if you have specialists looking after your feline friend, and a well-equipped, well-staffed pet care facility will give your pet the care and attention it needs.

We’re an excellent pet care service in Brandon, Manitoba. Our facility is designed for pets, and our staff is trained to provide the best level of boarding, daycare and training classes for your pets. Get in touch with us today to learn more.