Cat boarding or drop in sitter - how to choose?

At Meowtel Inn Cat Boarding Hotel, we impose a 5 night minimum stay for most cases. We will consider less than 5 nights when there are exceptional circumstances.

Why do we do this?

• Cats are creatures of habit. Unlike dogs, cats view any change as a threat to safety as they have lost their scent marks and routine.

• They are sensitive. Each new smell and noise is a process they need to assess and many are distressing. Especially barking dogs, children, loud talkers.

• Cats are mostly solitary and territorial. Putting them in an environment with unfamiliar cats and different people can cause bad anxiety, tension, redirected aggression and fear responses like not eating.

• Cats don't know if you are coming back. For many cats who have been abandoned, neglected, abused or lived through the streets and foster homes, they associate their human leaving as abandonment. This causes significant confusion and separation anxiety.

Boarding is better than daily drop-in when:

• Your cat requires timed medication like insulin or medical monitoring.

• You are away for a long amount of time (over a week & definetely over 2 weeks) or you are completely unreachable.

• You live rurally and sitters are difficult to find.

• You are moving/selling your house and worried about the cat getting outside.

Drop-in sitting is better than boarding when:

• You are gone for a weekend or few days.

• Your cat is healthy and doesn't require any routine medications (though many sitters can accomodate this!)

• Avoids illness and common contagions found in boarding. If vaccines are not up to date, a drop-in doesn't require them.

• You have a trusted emergency contact and/or are reachable.

• You have a reliable and experienced sitter come by at least once a day who gives you updates and proof they are checking food consumption and litter use (twice is better!).

We will always encourage keeping your cat at home when feasible. We are happy to recommend some reputable drop-in sitters or other solutions if you only need your cat out for a few hours.

Consider what your furry friend would be most comfortable with given their age, health, personality and your peace of mind.