How to Choose a Cat Boarding Facility: Questions to Ask, Red Flags and Vaccines
A good boarding facility can make your time away easy on both you and your cat. A poor one can leave your cat stressed, unwell or simply unhappy. The good news is that you can learn most of what you need from a phone call, the facility's website and a short visit. This guide gives you a checklist to work through.
Start with the type of facility
Cat boarding generally falls into three groups:
- Cat-only facilities (catteries or cat hotels). No dogs on site, which means no barking and no dog smells. Staff tend to specialize in cats.
- Veterinary clinics that board. Useful for cats with medical needs, since trained staff and a vet are nearby during clinic hours. Accommodation is sometimes more basic, and some clinics are not staffed overnight.
- Pet resorts and kennels with a cat area. Often offer long hours and extras. Quality varies; the key question is how well cats are separated from dogs, both by sight and by sound.
Our city pages flag which listings are cat-only, which have a separate cat area and which have a vet on site, with each detail linked to the facility's own website.
Vaccines and health requirements
Requirements vary by facility and sometimes by local regulation, so always check with the facility directly. Commonly requested items include:
- Rabies, often required by law depending on where you live, and frequently required by facilities.
- FVRCP, the core combination vaccine covering feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.
- FeLV (feline leukemia) vaccination or a negative test, required by some facilities, not all.
- Flea prevention, either a recent treatment or proof of a preventive. Some facilities will treat on arrival at your expense if they find fleas.
- Spay/neuter for adult cats, required by some facilities.
- Timing rules. Some facilities ask that vaccines be given a certain number of days before the stay, so don't leave the vet visit to the last minute.
A facility that asks for proof of vaccination is a good sign: it suggests they take the health of every boarder seriously. Bring your records from your vet, ideally on letterhead or from the clinic's portal.
Questions to ask
Accommodation
- How big are the suites or condos? Are they multi-level, with room to separate the litter box from food and bedding?
- Is there a place for my cat to hide, such as a box or covered bed?
- Can cats from the same household share a suite?
- Is the cat area separate from dogs? Can my cat hear or see dogs?
- Do cats ever leave their suite, and if so, is it one at a time?
- Is the cat area climate-controlled, and how is air circulated?
Care and routine
- How often is the litter box cleaned? What litter do you use, and can I bring my own?
- Can I bring my cat's own food? (Most facilities welcome it, and keeping the usual diet helps avoid stomach upsets.)
- How many times a day are cats checked on, and does anyone get one-on-one time with my cat?
- Is staff on site overnight? If not, when is the last check at night and the first in the morning?
Health and emergencies
- How do you give medication, and is there a fee? Can you give injections such as insulin?
- How do you monitor whether a cat is eating, drinking and using the litter box?
- What happens if my cat is unwell? Which vet do you use, and will you contact my own vet?
- Will you call me, and what is the plan if you can't reach me? (Leave an emergency contact and any spending limit for vet care in writing.)
Practicalities
- What are drop-off and pick-up hours? Are you open on Sundays and holidays?
- What is the nightly rate, and what costs extra? See how much cat boarding costs by city for typical published rates.
- Is there a minimum stay or a cancellation policy at holidays?
- Do you offer photo updates or webcams?
- Are you licensed or inspected locally? (Licensing rules vary a lot by state and city; ask what applies.)
What to look for on a visit
If at all possible, visit before you book. Many facilities welcome tours, though some limit access to the animal area for biosecurity or to reduce stress for current boarders, offering a viewing window or video instead. On a visit, pay attention to:
- Smell. A cat area should smell clean. A faint litter smell is normal at times; a strong ammonia smell is not.
- Noise. Cats should be resting quietly. Constant barking audible from the cat room is a problem.
- The cats themselves. Do boarders look settled, with clean bedding, fresh water and tidy litter boxes?
- Staff. Do they handle cats calmly and know the cats by name? Are they happy to answer questions?
- Security. Are there double doors or other measures to stop an escaped cat leaving the building?
Red flags
- No request for vaccination records
- Refusing any kind of tour or view of where cats stay, without a clear reason
- Strong odors, dirty litter boxes or empty water bowls
- Cats housed within sight of dogs, or a cat room next to a loud dog area
- Vague answers about medication, emergencies or who is on site
- No written agreement, or no record of your emergency contact and vet
- Overcrowding: suites stacked tightly with no space between cats
- Pressure to book on the spot, or prices that change once you arrive
One red flag doesn't always rule a facility out, but several together usually means you should keep looking.
Reviews and recommendations
Online reviews are useful for spotting patterns; one bad review is less telling than repeated complaints about the same issue, such as cats coming home thin or unwell. Your vet may also have recommendations, and other cat owners locally are often the best source. Pay attention to how a facility responds publicly to criticism.
Do a trial run
If your cat has never boarded, consider booking a single night or a weekend before a longer trip. You'll find out how your cat copes, and the staff get to know your cat's habits. Our guide on how to make boarding less stressful has more tips for preparing, and if boarding doesn't feel right, compare cat boarding vs. a pet sitter.
Before you go
Book early for holidays, confirm vaccines are up to date, write down feeding and medication instructions, and pack your cat's usual food and a familiar-smelling blanket. Our checklist of what to pack for cat boarding covers the rest.
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