When you need to leave home for a while, you'll have to plan for the care of your cat. You have a few options:
If you decide that the best option for your cat is to use a boarding facility, the next step will be finding a good one that meets your needs. Here are some tips for finding a good cat boarding facility
Start gathering a list of potential boarding facilities that accept cats by asking your friends, family, and the staff at your veterinary clinic for referrals. It's great when you personally know someone who has used the kennel or when you know your veterinary staff approves of the facility.
Find out what your state's requirements are for licensure, inspection, and insurance for pet boarding facilities and ask potential facilities for proof that they are in compliance. When they are, it shows that they're aware of and following any laws there might be for cat kennels, and that's a good thing.
Sit down with the owner and, if possible, meet as many of the staff members as possible before you schedule a stay for your cat at a new kennel. Nothing can replace meeting people face-to-face and getting an idea of how friendly they are and how they feel about cats.
Here are some questions to ask when you're talking with facility personnel:
You should always ask for a tour of the boarding facility before your cat stays there. You should be able to see where your cat will stay and what the conditions are in all areas of the facility.
Here are some specific things to pay attention to when you're touring the kennel:
Most cats do best in facilities where they don't have to see, smell, or hear dogs, the cat area is quiet or has classical music playing softly, and they have a spacious cage where they can use multiple levels to get comfortable.
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