Kitty Hotel
Posted by SaraMonster on Aug 14, 2009 · Member since Apr 2008 · 273 posts
I'm going on vacation for a few days in a couple of weeks and I'm considering having my kitty stay in a pet hotel while I'm gone. There are a few that I want to visit before I decide where he will stay.
Does anyone else have experience with pet hotels? What are good things to keep in mind when choosing one? Plus anything else you think of that might be helpful.
Thanks!
My cats haven't stayed in a kitty hotel, but here's what I'd do:
Check out vet offices. Many board cats, and I'd feel more comfortable knowing someone was on-hand in case anything went wrong with my furbabies.
Ask for references. Use them. Be picky.
Ask who their vet is (the person they'd call in case something went wrong). Ask the vet his/her opinion on the place and if there have been any red flags that your pets would not be treated with the utmost care.
Good luck! Don't be afraid to ask a TON of questions. Just like any business, a pet hotel/boarding facility should be MORE than happy to answer anything you can throw at them.
ask about food/feeding times if one has a prescription diet, how do they control/regulate who eats what. their immunization requirements. litter maintenance. visiting/play time. how many cats per space. etc
eta: here are some helpful links with suggested questions
petservicereview
petstv
about questions to ask
thepetcenter best site yet
ehow
hope this helps!
I had to board my dog for a couple of months once (didn't have a place to live where she could stay and took me that long to find one) and I didn't have many options locally. The one I went with was not bad, really, but she definitely lost a lot of weight. She was about 7 lbs overweight when she went in and came out about 18 lbs lighter. I think it was pretty traumatic for her but I don't think that was the facilities fault. Oddly she was much better behaved after the whole experience and didn't gorge on her food the way she used to.
We've boarded teh kitties multiple times with the vet for a few days and they were always fine... usually a touch annoyed when we picked them up, but they forgave us in short order.
You are just talking about a weekend though, so just check the facilities well, meet with as many of the staff as possible and ask whatever questions you need to reassure yourself (the ones Hanashi posted are all I could think of as well). In general if you get the feeling any of the staff doesn't care then go somewhere else.
thanks for your advice everyone! I'm checking out some places today.
I'm a bit worried about my kitty's stress level (he tends to get stressed out very easily), so if I can't find anywhere that I am happy with, he my be staying at home for the weekend. I'm not super excited about it, but I know someone who can at least stop in to check on him. Oy, now I know why I never go on vacation! :)
My dogs have stayed in a pet hotel before. I toured the place first....it was extremely clean, went out to the yard and there was no poop. I asked about the routine...how often they were let outside, how often they had human contact etc. It was great. They weren't crated at all, but had a nice room they shared with two other small dogs. Downside is was $29/day apiece.
Cats get extremely stressed when they're boarding, or really are anywhere other than their own home. It would probably be better for your cat if you found someone to come in and feed him in your house while you're away.
Cats get extremely stressed when they're boarding, or really are anywhere other than their own home. It would probably be better for your cat if you found someone to come in and feed him in your house while you're away.
I'm starting to think that might be for the best. The one place I looked at had good refferals and is very nice and clean, but I think kitty might like to stay at home. He doesn't get along very well with other cats (but really likes some dogs) and gets superstressed when I put him in the car.
One last thing I'm nervous about (I know, I worry too much :-\ ). The one person we trust to come over to check on the critters is somewhat physically disabled, so I'm afraid kitty might bolt out the door and she won't be able to catch him. We'll have to make sure she shuts the security door before opening ours (and that he's wearing his collar when we leave).
One last thing I'm nervous about (I know, I worry too much :-\ ). The one person we trust to come over to check on the critters is somewhat physically disabled, so I'm afraid kitty might bolt out the door and she won't be able to catch him. We'll have to make sure she shuts the security door before opening ours (and that he's wearing his collar when we leave).
If you're willing to pay for boarding, why not hire a professional pet sitter to come over? Ask your vet for a recommendation.
i'm catsitting for RC this weekend. i'm hoping to have a cuddlefest with my boys. we'll see.
Sir Didy's been running around naked in anticipation.
Really I just can't find where he took his collar off this time. I'm gonna try to find him a fancy one in NYC :P
But BP has good advice, unless you have a bp around to come take care of your kittehs... and cook in your kitchen... and do her laundry... and use your sewing machine... :)
OK idea! My kitties favorite part of the apartment is the back where the bedroom and bathroom are. So I could probably rig up a baby gate in the hallway (so he won't mess with the turtles or be able to bolt out of the door when our pet sitter comes to check on him) and put his food and water in the hallway. That way he will have access to his liter box, food, water, and his favorite, my bed. He'll have access to at least half of the apartment, so I hope that's enough room for him. He's an old man so he sleeps 20 hrs a day anyway :P Do you guys think a cat could jump a baby gate?
Fellow monster-
Our dog Jonah climbed his baby gate when he was a puppy - so I would imagine a cat could easily jump it. Could you try and rig 2 baby gates together - one on top of the other?
Fellow monster-
Our dog Jonah climbed his baby gate when he was a puppy - so I would imagine a cat could easily jump it. Could you try and rig 2 baby gates together - one on top of the other?
Hello follow monster! I could give it a try, but I need to acquire 2 baby gates first.
Or you could try just a big piece of cardboard or something of that nature to strap to the top of the baby gate - to make a makeshift door.....although your sitter would have to be able to get through....
Yeah, maybe rig something up like that instead of a baby gate. For some reason I feel like he'd get his head stuck in a baby gate. hmmmm, what else could i use? ???
Edit: Whatever it is will have to be at least 3ft tall, i just measured the one couch he jumps on at 2.5ft tall.
Cats can typically jump 3X their body length.
Yeah i guess cats could really jump 3 time their body length so just don't be worried about the the baby gate. Yeah could you try and rig 2 baby gates together the one is on the top of the other?
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Yeah i guess cats could really jump 3 time their body length so just don't be worried about the the baby gate. Yeah could you try and rig 2 baby gates together the one is on the top of the other?
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With my cat I did the trick of rigging two baby gates together and it worked wonders.
Definitely recommend that!
-Jill
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