Should I use a boarding service or a pet sitter?

If you have owned a cat you can understand how tough it is to leave your best buddy when you need to go out of town for business or holidays. You have two choices; the first is to board your cat and the second is to have a pet sitter watch them. It is important to make sure that the person looking after your cat is trustworthy. All boarding establishments must have a license, in order to obtain a license they are inspected by the local council and a vet. Pet sitters on the other hand have not been inspected which means they may not abide by certain rules and regulations. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of boarding.

Advantages of boarding services

• No strangers in your house- If you choose pet sitting services for your cat, then you are opening your home and cat to be looked after by one person that you need to trust, this can be a huge risk to your cat and home. But if you choose cat boarding services then no one has to visit your house.

• Opportunities for frequent socialization- Boarding facilities offer all day socialization that your cat will enjoy.

• 24 hour care- Boarding facilities are staffed 24 hours a day. At least one person is always there to take care of your cat at night but many pet sitters often visits at intervals during the day.

 

• Extra services- Your cat can enjoy many extra services and can have one-on-one play and attention from the boarding staff.

• Medical facilities- If your pet requires 24 hour care due to medical concerns, then there is no better option than boarding facilities as they often have vets that they can contact and insurance.

• Dealing with the cat’s temperament- Every cat has a different nature. Some are well behaved while some are short tempered. The staff at the boarding services are trained to handle all types of cats.

• Lower cost for single pets- Many boarding services charge less than the cost of a personal pet sitter for families with only one pet.

 Some important things to consider when leaving your pet in boarding cattery.

• If your cat has a special bed or favorite toy, ask the staff if you can bring them with you so that your cat has familiar items from your home this will make your cat feel more comfortable when you are away.
• Try to bring your cat’s own food to the boarding cattery as sometimes sudden changes in food can lead to tummy upset.
• Make sure that the boarding cattery has several contact numbers available if needed, the appropriate person can be contacted in an event of an emergency.
• If your cat receives medication in the home, check to see if the boarding cattery can administer the medication while you are away.