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Indoor Cat Initiative

Boarding

When your cat is boarded she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people and animals and she is also removed from her normal schedule. When you need to board your cat, find a facility that you feel comfortable with. Don't be afraid to ask for a tour of the kennel so you can see where your cat will be housed. In many facilities you can request that your cat be housed in a quiet "cats only" area.

Always bring along the cat's own food, blanket, toys, and a couple of articles of your clothing. The scent of your clothing will be comforting to the cat because it is familiar and makes her feel that you are nearby. Ask the staff not to remove it from the cage. Bring along a spare piece of clothing sealed in a plastic bag in case the first one gets soiled. Ask the staff to leave your cat's carrier in the cage or provide a box or brown bag so that she can hide.

When you bring the cat home, make sure that her refuge is still available. Cats recognize one another by scent. When your cat returns home, other cats may treat her as an outsider because she smells like the boarding kennel. You may need to slowly reintroduce her to avoid conflict (see Introducing a New Cat).