Are you planning a trip without your cat when the weather warms? If so, you may be weighing cat sitting vs. pet boarding. If you are considering hiring a cat sitter, don’t miss our guest post from Ashley Jacobs, the founder of Sitting for a Cause, a pet sitting website that donates 50% of their profits to animal-related causes. She is passionate about helping animals in need and resides in Newport Beach with her Golden Retriever, Diamond.
With warmer weather almost upon us, many kitty parents are firming up their travel plans and trying to determine the best method of care for their furry loved one. As a former cat mom I can relate; leaving my cat for travel reasons was a big deal and I always wanted to ensure he received fantastic care.
For many cat parents, looking for cat care comes down to finding a sitter or putting their cat in a boarding facility. But which is the better option for your kitty?
Here are 5 reasons to skip boarding and opt for a cat sitter:
1. Fewer Health Risks
While cats can get upper respiratory infections or pick up parasites anywhere, the odds increase when they are in a boarding facility.
This is because being in close proximity to other animals and having higher levels of stress due to being away from the environment they are most comfortable in creates a perfect storm that makes your kitty more susceptible to health problems.
If you want to give your cat the best chance of staying healthy, hire a sitter and let them stay home!
2. The Comforts of Home
It’s stressful enough for your cat to have their routine changed by not having their loved ones around.
Why add to their anxiety by taking them away from everything that’s familiar to them and putting them somewhere they aren’t accustomed to being?
Hiring a sitter to watch your kitty allows them to stay in an environment they are used to and have all the comforts of home.
Consequently, their anxiety will be reduced and they will be much happier in your absence.
3. A True Stand-In Parent for Your Cat
At a traditional boarding facility, your kitty will have many different employees that you’ve probably never met tending to their care. Wouldn’t you rather have your cat receive individualized care from one person of your choosing?
By opting for a sitter, you’ll be able to hand pick the person who will care for your cat and ensure you choose someone who will love your kitty just as you do.
Additionally, if you hire someone to stay in your home with your cat while you are away, they will end up getting more attention than they would in a boarding facility!
Not sure where to start the search for the perfect surrogate kitty parent? Sites like Sitting for a Cause can help!
4. House Care
Having a sitter take care of your cat in your home gives you the added benefit of house care.
Most sitters are happy to bring in newspapers or mail, keep an eye out for packages, water plants, take out or bring in trash cans, let in other service providers such as housekeepers as per your instructions, and assist with other home care tasks you may want tended to while you are away.
As an added bonus, having someone coming and going from your home while you are gone can deter burglars.
5. Less Traumatic (for You)
From experience, I know that trying to shove a reluctant cat into a carrier is not a fun experience and if your cat hates going places, the yowling that ensues during travel is pretty traumatizing.
While I never boarded my cat and only dealt with the carrier trauma on trips to the vet, I’d be willing to bet that the sadness of watching your cat be taken away by a kennel attendant or imagining your cat confined to a cage aren’t great images to be remembering your kitty by while you are trying to enjoy your trip.
Hiring a sitter to watch your cat when you head out of town has benefits for you and your kitty. The next time you take a vacation, skip boarding and opt for a cat sitter to ensure you and your furry loved are both able to keep your stress levels low!
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