There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding whether to board a cat or leave them at home. Boarding a cat can be expensive but it can be stressful for your cat if they are left alone at home for a long period of time, so in this post we are going to answer the question is it better to board a cat or leave it at home?
If you are able to find a pet sitter to look after your cat, this will usually be the best choice as your cat is used to it's environment and will be less stressed if they do not have to move. But if it is not possible to find a pet sitter, then you may want to consider boarding your cat in a reputable cattery, where is can be cared for while you are away.
Another thing to consider is whether your cat is good at being left alone for long periods of time? If your cat is always looking for company, then it is definitely better to board your cat if you can't get a pet sitter, as it can be monitored and taken care of by the cattery owners, and given the attention it requires, as some cats can get stressed when left alone for too long, and it can cause them to do things like urinate in the house or scratch furniture, and some extreme cases get separation anxiety.
But if you know your cat is happy to be left alone and, you decide to leave your cat at home, then you should make sure that if you can't get a full time pet sitter that you at least have someone come to the house for a few hours every day to ensure your cat is safe, has food and water and also give your cat some attention and entertainment such as playing with them with their toys. If possible it would be beneficial if your cat is already familiar with this person, so it would be a good idea to introduce your cat to them before leaving them together.
Is boarding stressful for cats?
Boarding can be stressful for cats, as they are introduced to a strange environment and have to adjust to it, such as new smells, noises and people that they are now surrounded by. But in most cases, once the cat adjusts to it's new environment, it will eventually get used to it and will be more comfortable once it does.
You can speed up the process of making your cat more comfortable with it's new environment by taking your cats bedding, food, toys etc.. with you to the cattery, so your cat has things it's familiar with, which will help it adjust to it's new boarding environment much quicker and feel at home. Where possible you could should also take your cat to the cattery beforehand, to get familiar with the place, and it can get used to the staff,so it's not as stressful of an experience for your cat, when it boards there for real.
There is also a third option you may want to consider instead of boarding your cat or leaving it at home which we will look at now.
Is it better to travel with your cat or leave at home?
There is no definitive answer as to whether it is better to travel with your cat or leave them at home. Some people believe that it is better to leave their cats at home since they may become agitated and stressed during travel. Others believe that by bringing their cats with them, they can avoid the stress of leaving their pets behind. Ultimately, the decision depends on the individual cat and the circumstances of the trip but there are some things you may want to consider that may sway your decision one way or the other.
For many cats the best option will be to take them on the trip with you, as it will likely be less stressful for them, than it would be if you boarded your cat in a strange place as it has to get used to a new environment and people. That said, bringing your cat with you will also create it's own compilations as well.
Some things you need to consider are…
For Travel
1. Travel can be very stressful for your cat and you need to consider the length of the trip and whether your cat can handle it.
If you are transporting your own cat in your car, it is important to make sure that you have a cat carrier that is large enough for your cat to spread out in and feel comfortable. Make sure that the carrier is lined with soft material, so the cat has somewhere soft to lay on, to make your cat feel extra comfortable, place its own bedding into the carrier, and finally also make sure you secure the carrier so it doesn't roll about when going round corners.
If your cat is not used to traveling, then you may want to start introducing them to the cat carrier a few weeks before the trip, so they become comfortable with it and feel at ease.
2. If you are going on a long journey make sure your cat has access to fresh water and food and give some consideration to including some of your cats favorite toys to keep it occupied.
3. Make sure you position your cat in a place you, or another member of your party can keep an eye on it to ensure it's not getting too stressed and is safe.
How long can a cat travel without peeing
In general, cats pee three to five times a day. But when they're stressed, they might pee less often. Cats usually have a morning routine of going to the bathroom, so before you travel, make sure your cat goes to the bathroom. If your cat is stressed about traveling, it may still have an accident so be prepared for this and take something to clean it up with and some fresh bedding.
Your Destination
Before deciding to take your cat with you to wherever you are traveling to, it's important to consider how you are going to care for it when your get there, such as where it will be staying, will there be other people or animals around and whether you can keep an eye on your cat as much as you would like to, and if not will it be left alone for long periods of time and if so what can you do to make it less stressful. These are all things you will need to plan for before making a final decision.
Do cats remember their home after being away
Cats tend to remember their home after being away for a few days or weeks and so if you board your cat and then return to pick it up, it should feel like it's returning home.
But if your cat has been away for a long period of time, then it will likely take a little while to adjust to returning home, until its able to scent the area again, as this will have faded over the time its been away.
Do cats remember their owner after being away
Yes cats have a great long term memory and will remember you after you have been away , but it can still take a little while for your cat to adjust when it comes back home, as it will have become used to the people and surroundings at the cattery or wherever it was staying, but is shouldn't be long before everything is back to normal, and you are getting snuggles from your cat, usually within a few hours, or at the most a day or so.
In Summary
You have hopefully gained some useful information from reading this article and now may have a better understanding of whether it is better to board a cat or leave at home, or indeed travel with your cat and take it with you, which I hope will help you reach a decision that will work best for you and your cat.