Why Do Cats Need Kennels?

Since cats are so self-sufficient, do they really need designated kennels? Read on to find out why cats benefit from specific care and how to pick a kennel.

Why do cats need kennels and boarding facilities?
This is a question I get asked pretty often since I started telling people about my business.   I have my own personal beliefs about why cats need safe and comfortable boarding facilities but I’ve also compiled some other common reasons cats may benefit from boarding. ​ Remember though, not every cat is appropriate for a kennel and need to be home to be stress free. 

Attention, please!
Many years ago, I left for a long weekend and had a friend stop by to feed my kitty, Guenivere. The friend told me that she would barely stay for 3 minutes. She stayed enough time to dump food in a bowl, open a can of wet food and refill the water. Needless to say, I never asked her to check on Gwen again. 

However, because of the isolation and loneliness, I came home to her losing her voice. Yes, my sweet Guenivere had meowed so much that she was hoarse and could barely speak anymore. As my vet advised, not all cats are aloof loners. Some are attention seeking and need human interaction (when they decide they want it, of course). While cats may not need to be constantly stroked or cradled, some just need to know that a human is present and that is enough to reduce any anxiety for them. My vet had advised me that anything over 4 days is really pushing the limits for loneliness to set in.
 
Medical attention
Whether your cat is diabetic or on an antibiotic, the medicine needs to be administered on a regular basis in a safe environment. It is neither fun nor easy to give a cat medicine but for the cat’s health, it must be done. Some make it easier than others such as the cats who make it nearly impossible.  Knowing who will be administering the medication is important for the cat’s stress level, which may already be high just by not being around their owner. Only a NYS licensed Veterinarian or Licenses Vet tech should be administering medication!  

The human element
Watching your fur baby is one of the greatest responsibilities that you may ask of someone. I’ll be the first to admit that I have asked neighbors and friends to stop by and feed and water my cat. Unfortunately, even the best neighbor in the world is likely to slack on care and attention during a quick drop-by. 

Having someone in my house while I’m away is not comforting to me regardless of new technology that can be set up. It is still a stranger in your house with a key to it! Additionally, even the people who want to provide your cat with more attention can misstep. One time, my cat crawled under the bed and the cat-sitter friend insisted on trying to get her. Unfortunately, she ended up being bitten by my cat, as my cat felt her personal space was being interrupted. I appreciated her wanting to play with Maddie but provoking her to hide and then bite was uncalled for. At a kennel, staff are trained to respect the cat’s desire to calm down.

Keeping routine
Some cats can be left a bowl of food and will eat at their pleasure and come and go. Others may binge and eat all the food at once only to become sick and make a mess. 

Your cat may be very adjusted to your routine at home, and having that routine disrupted while still in their home can be very confusing. Cats are intuitive creatures, and being at a boarding facility may help put them in the mindset of “I need to figure out how to adjust” rather than being stubborn.

While leaving your kitty at home or asking a friend to check is no cost, sometimes there can be a price you don’t know of that your cat will pay. Trips to the boarder are not often and quickly forgotten. Some upscale boarding facilities are now offering pick up and drop off for a small fee. After some mishaps and not so great experiences asking friends or needing medication handled, I have no question that boarding is the best choice. If we can travel and stay in a nice hotel, shouldn’t your cat enjoy a nice getaway to the spa as well? They may have so much fun that they may not want to leave!
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While a kennel is the approach I prefer to take, you know your cat best. There can be huge differences in kennels from drop off/pick up times to what type of kennel/room the cat will be in.

One very important thing to remember is that not every cat is a good candidate for a boarding facility. Sometimes, home is the only place a cat will feel comfortable.  Some cats do not do well seeing other cats, some will be threatened and spray, others can get stressed and diarrhea is a result while others resort to violence.  Your cat needs to be stress free and home may be the ONLY place.