Cat boarding or home visits: what is better for your cat?

Both formats are cat sitting, but the experience for your cat is very different. Cat boarding means your cat moves to the sitter’s home; home visits mean the cat stays at home and the sitter comes to it.

Cat boarding: pros and cons

• Someone is around most of the day, so problems are noticed quickly.
• Good for cats that like people and for long trips.
• The move itself is stressful: new smells, new rooms, sometimes other animals.
• You need to bring food, litter and favourite things.

Home visits: pros and cons

• No transport and no new territory — the least stress for most cats.
• Easy with several cats.
• The cat is alone between visits, usually 12–24 hours.
• You give the sitter access to your home.

Simple rules

Choose home visits for shy, senior and territorial cats and for trips up to a week or two. Choose cat boarding for sociable young cats, kittens that need frequent meals, cats that need medication several times a day, and long absences.

What to ask the sitter

• How many visits a day and how long each one lasts.
• How many animals they look after at the same time.
• Whether they can give medication and how they will report.
• What happens if the cat gets ill: which vet and who decides.