Boarding, How To Give Your Cat A Good Experience?

When you think of boarding your cat, how does it make you feel? Many owners go through a lot of emotional anxiety leaving their pets behind. 

The one decision causing the most anxiety is, how do i choose a good boarding facility?

That is a important decision but that is just the start. Don't forget you have to pack your cats bags as well. Let's get started on what questions to ask and what to pack for your cat.

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Choosing a boarding facility...

What facility is right for you? Reviews and online pictures are a great start but should never be a deciding factor. 

Pick at least three facilities you would like to check out if possible. That's right you are going to pay your choices a visit. This is what you should ask and look for when visiting.

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Questions:

Do you give tours?

Some facilities do give tours and some do not because of insurance reasons.

Will my cat have 24 hour care? 

This question is extremely important. Some facilities consider a camera to be 24 hour care. This is not acceptable. So you must ask, Is there someone here overnight, such as a associate? I know this may sound like a very extreme and precise question. But let me explain, if you do not specify you are referring to a actual human they can say yes even if it is only by camera from a remote location. 

A camera can not see if your cat is having issues inside of its room. Please keep this in mind when deciding if this is a deciding factor for you.

Do you let the cats out to play and for how long? How many times a day?

You want to make sure your cat is not going to be stuck in a room for most of its stay. Even though they do sleep a lot they still need to move around and get some play time.

Do you have camera's online? Or post pictures on social media?

This isn't a common practice yet but it is gaining momentum in the boarding industry. This feature allows owners to access cameras online so they may see playtime's or even nap times 24 hours a day.

A lot of facilities do have social medias and post pictures everyday of the pets. This is something you may want to ask about so you can follow the social site.

Do you offer in house food? If so what kind?

Most places offer complimentary meals with your cats stay but you want to make sure you agree with the food. If not you should be able to bring food from home. I suggest this to not interrupt your cats diet.

What litter do you use?

You may be asking yourself, What really? If you know your cat is picky about its litter. This is the question you want to ask because you may need to bring your own litter. You don't want your cat going on bathroom strike. Also if your cat has dust allergies this is a question you must ask.

My cat can be unruly, how do you handle this?

Some cats can act out very badly when boarding. It is important to bring this up if you know your cat can become violent. You want to make sure they can accommodate for unruly cats. It's common for a cat to go on the defensive in a new place. But you want to make sure and look for how the staff reacts when you bring this up.

Do you board cats with health issues?

This is the mother of all questions. You must let boarding facilities know if your cat has a health problem or if they were recently hospitalized or taken to a vet. I have seen many pet parents not be completely honest over the years and this has resulted in unfortunate circumstances. If you are worried that your cat will be denied boarding, you need to start your search sooner and not at the last minute. 

So now that you have your basic questions, the next order of business is the cleanliness and staff attitudes. It's always good to have a second person with you because you may not notice something that they do. Cleanliness is always important, look at every square inch your eyes can cover. Even the air vents. The facility can be top notch but if the staff has horrible non caring attitudes, its not looking good. 

You're already stressed about leaving your cat behind and you want to make sure you are not taking it out on the staff. Be inquisitive but not rude.

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Packing Your Cats Bags...

Food 🍖

Did you decide to bring your own food or use the facilities food. I always suggest owners bring their own foods or you may be getting that phone call about your cat not eating. Always make sure you bring enough food. Accidents do happen, such as a cat kicking litter into its food bowl or spilling it all over.

🛏️ Bedding and Toys 🐁

If you know your cat has a favorite bed or toy be sure to pack that for them. It will help ease the stress of sleeping in a new place. A simple old t shirt can lift your cats spirit while you are away. 

Litter 🚽

Do you need to pack your litter because you know your cat will not use what the facility provides. Remember does your cat have dust allergies. 

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Drop Off, Pick Up and Home

😿Drop Off Day...

A day of goodbyes can be overwhelming, make sure you double check everything you need for drop off and that the facility has the correct phone numbers in case of a emergency. Taking extra time to prepare will make saying goodbye a lot easier for both of you.

😻Pick Up Day...

A day of anticipation. You can not wait to see your fluffy. But don't get ahead of your self yet, always ask to settle the bill and discuss your pets stay first. Do not let them bring out your cat before you have these conversations. A lot of owners miss key details when facilities do this and unfortunately sometimes they do this on purpose. You need to know all services were provided and you have the right to know about your cats feeding chart, elimination charts and health charts. This way you can ask questions with out being distracted. 

😻Home Sweet Home...

I always suggest to look your cat over when you get home. This typically can not be done anywhere else without causing stress. If you find any issues call the facility as soon as possible.  

Keep in mind your cat may sleep a lot for the first few days. Also your cats feeding schedule has changed so if you fed on a timed schedule before you will have to start from scratch. Stay patient with your cat and soon order will restore itself.

In conclusion you want to know while your having fun or taking care of family your cat is having the time of its life. Always ask about special packages or treats they may offer for a stay like kitty non dairy ice cream or even kitty snack kongs. Take advantage of maybe a grooming or brushing package.

If you are purchasing a lot of services always ask for a discount.

Do your homework so you will not have to worry and always remember your cat is a phone call away.

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© Sergey Rasulov | Dreamstime.com - Spa wash cat .

Adopting A Kitten

So you want to adopt a kitten or you may be thinking about adopting a kitten. This might be your first time or even your third time adopting. There are many factors you may have never even thought of when it comes to adopting that sweet kitten looking back at you. Here I will break down the questions you should be asking and some fun tidbits to get you on your way.

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So you've found the perfect kitten and your ready to say those magical words, " I would like to adopt this kitten." 

Before you get that kittens hopes up there are a few questions you need to ask the shelter associate or the person managing the adoptions. 

Has this kitten been a foster? 

If so what other animals did this kitten live with and what conditions?

Has this kitten ever had any type of diseases upon capture?

What type of breed of cat is this kitten?

You may be asking yourself, why does this even matter? 

These questions are important because they set the stage for the care of your new kitten. If a kitten has been in foster care it is extremely important to ask what animals the kitten has lived with during foster care and how well did it do. This will help you especially if you have other animals at home. Also it is important to know that the rescue is very picky about who can become a foster. You want to hope your kittens journey thus far hasn't been to traumatic. Next is disease, most kittens who are captured typically will have some type of issue before being put up for adoption such as ear mites or worms. That is ok and is normal. But it is very important to know all the details for future problems as your kitten matures. This is also why it is important to ask about the breed mix if it is known. Some breeds are more prone to health issues than others and you want to know you can provide for these problems. Understanding these questions helps cats and kittens truly get a forever home.

So do you still want to adopt this precious kitten? Of course you do. Next you may be met with a application. It is very important you answer these questions honestly. Please do not lie on these applications because it can make the adoption a lot harder on you and the kitten you are trying to adopt. The next very important order of business is the adoption fee. It is considered very disrespectful to complain about adoption fees. These fees typically include all up to date shots and future boosters, Spay or Neuter, Microchip, De-worming, and some even include a bag of food. Fees can range from twenty five dollars all the way to eighty five dollars and up. These fees are put to good use. If you are ever unsure about a adoption fee, never hesitate to ask what it covers. Some shelters even offer a credit. What is a credit? A credit is when a family has adopted a pet and took it home and it is not working out. The family can bring the pet back and receive a credit toward a different animal at the shelter. Shelters usually have a 7 day grace period for the animal to be returned. 

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So you've been approved to adopt. The next step is taking your new bundle of joy home. Please keep in mind some shelters have not yet preformed the spay or neuter so you may have to wait a few days to pick up your new family member. 

This is essentially great because it allows time to go purchase the items you need for your new kitten. The next questions should be..

What kind of litter?

What type of food?

Should I buy a cat condo?

What should I do about my kittens nails?

These questions sound simple but alas the many options at your local pet store. First things first the litter and litter pan. Based on the breed of your cat this will be very helpful. For example if you have a Siamese mix you know your cat has a sensitive respiratory system so only non dust and natural litters should be used. Your litter pan should also be purchased to accommodate your kitten as they grow. Second is food, I can never stress enough to owners to feed your kitten, kitten food. You want your kitten to reach its full potential and feeding kitten food is the only way this is going to happen. Quality vs Quantity also plays a huge role. Try to avoid heavily dyed foods and foods that contain many fillers. Sacrificing that one Starbucks coffee a week for a month will enable you to purchase a premium food. Third is the kitten castle / cat condo. These can be expensive but a life saver for your furniture. This isn't a must but a option. This should never take priority over better litter and food options. Lastly your kittens nails. I bet you forgot about those haven't you? A nice scratching post is a must and is much cheaper then a condo. You are also going to need to purchase kitten nail clippers. They sell clippers based upon your kittens life stage. Please make sure they are for kitten nails. Another option is nail caps. I love these and have used them in the past. They are a good training tool. You must start your kitten out with nail caps during that first week home. This is essential during the bonding and trusting faze of your new kitten. Take your time and as your kitten grows you will never have a issue with doing any nails. Plus these nail caps come in a wide range of colors even glow in the dark.

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In conclusion, having fun and staying patient with your new kitten is essential. Your kitten has to learn the rules of the house and you will have to learn to repeat the steps many times with out becoming angry. Kittens can be very forgetful. Never be harsh or scary to a kitten, it can effect them as they mature. As a kitten everything is new and vibrant even those nice electrical cords tucked behind the television. The first few weeks can be a handful but don't worry everything will smooth out as your kitten learns. 

Understanding you may have to adjust your household for the kitten is a first step in cat ownership. Compromising plays a huge roll for any cat owner. If you are new to having a kitten as part of the family, this may be hard on you at first but you can overcome. Stay patient and think of a solution that works for everyone. 

Now go make some memories. 

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