• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Leaving your cat behind when you travel can be tough. Naturally, you want them to feel happy and comfortable while you’re away. But what’s the best way to ensure that? Is it better to board your cat at a cattery, or should you leave them at home with a sitter?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Each option has its pros and cons, and every cat has their own needs and preferences. While some cats thrive in a social boarding environment, others may feel anxious and would rather stay in their home. Understanding your cat’s personality and behavior can help you make an informed choice.

We spoke with Dr. Berkcan Yanar, a veterinarian with PawsRank, on how to determine what’s best for your feline friend. With his insight, we’ll examine the various cat care options available and which types are best for different kinds of cats. We’ll also discuss how to ensure your kitty has a good experience while you’re away, regardless of whether you board your cat or leave them at home.

Cat Care Options

Choosing the right type of cat care depends on your cat’s personality, your budget, and the duration of your absence. Here’s a quick rundown of three popular options.

Drop-in visits

Ideal for short trips away, drop-in visits involve a pet sitter coming to your home to check on your cat. During this time, they’ll handle feeding, playtime, and litter box cleaning. These check-ins typically last between 30 and 60 minutes and should be scheduled at least every eight hours to ensure your cat is well cared for (though how long your kitty can be alone will depend on their unique set of needs).

Drop-in visits work well for cats who are relatively independent and comfortable at home. It’s generally more affordable than house-sitting, but your cat will be alone for longer periods.

House-sitting

In this option, a house sitter stays in your home for the duration of your trip, offering continuous care. This is ideal for cats who require extra attention or for those who become stressed when left alone. Typically, house sitting is the most expensive option, but it comes with bonuses, such as having someone collect your mail and keep an eye on your home while you’re away.

Boarding

Boarding facilities, often provided by veterinary clinics, are excellent options for cats with special medical needs. Some facilities cater specifically to cats, offering a quieter, more relaxed experience. This option can be less expensive than hiring a pet sitter; however, for most healthy cats, boarding can be a stressful experience.

Is Boarding a Good Fit for My Cat?

Whether or not it’s better to board a cat or leave them at home will depend on, well, your cat. Here’s a quick look at which types of care work best for different types of cats.

Kittens

Kittens need more hands-on attention, and a good boarding facility will provide plenty of one-on-one time. And because kittens tend to be more flexible and curious, they generally adapt well to the change in scenery. Kittens are also good candidates for house-sitting because they’ll receive constant supervision and companionship.

Drop-in visits, however, may not be ideal for these playful little ones. Kittens need more interaction and supervision than a 30- or 60-minute visit can offer.

JackF via iStock

Seniors and cats with health issues

Many older cats do best in the comfort of their own homes. Senior cats tend to be creatures of habit, and changes in routine can really rattle them. Unless a senior cat requires extensive medical attention, Dr. Yanar says keeping them at home with a qualified sitter is less stressful.

For cats with health issues that require regular monitoring—such as those needing daily medications or injections—boarding may be a better choice. These facilities are equipped to address specific medical needs that a typical pet sitter may not be able to handle, as Dr. Yanar points out.

“I also recommend boarding for cats with chronic medical conditions that need frequent attention, such as diabetic cats or those with kidney disease, because boarding staff can administer meds on a regular basis and alert a vet if there is something amiss,” he adds.

​​Anxious cats

Introverted or fearful cats usually find boarding to be a stressful ordeal. For anxious cats, the new smells, unfamiliar surroundings, and car travel that come along with boarding can be overwhelming. Yanar says these cats may hide the entire time or refuse to eat. Some may even develop stress-related problems, like urinary issues.

Sociable cats

While cats are independent creatures, they still require companionship—some more than others. Highly social, outgoing, and adaptable cats tend to do well in boarding situations. For cats who get stressed when left alone for long periods, Yanar says a boarding facility with trained staff available 24/7 may offer a more comforting environment.

Short trips

For trips less than 72 hours, a drop-in cat sitter may suffice. Especially if the cat is independent and low-maintenance, adds Yanar. But again, consider your cat’s need for human attention: If they’re an affectionate Velcro cat, a house-sitter who stays at your place may be the best option.

Long trips

For longer trips (more than 72 hours), Yanar recommends boarding your cat. The idea is that it maintains consistency in your cat’s routine. A boarding facility with trained staff can ensure strict adherence to things like your cat’s feeding schedule, litter box cleaning, and medication administration.

Do Cats Get Lonely When You’re Gone?

Cats can feel lonely when their humans are away for long periods, so it’s important to make their experience as comfortable as possible. “The key to keeping a cat contented while you are away is familiarity,” says Yanar. For cats being boarded, he suggests bringing along some comfort items from home, like their favorite blanket or a piece of your clothing. Familiar smells can also be incredibly soothing.

If you go with a house sitter or schedule drop-ins, Yanar recommends choosing a cat sitter your cat already knows and trusts. Consistency is also crucial; ensure all sitters adhere to your cat’s feeding schedule, litter box maintenance, and playtime routine to help them feel more at home. Additionally, consider looking into the benefits of calming pheromone diffusers and sprays, such as Feliway.

Finally, if you need to transport your cat, prepare the carrier ahead of time by placing it out a couple of weeks before your trip. Include some of their toys or their blanket inside to make it a happy place.

Whether you board your cat, hire a house sitter, or schedule drop-ins, a bit of preparation ahead of time can ensure your kitty stays happy while you’re away!

This option is ideal for pets with medical needs, multi-pet households, and cats (who often prefer to stay in a familiar environment). Unlike a drop-in visit, where the sitter simply pops over to the house once or twice a day to check in, housesitting requires an overnight stay.

AnnaStills via iStock

Pet Boarding

Boarding your pet overnight is a popular option for those who travel. Kennels, pet hotels, and other professional boarding facilities have a rotating staff that cares for dogs at all hours. You might also choose to board your dog at a sitter’s home, where they can receive ongoing love and care as well.

Social dogs that enjoy new people and pups may thrive at a boarding facility, but pets who prefer solitude will find this a challenge. If you’re boarding your pet with a sitter, it’s important to ask about resident animals in the home as well as other boarders.

Services may include:

• Daily meals
• Outdoor and indoor exercise
• Playtime with other pets
• Administering medication
• Comfortable spots to lounge and sleep
• Add-on services such as grooming, baths, and swimming

Since cats traditionally prefer their own home and may become stressed with other pets, it’s usually best to avoid boarding for feline companions.

Dog Daycare

Whether you’re bogged down at the office or enjoying a day trip, chances are your dog will crave extra attention when you’re not around. Daycare gives your pup the chance to play, socialize, and be cared for during busy days. Unlike boarding, daycare is not an overnight service; it requires a drop-off and pick-up on the same day.

Services may include:

• Outdoor and indoor exercise
• Playtime with other pets
• Add-on services such as grooming, swimming, and training

In addition to professional dog daycare facilities, some pet sitters offer in-home daycare too. This can be a good option for pets who might do better in smaller groups or calmer home environments.

Drop-In Visits

Quick drop-in visits are an efficient way to give your pet some love on longer days. During a drop-in, a sitter will stop by for a visit (lasting 30 or 60 minutes through Rover) once or twice a day. For dogs, this might include a potty break, some playtime, and fresh food and water. For cats, it may mean fresh food and water, a clean litterbox, and pets.

Services may include:

• Daily meal(s)
• Letting dog outside
• Cleaning litter box
• Playtime and pets
• Add-on services such as dog walking or additional time (i.e., upgrading from a 30-minute visit to a 60-minute visit)

While this option might suit dog parents who are just away from home for a couple of extra hours, drop-ins are a great option for cat guardians who are gone for a few days. Easygoing, healthy adult cats are usually just fine with care once a day to ensure they have access to fresh food and a clean box.

Dog Walking

Adopting a dog is a big commitment, and maintaining a consistent walking routine can be difficult when life gets busy. Fortunately, professional dog walkers help ensure your pup gets the exercise they need in your absence. Unlike a drop-in visit, which focuses on basic care (i.e., food and potty breaks), dog walking is all about keeping your pet active.

This service typically includes a long walk, though some sitters may also offer extra options like providing meals or playtime. Keep in mind that some dog walkers handle multiple dogs at once, so if your pup prefers solo attention, be sure to choose a one-on-one walker.

sutan abraham via iStock

Board & Train

Pet parents seeking help with obedience training or reactive behaviors may consider a board and train program, where dogs stay overnight with a professional trainer. While typically more expensive than other forms of pet care, this option focuses specifically on your dog’s needs and can be well worth the investment for those seeking expert help in building healthy habits.

Choosing the Right Type of Service

The duration you need pet care, along with your pet’s specific needs, will determine the type of service that works best for you. Some pet parents only use sitters occasionally (such as during a vacation), while others rely on regular care through dog walking or drop-in visits. Depending on your pet’s temperament, routine, and health, certain types of pet care may work better than others.

Cats

Generally, cats are creatures of habit, which means they can become stressed and anxious at any sign of change. It’s usually best to keep a cat in their own environment, which means hiring a house sitter or drop-in sitter for your cat. Certain cats may be okay to board at a cat-specific facility or in the quiet, pet-free home of a trusted sitter.

Puppies

Leaving your puppy is no easy feat! While some pups are just fine staying at a boarding facility by 4 to 6 months of age, others may find a kennel overwhelming. You might consider hiring a house sitter to stay with your puppy if you plan to be away from home for a longer duration, or try out dog daycare to help teach positive socialization.

Shy and anxious dogs

Being away from an anxious dog can be stressful for both human and canine. Before booking an overnight stay, consider how your dog handles new people, pets, and environments. Visiting a boarding facility and speaking with the staff can help you determine if it’s a good fit. If your dog prefers familiar surroundings, hiring an in-home sitter may be a better option.

Reactive and pet-selective dogs

A reactive pup, or one that struggles with other pets, may fare best with one-on-one care. This can include booking a pet sitter to stay in your home if you’re traveling, or ensuring that your dog walker knows your dog’s specific triggers before taking them for a stroll.

High-energy dogs

Social, high-energy dogs will have a field day playing with other pups at daycare. These dogs often enjoy the excitement of boarding overnight at a facility or in a sitter’s home. However, even the most outgoing dogs benefit from proper socialization and basic training before being placed in a multi-pet environment.

Choosing a Professional Pet Sitter

It can feel daunting to trust someone new with your pet. Platforms like Rover offer a plethora of certified caretakers, each with a different set of skills or certifications. Though location and rates are important when finding the right sitter, it’s important to look into the following too:

• Check a sitter’s profile for a certified background check and any specific pet-care licensing/certifications
• Look for reviews from pet parents with similar pets, and don’t be afraid to ask for references!
• Request a Meet & Greet with a sitter before booking to assess their willingness to get to know your pet, as well as how your pet responds

It can feel like a lot of work to find just the right care fit for your pet—but figuring out just what they need is worth it for the peace of mind of knowing your pet is in good, loving hands.

Are you gearing up for a trip but anxious about finding the right pet sitter or boarding facility for your dog? Leaving your dog with someone else can be difficult, but being armed with the right questions for a new sitter or facility can give you the peace of mind that your dog will be in good hands.

Each facility is designed to meet a different clientele, and pet sitters have different specialities and levels of experience—which means there’s a lot to know before you sign on. To learn how to tailor your questions to your specific dog and needs, we asked certified professional dog trainer Paige Gordon (CPDT, PCTIA) of SpiritDog Training for advice.

1. Accommodations

The first thing to ask about is your dog’s environment. You’ll want to know whether your dog will have enough space, whether the space will be comfortable, and how the facility deals with emergencies.

Make sure you know:

• How many other dogs will be there, and how will my dog share space with them?
• Where will my dog eat and sleep?
• Does my dog have their own space or enclosure, and how big is it?
• What kind of outdoor access will my dog have?
• Is the indoor space temperature-controlled?
• How many people are present at any given time?
• What kind of certifications do you have?
• Do you have business insurance?
• How close is the nearest vet, and how would you get my dog there?
• How can I get updates on my dog’s stay?
• Can I take a tour and see the space?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all right answer to these questions. For example, some dogs will be just fine being left alone by their sitter for a few hours—but for other dogs, it might be important to have someone present on site at all times. The biggest green flag when it comes to accommodations is transparency, especially the ability to visit the space. Gordon recommends touring all the spaces if possible, not just the public-facing ones.

Red flags are things like small kennels, low staff-to-dog ratios, and vague emergency procedures. Anything that makes it hard to give dogs their own space or separate them by age, size, and energy level can signal a problem.

2. Schedule

It’s important to know what your dog’s day will look like. Even if some options cost more, the answers to these questions can give you a lot of information about the facility and their operating philosophy.

Make sure you know:

• What will a typical day look like for my dog?
• How long will my dog be alone, and where will they be when they’re alone?
• When and where will my dog be fed? Do you leave food out if they don’t eat right away?
• When are play and walks scheduled?
• Are nighttime potty breaks and/or walks available?
• Can my dog’s medication schedule be accommodated?

A good schedule doesn’t have to be rigid—but it does need to match your dog’s general needs. Great kennels and pet sitters will be able to keep your dog relatively close to their home routine, from the number of meals to the amount of exercise.

Having alone time to decompress in their own space isn’t a bad thing for many dogs, but a lack of supervision or long absences can be. Other causes for concern are feeding dogs in shared spaces (which can force competition for food) and the inability to accommodate any extra feedings, walks, or potty breaks—that speaks to a kennel or sitter that’s overwhelmed.

3. Exercise and Activities

Ask questions to make sure your dog will get enough exercise and mental stimulation while you’re away—and ensure that exercise is supervised and safe.

Make sure you know:

• What kind of exercise will my dog get every day?
• What kinds of activities will be scheduled or available?
• Are any dog play groups separated by age, size, or energy level?
• How are dogs supervised during exercise and play?
• What kinds of games or enrichment do you offer?

A menu of activities and ideas for enrichment shows that your kennel or sitter has thought through their approach to exercise. Good answers will leave you feeling comfortable with the types of activities and the level of supervision, confident that your dog will have the interaction and stimulation they need—whether with humans or other dogs.

Red flags when it comes to exercise are a lack of regulated activities, no games or puzzles, and low levels of interaction. If a facility can’t accommodate your dog’s play style—whether that’s exuberant or more sedate—this likely isn’t a good fit for your pet.

4. Preparation

One of the best ways to ensure your dog’s stay is a happy one is finding out how to prepare your pup for a sitter or a boarding facility.

Make sure you know:

• How should I prepare my dog’s food and medication for their stay?
• Can I bring a comfort item?
• What vaccinations do you require?
• Can I leave a list of emergency contacts if I’m not available?
• Can I bring my dog by for a visit before their stay?
• Can we schedule a one-night trial run?

Many places will ask you to prepare daily food and medication and may have specific instructions about how to package and label them. These are good signs, because it means they have thought through the best way to feed and administer medicine. If the facility or sitter lets you bring a comfort item, even better.

Many places will also want you to leave additional emergency contacts who will be local—a good sign of careful planning. Lastly, a reputable place should allow you to visit beforehand so that your dog will be more comfortable with familiar surroundings during their stay.

If a facility won’t allow you to bring your own food, consider this a warning sign. Many dogs have specific dietary needs that a generic food cannot meet, or they could have a stomach too sensitive to switch foods on no notice.

Though requesting that you leave toys at home isn’t always a red flag—after all, toys can trigger resource guarding—great kennels and sitters will make sure your dog has a space all their own for comfort items. If you’re not allowed to see that space ahead of time, that’s always a red flag.

Viktoriya Telminova via iStock

5. Is This a Good Fit for My Dog?

Some dogs need special consideration before they go to stay with a sitter or at a kennel. Here’s what to ask about puppies, seniors, dogs with health issues, and more.

Puppies

Before boarding your puppy, make sure you know about age requirements, energy levels, social activities, and rest times.

• How old do puppies need to be to stay here?
• Do you have specific food and rest times for puppies?
• What vaccinations do you require? Are all other dogs on the premises vaccinated?
• What types of activities can puppies do?
• Will puppies share space with older dogs?

High-energy dogs

Dogs with high energy levels that don’t get met can become destructive or suffer from increased anxiety. A few questions of your prospective new sitter can help to alleviate concerns.

• Will my dog be able to play with other high-energy dogs?
• Can I purchase extra playtime or walks?
• Can I bring toys for my dog to keep them occupied?
• Will there be the opportunity for games like fetch or frisbee?

Reactive dogs

Dogs who are reactive to noises, easily overstimulated, or don’t respond well to other dogs may have some very specific needs at their new boarding facility. As you talk to the operator or to the sitter, be sure to be honest about your dog’s needs and get answers to some important questions:

• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have a single accommodation?
• Can my dog be fed without other dogs around?
• Is the staff trained to handle reactive dogs?
• What techniques will the staff employ with a reactive dog?

Anxious dogs and dogs with separation anxiety

If you have a high-anxiety dog and/or one who experiences separation anxiety, leaving them with a sitter or at a facility can be stressful for you too. Gordon notes that for high-anxiety dogs, you might consider asking whether your dog can do a trial night just to be sure. As you talk with your prospective sitter, here are some good things to consider:

• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have more interaction with humans/dogs if that helps with their anxiety?
• Can my dog bring comfort items and toys?
• What activities are available for anxious dogs?
• Can my dog have a longer test visit?

Shy or dog-selective pups

Not all dogs love other dogs. If you have a dog who is shy or dog selective, be up front with the new sitter or boarding facility. Talk about your dog’s specific needs and ask questions about how the facility might best accommodate your dog’s personality. Gordon recommends that you ask for references, especially if you have a shy dog. See how other pet parents of shy dogs felt about the experience.

• Can my dog have minimal interactions with other dogs?
• Can my dog have more interaction with the staff?
• Can my dog have a stay with lower sensory stimulation?
• Can my dog have interactions only with certain types of dogs (quiet, low-energy, confident)?

Dogs with health issues

If your dog has temporary or permanent health issues, be sure to talk to the prospective facility about your dog’s specific needs and how they can help to make sure that your dog is comfortable while you are away. This could include special bedding, medications, or exercise needs.

• Can you meet my dog’s health needs? (Be specific!)
• Can you administer medications on my dog’s schedule?
• Can you make accommodations to help keep my dog comfortable?
• Can I bring items that will help my dog be more comfortable (e.g., an orthopedic dog bed)?
• Will my dog be able to be isolated from specific allergens?
• Is there a vet on call?

Seniors

Senior dogs can have some very specific needs. Getting the answers to some key questions from the sitter or facility can help to give you confidence that this boarding option is right for you.

• Is there flexibility with the schedule?
• Can I provide soft foods (e.g., wet or fresh food)?
• Can my dog have designated rest or quiet times?
• Can you administer medications throughout the day?
• Can you make accommodations to help keep my dog comfortable?
• Can I bring items that will help my dog be more comfortable (e.g., an orthopedic dog bed)?
• Can my dog only play with similarly-aged dogs?
• Is there a vet on call?

Asking the right questions can not only help you find the right sitter or the right facility for your dog, but also give you and your pup peace of mind while you’re away. You can even ask for a phone number you can reach out to if new questions occur while you’re away. A good sitter will always be happy to help.

Vacations should be fun and opportunities for you to not worry about your regular schedule and home life. If you are traveling out of town for a vacation and you are leaving your pets behind though, it’s easy to worry about their care or get concerned that you forgot to give the pet sitter or boarding facility something they’ll need. Planning ahead for your pet’s care while you’re out of town helps to prevent these uneasy feelings .

Checking off to through this short list of pre-vacation tasks helps to ensure that your pets will be well cared for and therefore enjoy your time away.