Advice on Boarding

knikoleellis

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I have to take a work trip (3 days) in 2 weeks. My kitty is still shy. I'm in between if I should board her, or hire & have someone come over & feed her. Any advice? 

I'd just hate to board her & she think she's back in another shelter
 She would have only been out of the shelter a little under a month by the time I leave.

How do your kitty's do in boarding? I'm looking at multiple options. I'd probably have to take her Monday (after work) & pick her back up Thursday (after work) because we board our plane early Tuesday morning & get back late Tuesday night. 
 

basscat

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Boarded our cat once.   Place came HIGHLY recommended.
When we got home, they couldn't get her out of the cage.  Had to go back and get her.
AND....They were mad at us because she had hurt somebody else's pet....said we might have to pay a vet bill.

They had a wall of cages and she was surrounded (top, bottom, both sides) with DOGS! 
She was terrified, covered in her own pee/poop because they wouldn't open the cage, and apparently did her best to take a puppy's nose off through the wire.

Never again!
 

rickr

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Boarded our cat once.   Place came HIGHLY recommended.
When we got home, they couldn't get her out of the cage.  Had to go back and get her.
AND....They were mad at us because she had hurt somebody else's pet....said we might have to pay a vet bill.

They had a wall of cages and she was surrounded (top, bottom, both sides) with DOGS! 
She was terrified, covered in her own pee/poop because they wouldn't open the cage, and apparently did her best to take a puppy's nose off through the wire.

Never again!
What a terrible ordeal for you and your cat.  I'm so sorry.

I usually use cat/house sitters when I travel.  But I have boarded my two cats.  Our cat only vet offers kitty condos.  Several are quite large, maybe 8 x 8 feet.  Others are smaller, say 4 x 4 feet.  The condos feature cat trees, beds, and walk ways in the larger ones.  Plus they have windows.  And since the vet doesn't see dogs or other animals, it's a little less stressful for Archie and Lucy.  I bring their food, some toys and their favorite beds/blankets to make the stay more enjoyable and the transition easier.

Of course the cats prefer staying home.  But when I can't find a sitter,  they seem to do ok with boarding.  
 

LTS3

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If you opt for boarding, be sure to visit the place in person and ask questions about how your cat will be cared for. If you provide the food and exact amounts, will the place feed it? How are emergencies handled? What about off hours emergencies? Is there someone there overnight to keep an eye on the boarded animals? How much playtime will your cat get? Some places give the cats playtime outside of the cage (individually, not all at once

He got playtime outside of the condo. The boarding place was able to feed the raw food my cat eats. Many places won't feed raw because of the lack of refrigeration storage available. My cat did fine while being boarded. He didnt like being confied and probably drove the staff nuts with his loud annoying screaming
 

hellomisskitty

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My recommendation is to hire a pet sitter to come and check in on her or have a friend or family member come stay with her. She will do much better in what by then will be her familiar territory especially since her environment so recently changed when you adopted her. She will feel much safer at home.
 
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