Cat boarding vs hiring a pet sitter

A few months after I was adopted, I enjoyed a short vacation at Cats in the City, a luxurious cat hotel in Portland. I spent a few days in their Garden-View Master Room with my own private catio.

An enclosed patio with a fresh breeze and views of the birds is not something I get to enjoy everyday. Here is a wonderful photo they captured of me spending some quality time outside.

The room was fabulous (as I deserve), and they sent my mom daily MeowMessages with updates on how I was doing each day. Here is one of the messages from my stay:

Unfortunately, even though they have such lovely accommodations, it wasn't my new home that I had just gotten comfortable in. When I was finally picked up and taken home a few days later, I was so relieved that I hadn't been abandoned (again).

My mom decided that the next time she was going out of town, I would stay at home in an environment I was already comfortable in, and she would find a trusted pet sitter to come and take care of me in her absence.

After searching Rover.com, she got in contact with our furrend Kelly, who lives here in the same small town and takes cares of many pets in the area. She has been such a perfect sitter and always sends my mom dozens of photos and videos of me to swoon over while she's away.

Pros and cons of a pet sitter

My mom now prefers having somebody come by the place and take care of me, and highly recommends finding a pet sitter when you’re out of town.

Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of hiring a trusted pet sitter.

Pros

• Your cat can relax in a more comfortable environment that they’re already used to.

• They can also maintain their same normal feeding times and play routines.

• There is typically more space at home than in boarding.

• Your pet gets more personalized attention.

• You don’t have to worry about picking up or dropping off your pet.

• Depending on the sitter and boarding, the cost is pretty comparable.

• Some pet sitters also offer house sitting, which is helpful for security.

• There is no risk of catching fleas or other pathogens that could lead to an illness.

Cons

• There is limited supervision (unless the pet sitter is house-sitting as well), and the cat is left alone for extended periods of time.

• Some pet sitters may not have formal training or qualifications and may not be reliable.

• There are home environment risks such as accidents and emergencies such as plumbing issues, electrical fires, etc.

• Some cats need extra attention and one or two stop-ins a day may not provide enough playtime and lovins.

Other considerations

• Consider investing in an affordable pet cam for the house. My mom bought a Petcube Cam Set of 2, so she could put them throughout the home. It allows you to check in on your pets any time you like and make sure that they’re doing okay, even in the middle of the night.

• Hire someone you trust. It’s important you know who is taking care of your beloved pets. If family and friends are not available to watch your pet and you decide to hire someone, make sure you meet them in person first. Rover.com is a great resource for finding pet sitters in your area. Plus, once you get to know them, you can hire them directly so you can both avoid the fees.

• Clean your home before you leave for vacation. Make sure that your home is clean and there is nothing on the floor, counters, tables, etc. that your cat could get into while you’re gone.

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