Should I board my cat or get a cat sitter?

Updated 9 Sept 2024

Going away soon and thinking about boarding a cat or welcoming a cat sitter? The dilemma is real - so stick with us here as we explore the advantages and disadvantages of cat boarding vs. cat sitting, so that you can make the best decision for your feline friend.

Should I board my cat?

Boarding a cat can be stressful for felines because cats are creatures of habit who take great comfort in the familiar surroundings of home. Cats also take a while to get used to other felines and humans, so a boarding facility where they’re surrounded by other new cats can be distressing. Boarding facilities and catteries are also an expensive option for pet parents, with some charging up to $50 per night. 

Are there alternatives to boarding my cat?

There are other options available, such as welcoming an in-home pet sitter, which allows cats to stay in the comfort of home while getting the full attention of somebody who can meet all of their specific needs. If you’re interested in learning more about how to connect with an in-home, verified cat sitter, find out how it works here.

What’s the difference between cat boarding and cat sitting?

Boarding a cat and welcoming a cat sitter are two very different forms of pet care. Boarding a cat involves leaving your feline friend at a boarding facility filled with other cats, where they’ll receive basic care in an unfamiliar environment.

Welcoming a cat sitter means inviting a pet lover into your home to provide 1:1 cat care, without disrupting your cat’s routine or taking them out of the familiar surroundings that make them feel safe.

Boarding kennels for cats tend to be more expensive, charging up to $50 per night, while there are many cat sitting platforms available where nothing is exchanged but loving pet care and a place to stay for sitters.

What is a cattery?

A cattery is a cat boarding facility that houses and looks after cats for a set period of time, at an expense to pet parents. Some facilities will provide basic care, such as a place to sleep and food and water, while others might let cats out to roam and even provide a little play time or grooming. 

A cattery is like a boarding kennel for cats - some go under the guise of a ‘cat hotel’, but there is no guarantee that boarding a cat in a ‘hotel’ will get your kitty any superior treatment to a standard cattery.

What are the advantages of boarding a cat?

• Cat boarding facilities provide daily food and water
• Boarding for cats provide cats with shelter and a place to sleep
• Litter boxes are refreshed
• Some facilities provide play time and grooming
• They can sometimes administer your cat’s medication

What are the disadvantages of boarding a cat?

• Cats are in an unfamiliar environment which can cause stress and anxiety
• Cats are taken out of their normal routine, which can be very distressing
• Cats aren’t allowed to roam like they can at home, resulting in a lack of stimulation and frustration
• Cat boarding kennels are shared with other cats, resulting in stress and anxiety
• Catteries can be expensive, charging up to $50 per night

What are the alternatives to boarding my cat? What is cat sitting?

Welcoming a cat sitter means having someone care for your cat at home while you’re away. Hiring a cat sitter means your furry family member will be not only fed and watered, but also given 1:1 care, love and attention that just isn’t possible (due to the sheer volume of cats) at a cattery.

Leaving your cat with a cat pet sitter (sometimes referred to as cat babysitters) is a great alternative to boarding a cat if you’d like to keep your feline at home, away from stranger cats and in the routines they’re used to.

What are the advantages of getting a cat sitter?

• More than your cat’s basic needs are met
• Cats are kept at home (which is where vets agree pets are happiest)
• Sitters play with the cat and provide mental and physical stimulation
• Cats are given 1:1 love and attention
• Sitters care for your cats around the clock, sticking to a personalized care plan
• Cats are kept in the routine they love
• Sitters can care for multiple cats (if you’ve got more than one) without them being separated
• You can find sitters who are experienced in administering medication (so there’s no need to find a cat hotel that will administer medicine while staying, if this is what your feline needs)
• Cat owners get peace of mind that their feline is in the familiar environment of home that makes them feel safe and secure
• There is no need to coax your cat into their cat carrier - that’s surely better for your cat’s health and wellbeing when it comes to stress levels
• Cat sitters look after your cat, but also your home and garden, collecting post and watering the plants
• Your house is kept secure while you’re on vacation - instead of leaving it empty, you’ve got someone staying there overnight
• Cat sitting services are more personal - you can request your sitter to send you daily updates on how your feline is doing in your absence
• If you secure a sitter through TrustedHousesitters, you can guarantee your sitter has been through a series of security checks, and you can read reviews from other pet owners

What are the disadvantages of getting a cat sitter?

• Hiring a pet sitter can be expensive, depending on the platform you use (but luckily, platforms like TrustedHousesitters are more than affordable for pet parents)
• Securing a pet sitter to look after your furry friend is more pricey than asking a neighbor for a favor, but the service is guaranteed, and definitely cheaper than boarding a cat

How can I find a cat sitter?

If you’ve decided that boarding your cat simply isn’t an option and you’re now looking for a cat sitting service, you’re in the right place. 

At TrustedHousesitters, pet parents choose from thousands of loving cat sitters to stay in their home and care for their kitties in the place vets agree pets are happiest: home. 

Unlike many pet sitting platforms, pet parents can access as many cat sitters as they like, simply with one annual membership, and nothing more exchanged between sitters and pet parents than loving pet care and a place to stay. 

To find out more about how securing a sitter works, click below.

What are the key differences between cat boarding vs. cat sitting?

Cat boarding key summary

1. Cats are sheltered in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by a number of other cats
2. Cats are looked after by practitioners caring for a number of other cats
3. Cats are provided with food, water and shelter
4. Cats are kept in small boardings where exercise is restricted
5. Catteries are noisy, cramped and catching diseases is common
6. If your cat has feline siblings, they could be separated
7. All cats receive a standard level of care

Cat sitting key summary

1. Cats are cared for in the comfort of home, where vets agree pets are happiest
2. Cared are given 24/7, 1:1 care by a true cat lover
3. More than basic needs are met, with sitters providing personalized care, love and attention
4. Cats are free to roam at home as they please, getting as much mental and physical stimulation as they need
5. Cats are kept at home, so the chances of catching illnesses remains the same as always
6. Multiple cats can be cared for under the same roof, with no need for separation
7. Cats are given personalized love and care

Connect with cat sitters

So, now we’ve settled the cat boarding vs. cat sitting ordeal, think you might prefer loving pet sitters to care for your kitty in the comfort of their own home? Great - vets agree that pets are happier there, surrounded by all the sights, sounds and smells that make them feel safe. Click below to explore verified, referenced and reviewed cat sitters.

"TrustedHousesitters provides pet parents with the ideal pet care solution. Connecting pet lovers who travel with pet owners in need of pet care, the process of choosing your ideal sitter is simple and it will likely lead to new friendships with like-minded people all over the world."  Dr Scott Miller, TV Vet - Vet on the Hill

What do other cat owners have to say?

Hear our members’ thoughts on welcoming cat sitters…

“I can honestly say this website has changed my life for the better, wondering if my husband and I would ever be able to travel again after taking two beautiful cats that needed a home. I could not imagine putting them in a kennel and I needed someone to be in the house full-time. All the sitters we've had have been absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for developing this network of support.” — Mary Beth, Owner, Australia

Like Mary Beth, many pet owners choose to use TrustedHousesitters instead of paid cat sitting services because of the mutual trust and shared love of pets involved. 

Alison, an owner from the UK, loves the fact that no money exchanges hands between our members, as it means she can find a cat sitter she can truly trust:

“TrustedHousesitters has changed my life! It is such a brilliant system that relies on goodwill with no money exchanging hands. My partner and I can actually go away together instead of taking turns going away on solo trips, secure in the knowledge that our two cats will be well cared for and happy. I have just waved goodbye to my fourth trusted house sitter and she was as charming, responsible and efficient as the first three.” — Alison, Owner, UK

Plus, with sitter verifications and a range of trust and safety tools behind you, you can connect with confidence. To hear more from our members check out our reviews over on TrustPilot.

Useful resources

• Why house sitting for cats is best for your furry friend
• Cat vacation care: Drop-ins vs cat sitters
• 10 tips to become the best cat owner