You and your cat probably have very different ideas of what a vacation should be. Unlike their humans, cats don’t have to deal with pangs of wanderlust. Most cats are quite content to stay home, groom themselves, and snack on kitty treats.
While their low-maintenance natures are great for owners, cat lovers might find themselves in a bind when the holiday season rolls around or when they have the itch to get out of town. After all, not everyone can take their cats with them on vacation so they have to explore options like cat boarding and in-house cat sitting.
Caring for Your Cat While You’re Traveling
With its picturesque coastline, Orange County, California, is one of the prettiest places to live in the US. But even OC residents need a change of scenery every once in a while. For cat parents, hitting the road has to wait until they know their feline friends will be cared for. Some may call in a favor from a friend, but it’s better to entrust your pet’s care to a professional. There are many cat boarding services, also known as catteries, in Orange County that will house pet cats for a period of time. The other option, which doesn’t involve relocating your cat from its home, is in-house pet sitting.
In this article, we examine the benefits and drawbacks of both options. The aim is to help cat owners travel with the assurance that their pets are in safe hands.
Cat Boarding in Orange County
Cat boarding facilities provide your cat with a safe place and supervision while you’re away. The best facilities are cage-free, staffed by knowledgeable handlers, and full of toys and activities to fill your cat’s day. Of course, the opposite is also true, and some facilities offer nothing more than accommodation and feeding, often in a caged enclosure. That’s why you must conduct a thorough inspection of any boarding facility before checking your cat in. Across Orange County, multiple businesses offer boarding services for cats.
Pros of Cat Boarding Facilities
- There are experienced handlers who can respond to any emergency.
- They are required to meet pet boarding facilities standards dictated by California’s Health & Safety Code.
- You can look at reviews from earlier customers to vet the boarding facility.
Cons of Cat Boarding Facilities
- Your cat could get stressed out by the presence of other, strange cats.
- The new environment’s sights, sounds, and smells could be unsettling for your pet.
- Lodging at cat boarding facilities is subject to availability and requires advance booking.
- Boarding your cat at the facility for an extended period can be expensive.
In-House Cat Sitting in Orange County
Your house is your cat’s castle. It’s where they’re most comfortable. At home, they’re familiar with their surroundings, have access to all their toys, and can follow their established routines. For these reasons, in-house cat sitting is a far less stressful option for your cat’s care while you’re out of town.
If you have a friend or relative that is already familiar with your cats, consider appointing them as your designated cat sitter. It will involve daily visits, staying at your house, and catering to your cat’s feeding, playtime, and social needs. And yes, they will also have to clean the litter box. Your cats will respond well to someone they know, which is why it’s worth calling in a favor if you have someone suitable in mind.
Still, asking someone to look after your pets is a big responsibility. If you can’t find anyone with the experience, knowledge, and commitment to care for your cat, that’s OK. You can still find a cat sitter from one of the professional in-house cat-sitting services in Orange County like The Comforted Kitty.
Pros of In-House Cat Sitting
- Cats are more comfortable in their own homes.
- Cat sitting is a flexible solution. Sitters can stay overnight or make regular visits.
- You don’t need to transport your cat to and from another location.
- Cat sitters offer personalized care based on your cat’s needs.
- You will receive regular updates from your cat sitter like photos of your happy feline.
- You can easily check reviews and choose the best sitters for your cat.
Cons of In-House Cat Sitting
- In-house cat sitting costs more than asking a friend but it’s still more affordable than the top cat boarding facilities.
- Finding the right cat sitter in your neighborhood can be difficult.
- Availability is limited, especially during holidays when people book sitters in advance.
Cat Boarding Facilities Vs In-House Cat Sitting: Which Is Better for Your Cat?
When you leave town without your cat, it can cause them confusion and stress. Cats may not be as expressive as dogs, but they do feel our absence when we’re gone. And even though they may seem more independent than dogs, they need their share of care and attention too. You should never leave your cat unsupervised if you’re out of town. Simply having someone come by to fill their feeding bowl is also not enough.
The best solution is an in-house cat-sitting service. If your cat could speak, they would tell you that they prefer to stay home over going to an unfamiliar boarding facility. Your cats will already be stressed because you aren’t around. Going to a new place, away from familiar territory, will only add to their woes. There are several advantages of choosing an in-house cat-sitting service over a cat-boarding facility, such as:
- Rather than being confined in a cage or a strange environment, your cat can be more comfortable at home.
- Contact with unknown cats at boarding houses increases the chance of stress, fights, and infections.
- Cat sitters give personalized care that is tailored to each cat’s individual medical and dietary needs.
- Cat sitting is more flexible than boarding. You can choose how many visits you need rather than simply checking your cat in for a set number of days.
- Cats receive love and affection from their sitters at home, as opposed to potential hostilities with other cats at the boarding facility.
- Cat sitters can also double up as house sitters by watering your plants and retrieving your mail while you are away.
However, if for some reason you are unable to get a cat sitter, you can still book your cat at a boarding facility. Make sure it is a safe place for your cat before you confirm the booking. Signs of a quality cat boarding facility include:
- Cage-free housing
- Attentive staff
- On-call veterinarian
- Overnight monitoring
- Positive social interactions between handlers and cats
Find Cat Boarding Facilities in Orange County
Even though in-house cat sitting is more beneficial for your cat, that doesn’t mean that cat boarding facilities are inherently bad. In fact, some of them are as close as it comes to a luxury kitty resort! It all depends on how enriching an experience the boarding facility provides the cats it houses. There are several such “cat hotels” dotting Orange County where you can check your cat in for a safe, stress-free stay during your next trip out of town.
Club Cat
1360 REYNOLDS AVENUE #120 IRVINE, CA 92614 | 949-988-3999
Luxury suites, beauty treatments, premium entertainment. Your cat will be enjoying all the same things you are on your vacation during its stay at Club Cat. This is a high-end cat hotel in Irvine, California that houses felines in style. Owners can also check in with their pets any time during their stay, thanks to the 24-hr live webcam stream from the fancy cat suites.
Cats-Luv-Us Hotel
27601 Forbes #25 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 | 949-582-1732
The Cats-Luv-Us Hotel in Anaheim has been hosting cats at their boarding facility for 25 years. Founded in 1999, this cat hotel offers boarding, grooming, and veterinary services. It’s a cage-free facility that houses cats in separate rooms so there’s no friction. There are also large playrooms and a cat spa where your kitty will receive grooming during its stay. The Cats-Luv-Us Hotel also offers pick-up and drop-off services for cats that have booked in advance.
Kitty Care Lady
14712 Franklin Ave, Unit M Tustin, CA 92780 | 714-669-9074
The Spaw in Irvine, CA, offers cat boarding services featuring individual suites and private access to The Jungle’s playroom. The facility provides hepa filtered air quality, fully air-conditioned rooms, and a secured play space for the cats. Additionally, house food is available for an additional cost. The attentive staff ensures a comfortable and safe experience for feline guests.
Find the Best In-House Cat Sitting Service in Orange County
Before you book your next holiday, book an in-house cat sitter. It’s a flexible, versatile solution compared to the one-size-fits-all approach adopted at cat boarding facilities. Depending on your needs, you can either book a sitter who visits once or twice a day, or one who stays overnight with your cat. Choosing in-house cat sitting gives you the ability to tailor the sitter’s schedule according to your cat’s needs. The Comforted Kitty also offer additional house-sitting services like watering plants, retrieving mail and garbage cans for noadditional fee.
When choosing an in-house cat sitter, you want to pick a reliable and trustworthy person to look after your pet and home while you’re gone. The qualities you should look for when selecting an in-house cat sitter are:
- Experience: Someone who is familiar with cats and knows how to care for them
- Training: Cat sitters should be well-versed in pet first aid and CPR
- References: Make sure your cat sitter has a history of quality service
- Professionalism: Someone who can handle the responsibility of being an in-house cat sitter
The Comforted Kitty: Quality Care for Your Cat at Home
Cat owners in the Orange County area can rely on professional cat sitters from The Comforted Kitty to look after their feline friends. The in-house cat-sitting services we offer include feeding, cleaning, interactive play sessions, and personalized care. You can even meet your cat sitter before leaving for your vacation.
With over 1,000 satisfied cat parents you can enjoy your break without worrying about how your cat is doing. Ultimately, our mission is to make sure your cat is happy, healthy, and excited to greet you with an upright tail when you return.
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