Five Tips To Reduce Boarding Anxiety For Your Cat
Posted on: 24 November 2020
Having to board your cat for any length of time can be stressful, both for you and your kitty. The following tips can help alleviate some of your cat's anxiety.
1. Ensure Private Kennels
Cats can become extra nervous with all the sounds and sights at a kennel. Make sure that cats are kept in an area separate from other pets, especially dogs. If your cat is very phobic about dogs, a cat-only kennel may be best. For lone cats that are nervous around other cats they don't know, make sure the kennels provided are private so that your cat isn't staring right into the kennel of another cat. Play and exercise time should also be private, as opposed to being in a group playroom if you have an anxious cat.
2. Add a Comfort Item
A bit of home in their kennel can make the cat much more comfortable. Bring in your cat's favorite toy or their cat bed, if allowed. Even putting in an item of your clothing may make your cat more comfortable and less anxious because your scent will help calm them down.
3. Look for Boredom Busters
Cats sometimes become anxious in a boarding situation due to boredom. Most cats are allowed to roam freely around a home, so being in a small kennel except for playtime can be very boring and anxiety-inducing. Many boarding facilities handle this by providing visual stimulation for a cat. Look for a kennel that has window views for their boarded felines, for example. Some kennels provide larger private quarters, with toys and cat trees inside, which can also help alleviate boredom stress.
4. Avoid Drastic Changes
Not all cats are finicky, but if yours is, then they may become anxious if their food or litter habits are changed at the kennel. Make sure your cat can have the same type of food and treats that they usually enjoy at home, for example. Some cats, when anxious, will refuse to eat, and changing their food may make this worse. A change of litter can also be stressful for a cat, so choose a kennel that will allow you to use your own litter or at least a similar type of litter box.
5. Do a Trial Run
If your cat has never been left your home before, they may become more anxious their first time in a kennel. Do a one night trial run before a longer kennel stay. This will allow you to gauge their anxiety level at the kennel. Plus, it will help assure your cat that you intend to bring them back home again.
Contact a local pet boarding service in your area for more information about kennels.
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