CATS
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ometimes the most difficult step of feline boarding is getting the cat to the facility. It does not matter how much we market and cater to felines, create a stimulating atmosphere, or challenge the kitties in our care mentally and physically, if the owner cannot get the feline to us, it is all for nothing. When catering to cat owners, it is as much about what the owners do before their reservation as what your boarding facility does during the stay. The kitty needs to understand and be willing to participate in being transported to the boarding facility. So, how does the owner convince the feline that being transported to your facility is a good thing? Weeks before the boarding stay the owner needs to establish the carrier as a safe place, and then during the 24 hours leading up to the boarding reservation, take steps to make sure they can locate the kitty. Most importantly, the kitty must understand the carrier is not a scary contraption that is associated with negative experiences. At one of my speaking events, I brought my cat and a client cat for demonstrations. My kitty was actually taking her morning nap in the carrier and all I had to do was close the door. My client took over an hour and had to get a neighbor’s assistance to get her kitty. The difference? My feline saw the carrier as just another object in the house. My client had her carrier in the garage, came rushing into the home with the big cold carrier and tried to swoosh the cat inside. That would terrify me, and it did terrify her cat. When going somewhere, the carrier always seems to be the last step when, in reality, it should be the first step. A quick recap from my article “Starting off on the Right Paw:” The carrier should be put in an active place in the home and ignored by the family for several weeks. When the kitty is in the carrier, positive reinforcement should be given.
By Deborah Hansen
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PET BOARDING & DAYCARE