CATS
A FELINE
By Deborah Hansen
O
wners that view their pets as family members expect us, as pet care professionals, to also treat their pets as family members. And part of this treatment may mean keeping their pets in the family unit during the boarding stay. Many owners have multiple cats, or both cats and dogs. As boarding facility owners and operators, it can be overwhelming to try to figure out how to keep the family unit intact while providing the best possible care, ensuring safety and maximizing our profit levels. When we can successfully address the management of family units, it not only enhances our ability to market to our current clients, but attracts a new kind of clientele, allowing us to charge a premium when the family unit is boarded together. 36
Felines are finicky when it comes to the company they keep. But a cohesive pet family unit—which many owners work hard to establish—should be used to your advantage during the boarding stay. These well-bonded families act as natural stress reducers by providing reassurance and confidence to each other. There are several ways felines can be kept in their family unit during boarding. And as with any new procedure, it will take some trial and error to establish a formula that works best for your business. But once your business has found a system that works, it can be extended and enhanced to develop add-ons that fit your branding. Feline families come in many forms. When there are multiple cats in one family, it is the easiest model to PET BOARDING & DAYCARE
accommodate during boarding. If your feline enclosures are large enough, or if you have the ability to open up a panel to create a larger holding area, housing multiple cats together becomes simple.
When considering housing multiple cats together, there are several things that your boarding facility should take into account: 1. How long have the cats been living in the same home? If one of the cats just moved in, it may be best to give that cat its own space, or closely monitor this family unit as bonding may not have been completed as of yet.
2. Do the cats like each other? It is important to gather information