About Boarding Services For Your Pets For many pet owners, if not for most, there comes a time when they need a boarding facility for their cat or dog: they may be going on holiday and can’t take the pets with them, they may be leaving their town or city for a while because of work, or they may have to deal with a situation that requires of them to find a safe, good place for their animal(s) to stay during their absence. Some make use of a house- or pet sitter; however, for many, this is not a viable option. These pet owners are most likely looking for the services of a boarding facility for pets. These services exist in and around all big cities and very often also in smaller villages and towns. But, like it is with all services, the pet owner wants to know they are dealing with a respectable, respected facility known for being fair and affordable – and certainly for the quality of their facility and their services, for making sure pets are well taken care of both physically and otherwise. Of course, not all pets (much like children) react the same way to being taken away from their home: some are shy and scared whereas other pets show a greater sense of accepting the situation, and they are happy to socialize with other pets. It is, therefore, important to know how your pet will react and to then choose a facility where the animal will be happy and thrive. Normally owners know beforehand what their pet’s personality dictates. Even if you’re not sure, talk to the owners or managers of the facility you have in mind, to spend a little bit of time with your pet to see how they will react. The good news is that most facilities deal with all situations and different pets from different backgrounds and households and they will therefore know how to accommodate your pet. They will know whether or not your animal is likely to play with others in the facility or should be kept away from them if they are not well socialized and/or sociable. This is true for dogs mainly, as cats are normally kept separate for fear of fighting and/or for exhibiting unacceptable behavior when kept with other, strange animals. With cats you want to be assured of the following:
The cat must not be given any chance to escape – choose a facility that has individual units for cats (unless you have 2 cats that are happy to stay together from one household) with no holes or gaps so your animal can’t get out; A so-called safety area immediately outside its unit/cage – this ensures that should the cat for whatever reason, during feeding or cleaning of their unit, get out, it is still contained in a locked area; Comforts – you want the cat to be warm and comfortable. This applies to any area where your cat rests or is given some space to play and run – if applicable. A lot depends on the facility, availability of space, your cat’s nature, and your budget.
It is somewhat different with dogs. Firstly, dogs are more likely to want to play and mix with other dogs after an initial introduction. So, make sure your dog is happy to be with other dogs,