Boarding vs Pet Sitter Cost Calculator

Compare costs and benefits of boarding vs in-home pet sitting

The Great Debate: Boarding Facility vs In-Home Care

Boarding Facilities: What You're Paying For

Cat boarding facilities (catteries) charge $20-35 per night depending on amenities and location. What's included: Individual room or cage (size varies), food/water service (you provide food or pay extra), litter box cleaning (1-2x daily), and basic monitoring. Luxury facilities add perks: private suites with windows, TV/music, play sessions, webcam access for owners.

The main advantage is 24/7 supervision—staff check on cats multiple times daily and can respond immediately to emergencies. Most facilities have relationships with vets for urgent care. The main disadvantage: stress. Cats are territorial, and moving to an unfamiliar environment with strange cats nearby causes anxiety in many cats, leading to appetite loss and hiding behavior.

Pet Sitters: Comfort of Home

Pet sitters visit your home 1-2 times daily (some offer overnight stays for extra cost). Standard visits include: feeding, water refresh, litter box scooping, 15-30 minutes of play/attention, medication administration if needed. Rates: $20-30 per visit, with discounts for multiple cats (they're seen in the same visit).

The huge advantage: cats stay in familiar territory, maintaining their routine and reducing stress. Bonus benefits include home security (lights on/off, mail collection, watering plants). The downside: gaps between visits. If your cat has an emergency at night, it won't be discovered until the morning visit. Pet sitters also require giving a stranger your house key and trusting they'll show up reliably.

Finding a Reputable Boarding Facility

Red flags when visiting facilities: Strong ammonia smell (indicates infrequent cage cleaning), cats housed in wire cages without hiding boxes (stressful), dogs and cats in same room (cat-only facilities are better), dirty food/water bowls, staff who can't answer basic questions about cat care. Ask to tour the facility—good facilities welcome tours.

What to look for: Individual rooms or spacious condos (minimum 4'x4'), vertical space with perches, hiding boxes/cubbies for security, daily cleaning protocols, separate ventilation systems (prevents disease spread), staff trained in cat behavior. Check vaccination requirements—facilities should require proof of rabies, FVRCP vaccines. This protects all cats from disease.

Vetting Your Pet Sitter

Use professional services (Rover, Care.com, local agencies) rather than random Craigslist ads. Professional sitters are background-checked, insured, and bonded. Read reviews carefully—look for consistency across multiple reviews. Interview candidates: Ask about cat experience specifically (dog sitters aren't always good with cats), emergency protocols (what if cat is sick/injured), and backup plans (what if they can't make a visit).

Do a trial visit while you're home. Watch how the sitter interacts with your cat. Do they respect the cat's boundaries? Can they administer medication if needed? Do they follow instructions carefully (food portions, special needs)? Trust your gut—if something feels off, find another sitter. For extra peace of mind, ask for photo/text updates after each visit.

Special Considerations: Medical Needs

Cats requiring medications (insulin for diabetes, subcutaneous fluids for kidney disease, pills for chronic conditions) need experienced care. Boarding facilities often charge extra ($5-10/day) for medication administration but staff are trained. Pet sitters need specific experience—not all can give injections or pills.

For complex medical needs, consider a veterinary boarding facility. These are attached to vet clinics, with trained vet techs monitoring cats. Cost is higher ($40-60/night) but provides peace of mind for cats with serious health conditions. If your cat has an emergency, treatment is immediate.