Leaving Your Cat While You Travel: Cat Sitter vs Boarding, and How to Prepare

Planning a holiday is exciting for you, but for a cat it can mean disruption. Cats form strong attachments to their territory and routine, and many show stress when either changes. The good news is that with a little planning, most cats cope with your absence perfectly well. The key decisions are who looks after your cat, where, and how you set them up.

Can You Leave a Cat Alone?

A healthy adult cat can usually manage a working day alone, and some owners stretch to an overnight stay with plenty of food and water. Beyond roughly 24 hours, though, it stops being a safe plan. Food can run out or spoil, water can be spilled, a litter tray fills up, and if something goes wrong, such as an injury, a blocked bladder or a locked-in cat, nobody will notice. Automatic feeders and water fountains help with routine, but they cannot spot a sick cat. For any trip longer than a day, arrange for a person to visit.

Kittens, seniors, and cats with medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or hyperthyroidism need more frequent checks and often medication, so they should never be left unattended even for a night.

Jackson Galaxy on whether cats miss us when we are away.

Option 1: A Cat Sitter at Home

For most cats, a sitter visiting your home is the least stressful choice. Your cat stays in familiar surroundings, keeps their own litter tray and bed, eats the usual food at the usual times, and avoids a car journey and exposure to unfamiliar cats.

• Pros: minimal change to routine, lower risk of catching infections from other cats, one-to-one attention, and someone also keeps an eye on your home.
• Cons: you need a trustworthy person with access to your house, a sitter may only visit once or twice a day, and costs can add up for several visits.
• Best for: shy, anxious or older cats, cats with medical needs, and multi-cat households.

Whether you use a friend, a neighbour or a professional, look for someone with real cat experience. Professionals should have insurance and references. For anything longer than a weekend, ask for at least one visit a day, ideally two, with time for play and affection and not just a quick top-up of the bowl.

Option 2: Boarding

A good cattery offers supervised care around the clock, which suits owners who have nobody to enter the house or whose cat needs close monitoring. Quality varies, so visit in person before you book.

• Pros: staff on site daily, a controlled environment, and often a vet on call.
• Cons: a new place with new smells and sounds, a journey in a carrier, and a small risk of picking up infections such as cat flu if vaccinations are not current.
• Best for: confident, sociable cats and longer trips when home visits are impractical.

When you visit, look for individual enclosures that are clean and well ventilated, separate sleeping and toilet areas, hiding places, no contact between unrelated cats, and staff who ask detailed questions about your cat. Most catteries require up-to-date vaccinations and flea treatment, so check requirements early. Our vaccination guide explains what is usually needed.

A professional cat sitter explains how sitting compares with boarding.

Preparing for the Trip

• Do a meet-and-greet. Have the sitter visit while you are home so your cat can sniff them out and the sitter can learn where everything is.
• Write instructions. Include feeding amounts and times, medication steps, litter type, favourite play and hiding places, and any quirks such as a cat who bolts through doors.
• Leave emergency contacts. List your vet, the nearest 24-hour clinic, how to reach you and a backup person. Tell your vet who is authorised to approve treatment.
• Check identification. Make sure the microchip details and collar tag are current. See our microchipping guide.
• Stock up. Buy extra food, litter and any medication, so a delayed return does not leave anyone short.
• Keep routines steady. Do not change diet or litter just before you go. Leave an unwashed worn T-shirt near your cat's bed, as your scent can be comforting.
• Secure the home. Check windows and screens, hide cords and toxic plants, and leave water in more than one spot.

Reducing Stress While You Are Away

Play with your cat before you leave and leave a few new puzzle feeders or toys to rotate. Window perches and a safe view outside offer entertainment. Some owners use pheromone diffusers, which may help certain cats, though evidence is mixed. A pet camera can reassure you, but do not rely on it as a substitute for visits.

If you use boarding, pack the cat's own bedding, a familiar toy and their usual food. Introduce the carrier weeks ahead so the journey is not a shock; our stress-free carrier guide walks you through it.

Signs to Watch for When You Return

Some cats are clingy or sulky for a day or two afterwards, which is normal. Contact your vet if your cat skipped meals for more than a day, has vomiting or diarrhoea, hides continuously, strains in the litter tray, or shows over-grooming. Stress can trigger illnesses such as cystitis in susceptible cats, so a change in toilet habits deserves a prompt call.

Choosing What Is Right for Your Cat

There is no universal winner. A confident social cat may thoroughly enjoy a good cattery, while a nervous or elderly cat is usually happier at home with a regular visitor. Think about your cat's personality, health, and the length of the trip, then book early because good sitters and catteries fill up fast around holidays.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet if your cat has health conditions that affect travel or care arrangements.