Boarding cats is hard. We are taking what is arguably the most free-spirited, strong-willed creature in the domestic pet category and expecting them to switch to our schedule. Seems a mission destined to fail!
That said, here at Tiny’s Place Luxury Cat Boarding, we feel with the more time we have under our belt, the better equipped we are to read your cat’s needs. Of the several hundred cats we have boarded so far, it has been our observation that MOST cats don’t eat much of note for about 36 hours (1 ½ days). There are definitely exceptions. Some cats are better adjusted than others, OR they have boarded with us several times and they know what to expect. But for the most part, a new cat takes about 36 hours to adjust. They hang out in the skybox or the privacy box and observe their new environment. When they do come out, it is generally at night after we turn off the lights and leave the building. Let’s not forget, cats ARE nocturnal creatures.
Most of the feeding instructions we get are to leave dry food out all the time and give a little wet at different times during the day. Free choice feeding is absolutely the best for your cat if they will regulate their own healthy weight. Some cats don’t have the self-discipline (who really DOES?) and need to be fed specific amounts at designated times, but they seem to be in the minority.
When we check in a new boarder here at Tiny’s, we always put their requested food down in front of them within in hour of arrival. Every day they are here we carefully monitor if they ate and drank, how much, as well as urine and stool output. If something is coming out, something had to go in… Most cats have food in front of them at all times. The exception would be cats with special battery-operated feeders who only get food at designated times. We want everybody to have plenty to eat.
So what if 36 hours have passed and they still aren’t eating? We have a big bag of tricks! We have several different kinds of wet food, baby food, Veterinary grade diets, snacks, etc to help us encourage your cat to eat. We even have special snacks for cats with urinary issues so that we don’t mess with their urine Ph and get them into trouble. It’s important to get them eating SOMETHING initially. Once you “prime the pump” so to speak, they tend to go back to eating their regular diet and get back into their familiar groove.
Our goal at Tiny’s is to make sure we help each cat adjust to their new surroundings, and what works is different for each individual cat. You are paying us for our experience and expertise in taking care of your beloved cat. Making different decisions for each cat is simply part of our service. You are also paying us to decide what is normal and what needs medical intervention. We take this responsibility VERY seriously and will always contact you if it seems your cat has a problem or just isn’t able to adjust to the cattery environment. We’ve found the percentage of cats who have trouble is a very minute number. The overwhelming majority of cats are stimulated by the layout and environment and enjoy the interaction with our staff.
To answer the initial title question: “Did My Cat Eat While Boarding?” YES! There may have been many steps to getting them up to full speed, but YES your cat ate. It may not have been the kibble you brought or the wet food you expected, but your cat DID eat. We guarantee it!