Cat Sitting vs a Cattery
Which Is Right for Your Cat?
If you're going away and looking at the best way to look after your cat while you're gone, you've likely come across two main options:
booking them into a cattery or having a cat sitter visit your home. Both are perfectly valid choices, and the right one really depends on your cat and your circumstances.
Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
Catteries
They have boarding facilities where your cat stays in a pen or unit for the duration of your trip, looked after by staff alongside other resident cats that are kept separately, but nearby.
A cat sitter
Will visit your cat in your own home once or twice a day, depending on what you prefer. This option enables your cat to stay in their own familiar environment and throughout the cat sit.
The positives of using a cattery
Catteries can work well for cats who are relatively easy going about change, or in situations where a home visit isn't practical.
A good cattery offers:
Staff on site for longer stretches of the day
A structured, supervised environment with peace of mind if your home needs to be empty for security reasons.
The positives of using a cat sitter
For most cats, staying at home tends to be the less stressful option, simply because cats are territorial by nature and tend to find their sense of security in familiar surroundings, scents, and routines. New people and spaces can cause stress and anxiety for them.
A great cat sitter enables:
Your cat stays in their own home, with their own smells, hiding spots, and routine
There's no car journey or cat carrier stress at either end
No exposure to unfamiliar cats, which matters for cats prone to stress related illness
Your home gets a lived-in look (post collected, curtains opened) rather than being empty
You get regular updates and photos of your cat's wellbeing
What About Cost?
Catteries and independent sitters are often more comparable in price than people expect, particularly once you factor in that a cattery charges per cat, per night, regardless of how much hands-on time each cat gets, whereas a sitter's time is spent entirely on your cat.
Which Cats Suit Which Option?
As a general rule, nervous, elderly, or medically sensitive cats tend to do noticeably better at home, where routine and familiarity can genuinely help with recovery and reduce stress related flare-ups.
Multi-cat households are usually simpler to manage at home, where existing dynamics and territories stay undisturbed. Very sociable, confident cats may cope perfectly well either way, and some don't mind a cattery stay at all.
Whichever you choose, do some research first and always read reviews and personal recommendations.
For a cattery, look for cleanliness, separate pens, and good reviews.
For a sitter, look for someone who visits in person beforehand, has genuine cat-handling experience, and gives you a clear sense of how visits and emergencies are handled.
Still undecided?
If you're in Portishead and still unsure and would like to talk through what's best for your cat.
I'm always happy to have a chat beforehand and let you know what services I offer and hopefully put your mind at ease.
Get in touch with Rebecca or visit my website.
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