Cat boarding: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering cat boarding
Cat owners hire cat boarding for quiet, supervised care with a clear routine. Your separate rooms, your cleaning routine and your check-in log are what win trust and repeat stays.
What customers ask
- Will my cat have its own room?
- How often do you clean the litter box?
- What vaccinations do you require?
- How do you check on shy cats?
- What is your emergency plan?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the cat's age, health, medication, feeding routine and any anxiety or hiding habits.
- Offer a tour of the room and show the cleaning and check-in routine.
- Check vaccination records before drop-off, and say what you need from the owner in writing.
- Keep a check-in log for each cat with feeding, litter notes and any change, and share it with the owner.
- Put the nights, the room type, the feeding and litter plan, medication and extras in the quote.
- Confirm the vet the owner wants you to call and the emergency steps in writing.
What to put on your profile
- Photos of your cat rooms, cleaning routine and daily care, shown with consent
- A list of your cat boarding services, such as suites, cages and host home stays
- Your vaccination requirements and the records you check
- Your staff training, cleaning routine and emergency plan, described in plain words
- Your cattery license or permit details, where your local rules require one
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a pre-stay visit for a shy cat to get used to the room
- Suggest a drop-in visit schedule between boarding stays for a cat that needs company
- Offer a regular boarding plan for a client who travels often
Licenses and permits
Some cities and counties license catteries or require a permit for boarding. Check with your local city, county or animal control office and keep your license or permit current, and show it on your profile.
Questions
Do I need a license to board cats?
Many local areas require a cattery license or a boarding permit. Check with your city, county or animal control office before you take cats, and keep your license current.
How do I handle a cat that is sick when it arrives?
Refuse the boarding, tell the owner, and advise them to take the cat to their veterinarian. Do not accept a sick cat into the boarding area.
Should I keep cats from different households apart?
Yes. Keep unfamiliar cats in separate rooms or suites unless the owners have agreed to a shared plan. Explain the separation to the owner before the stay.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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