Crazy cat lady approved!
My husband and I only have two kids; they both have four legs and are covered in fur. So when we were planning a two week vacation, a dilemma came up on where we would take our cats. We unfortunately have no relatives and our two trusted friends were unavailable as well, so we started hunting for a good place to board them.
To say we were underwhelmed by our options would be an understatement. After walking through 7 kennels, we noticed a pattern in all of them; cats come second to dogs and feline facilities have zero perks. While dogs had walks, playtime, baths, and grooming, cats were lucky if they had 15 minutes outside of their 2x2 cage. It was almost as if cats were an afterthought really. One unnamed facility even boasted that they didn't have cages and offered cats 24/7 playtime... it ended up being a huge room with over a dozen cats roaming free! This was worse than isolation; cats were hissing and swatting at one another with no employees watching them.
Much like a cheesy 3am infomercial, I shouted out loud, "Is there really no kennel that caters to cats? There's got to be a place!".... Ok, perhaps it wasn't so climactic, but really, I was fed up. We get it dogs are great, but kitties deserve love and attention too. So instead of Googling "pet boarding" I specifically searched for "cats". Imagine my surprise when Cozy Cats Hotel popped up!
Stacy was so informative and sweet when I called. Kudos to her when I mentioned boarding, her initial question was, "How many cats do you have?". Not a question of if I have just one or more, she knows if you have one, you have multiples! We made an appointment and took a look inside the "guest suites". First off, the smell. You think kennel, you know that stench; this place smelled like lavender because she does aromatherapy. In lieu of barking was the sound of classical music, as a few guest kitties were snoozing in their private rooms, which had tiers, beds, toys, and fish bowls in the walls.
Aesthetics were down, but what about safety? All cats need to have proof of vaccinations prior to arrival and to ensure no fights break out, all kitties get their playtime separately (which is good for my boys who are not declawed!). Stacy also explained how the facility has 24/7 cameras and she works with a veterinarian just in case any cats during their stay experience health problems. We also had options for what size "suite" we wanted our boys to stay in and as new customers, our first night was free. There are also additional added features you can purchase, such as fancier meals, catnip, and treats. We were beyond sold!
Our cats were dropped off the following week with no troubles and as an added bonus, we were sent postcards along with photos of our kitties while we traveled. It was so nice to see photos every few days of them looking well, exploring, playing, and oh yes, not cooped up in a cage! When we got back, we were thrilled to see them both and upon taking them home, they hopped out of their carriers and went about their day. Sadly, I have many friends and family who have experienced cats and dogs who, when getting back from a kennel, are simply not the same animal, either more shy, underweight, scared, or aggressive. Our boys were happy to be home and still just as chubby as the day we left!
We do not travel that much, but rest assured, I will tell every person I know that if you love your cats as much as the family dog, you NEED to board them at Cozy Cats Hotel. There honestly, is no other place in the triangle area that treats cats with such love and compassion. I guess what I'm trying to say is, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more