Preparing Your Cat for a Boarding Stay

Boarding your cat for the first time can feel daunting—for you and your furry friend. At Scratchpad, we've found that thoughtful preparation is key to a smooth transition. This guide offers practical tips for acclimating your cat to our cosy environment, ensuring they feel comfortable and secure while you're away.
1. Getting Started: Acclimatisation
Familiarisation Visits

• Short Visits: Begin with brief visits, allowing your cat to explore our space at their own pace. A few initial trips can help them feel more at ease.
• Positive Association: Consider bringing one small favourite item that helps remind your cat of home.

Home Preparations

• Simulated Boarding: Create a quiet, designated area at home with minimal, familiar items. This can help mimic the simpler environment at the cattery and reduce anxiety when it's time for their stay.
• Gradual Separation: If your cat is not used to being left alone, practice leaving them alone for short periods to build their confidence, easing the eventual transition to our boarding environment.

Creating a Calm Environment

• Natural Calming Aids: Consider using a feline-specific calming diffuser or spray to help ease anxiety.

2. Essential Pre-Drop-Off Checklist
Health and Identification

• Vet Check-Up: Confirm that your cat is up to date with vaccinations and has had a recent vet check-up. Don't forget to bring the kitty's vaccination records along on drop-off day.
• Fleas and Worms: Before boarding your cat, please ensure your pet has recently been defleaed and dewormed. Keeping your cat parasite-free helps protect their health and provides a safe, comfortable stay for all our feline guests. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy environment!
• Proper Identification: When a family of cats comes to stay (two or more), it can be invaluable for our team if your cats wear a collar with an ID tag. Our online booking system allows you to upload photos of each cat, but having name tags can be especially helpful, especially when your cats look alike, e.g., two or three black cats of similar body size. Being able to tell them apart easily can significantly benefit us if we need to take one to a vet, for example.

Daily Routine and Special Needs
Feeding Instructions: Provide clear, detailed instructions about your cat's feeding schedule, portion sizes, and any dietary restrictions so that our team can maintain their routine seamlessly.

• Special Diets: If your cat is on a special diet, please provide enough food for their stay. Bringing dry food in a sealable plastic container rather than the original packaging is also helpful for us in terms of space and organisation.
• Medication and Special Requests: If your cat requires medication or has specific needs, please include written instructions for our staff. You can also put a note on your cat's profile on our booking system.

Conclusion
By preparing thoughtfully and choosing just a few key items, you can help your cat feel at home during their stay at Scratchpad. Our approach ensures your cat experiences a calm, clutter-free environment that minimises stress. We look forward to welcoming your feline friend and providing a safe, comfortable boarding experience.
 

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