Cattery or Cat Sitter? Why I’d Rather Just Stay Home (A Cat’s Honest Opinion)

Let’s be honest, us cats are not really built for change. Give me my favourite windowsill, my own smells, and my own routine, and I am a happy cat indeed. So whenever my humans start talking about going away, my whiskers perk right up, because I know a decision is coming: do I go and stay in a cattery, or does someone come to me instead?

I have opinions on this, obviously. Let me explain.

What Actually Happens When You Book Your Cat Into a Cattery

A cattery is not a bad place, I want to be fair about that. Most are clean, well run, and staffed by people who genuinely care about us. But think about it from my perspective for a moment. I get put in a carrier, driven somewhere new, and left in a pen that smells of every other cat that has ever stayed there. New sounds, new smells, and no familiar spot to hide in if I feel unsure. Even the calmest of us cats can find that stressful, and a stressed cat is more likely to stop eating, hide constantly, or come home a little more anxious than when they left.

Why Most of Us Would Rather Just Stay Home

Home is home. My scent is already all over the furniture, which believe it or not is a big part of how secure I feel. My food is exactly where I expect it, my litter tray does not smell like a stranger’s, and I can keep half an eye on my garden from the windowsill, because obviously nothing gets past me. When a cat sitter comes to me instead of the other way round, my whole routine barely changes. I am simply visited by a friendly human I get to know over time, rather than being dropped somewhere unfamiliar and left to work it all out myself.

This matters even more for older cats, nervous cats, or multi-cat households where everyone has their own particular way of doing things. Moving all of that upheaval into someone else’s building rarely goes smoothly.

What a Good Cat Sitting Visit Should Actually Look Like

Not all cat sitting is equal, so let me tell you what I personally look, and sniff, for in a good visit. A proper visit is not a rushed five minutes of topping up a bowl. At Furry Cat Face, visits run up to thirty minutes, which is plenty of time for a proper fuss, a check that I am eating and using my tray normally, a play session if I am in the mood, and a general look around to make sure my home is exactly as it should be too.

I am also rather fond of the fact that my sitter takes photos and videos of me during the visit and sends them straight to my humans on WhatsApp. It means they get to see me looking smug on the sofa while they are away, and they know both me and the house are absolutely fine. A cat sitter who is fully insured and pet first aid trained, and who genuinely understands feline behaviour rather than just being a cat-shaped favour to a neighbour, makes an enormous difference to how relaxed the whole experience is for us cats.

Quick Answer: Is a Cat Sitter Better Than a Cattery?

For most cats, yes. Staying in familiar surroundings with a trusted cat sitter visiting daily is generally less stressful than a cattery stay, because a cat’s sense of security comes largely from scent, routine, and territory, all of which stay intact when they remain at home. A cattery can still be the right choice in some situations, particularly longer trips or cats who need more supervision than one visit a day allows, but for a standard holiday or work trip, an insured, experienced cat sitter making regular visits is usually the gentler option.

Signs You Have Found the Right Cat Sitter

From one cat to another, or human, since you are the one reading this, here is what to look out for. A sitter who asks detailed questions about your cat’s habits before the first visit, rather than just asking for a key. Someone insured and pet first aid trained, in case the unexpected happens. Regular photo or video updates, so you are never left wondering. And ideally, someone based locally to you, so visits are reliable and punctual, whatever the Kent weather decides to do.

Quick Questions Cat Owners Often Ask

How often should a cat sitter visit? For most healthy adult cats, one visit a day of up to thirty minutes is enough to cover food, water, litter, and company. Kittens, senior cats, or cats on medication may need more frequent visits.

Do cat sitters send updates while I’m away? A good one should. At Furry Cat Face, every visit includes photos or a short video sent straight to you on WhatsApp, so you always know your cat and your home are doing fine.

Is a cat sitter safer than a cattery for a nervous cat? Generally yes, because a nervous cat stays in familiar surroundings rather than being moved somewhere new, which removes one of the biggest sources of stress.

If you are in Ashford or the surrounding villages and would rather I, or a cat very much like me, stayed curled up on my own sofa while you are away, that is exactly the kind of visit Furry Cat Face provides. Thirty minute visits, WhatsApp updates, fully insured, pet first aid trained, and genuinely fond of cats. Get in touch to find out more.

A proper cat sitting visit covers more than most people expect, right down to checking the litter tray. I go into the full list in litter box basics for a happy cat.

If you’d like a chat about a visit, or just fancy talking cats, get in touch with Furry Cat Face any time — we’d love to hear from you and your furry family member.