hat’s so hard about caring for a pet that sleeps most of the day, doesn’t have to be taken outside to potty, requires very little space, doesn’t want to get to know you and doesn’t bark? Cat care is a piece of cake…right?

Although these statements are mostly accurate, in a lodging center, they may not apply. These commonly repeated cat behaviors are frequently the reasons that people choose to have cat lodging in their centers, but are not necessarily always true. So, let’s debunk some myths!

In a cat’s home environment, it may sleep 12-18 hours a day, and stats show that 40% may sleep as long as 20 hours. This is taken in incremental periods during the day; aka, cat naps. However, the busyness of the center may be overly stimulating for some cats—especially first-time guests. Whether it’s barking dogs or rock music, a loud environment can trigger anxiety. Unless the cat lives with dogs or teenagers, these noises can prevent the cat from getting healthy sleep time. If possible, locate the cat area away from dogs, make sure it’s well insulated and have calming music playing. For safety and sound deadening, always keep the door closed.

Other triggers that may cause anxiety and lack of sleep are changing a cat’s food and bombarding them with new odors. Both of these can be avoided by a conversation with the parents prior to the stay. Ask parents if their cat has rejected changing food and/or switching brands of litter. If the cat’s tummy has a hard time adjusting to the taste of new food or it doesn’t use the litter box when brands are changed, have them bring food and/or litter from home. Additionally, cats are extremely sensitive to smells. You can minimize odors by using fragrance-free litter and cleaners. By spraying products directly on your cleaning cloths instead of atomizing them into the air, you can dramatically reduce smells that might be offensive to cats. One positive smell is a plug-in pheromone diffuser, which can be helpful to calm cats and improve sleep time.

Yes, cats use a litter box, which reduces the labor costs of a team member taking the cat outside, but I would argue that elimination is not the only reason we take dogs outside. Play and exercise are just as important for cats to de-stress and work their brain. Naturally inquisitive, they love batting at fake prey and scratching something. A daily play period can calm and please cats. Even fractious cats may respond to a short session with a lure toy on a pole dangling strategically through the door grating. Shelves inside enclosures are great for horizontal isometrics. A secure in/out area to roam in a private “catio” is also a great feature to have. We consider the 10 minutes of daily play with each cat essential for their wellbeing; therefore, it is included in the lodging fee for each cat. Of course, several play options are available for purchase if the parents want more, and they usually do!

This is where I would love to insert audio vocalizations of cats. No, they don’t bark; but from sweet purrs to loud wails, they can be extremely vocal. Cats may be homesick, lonesome, ill or angry when their parents aren’t around which can cause them to vocalize more than usual. If they are sick, they are normally slow to show symptoms, and what looks like normal sitting/sleeping, may be a sick cat or a cat who has “shut down” because he’s not at home. Having daily checks of appetite, eliminations and demeanor are critical to be aware of possible illnesses.

As we do with all our dog guests, new cat clients are always asked lengthy questions in order for us to know whether or not the parent needs to bring extras from home, like food or litter. An organized form that your Reservation Specialist can use during the first contact will certainly make the cat’s first stay easier on the cat and your team.

If you are considering lodging cats, remember, cats aren’t “easy.” They require the watchful eye of your team every single day, and they need exercise, purposeful play and lots of love to have a stress-free vacation away from home. Enjoy them, as they are incredible, funny creatures that bless our world!

Suzanne Locker has owned ABC Pet Resort & Spa in Houston, Texas since 1991 and serves as CEO of the company. After 32 years of working in multiple capacities across the national stage, Suzanne continues to be an active, involved leader in the pet care industry. She is a consultant for Pet Care Management Boot Camp, in partnership with Turnkey, Inc., an architectural design/build/consulting firm, and remains dedicated to promoting safe, happy pet care!