Cats also need to be housed in spaces with a more solitary and vertical orientation to accommodate their love of climbing and being up high versus dogs that prefer the movement and socialization provided by a more horizontal orientation. In addition, how cats consume water differs, along with how and where they go to the bathroom. These and many other differences are an important part of caring for both dogs and cats.

One aspect of cat management that may get overlooked in boarding, grooming or caring for cats is all the transitions that the cat experiences coming into, out of and during your care. These transitions are critical because they are where cats can become instantly scared, incredibly stressed or in full-out panic mode.

It is in the transitions between situations, surroundings, and even the cat’s own physical postures where they most risk escapes or injuries of both the cat and the people around them. Managing every transition between the smallest aspect of a cat’s physical and psychological situation is critical. Also critical is training your staff on the importance of anticipating the need to make the cat feel completely secure before even the smallest transition in situation or posture.

First, cat owners must be on board with your facility’s safety requirements and managing the various transitions the cat will go through before you even take the cat into your care. Once you have gathered all the schedule, safety, medical, food and veterinary records, the very next focus in conversation with the cat owner is to discuss how the cat will be transported to your facility.

Whether your business picks the cat up from the owner’s home or the cat is brought to you, the owner must have an appropriate cat carrier in advance of your taking possession of the cat. Preferably the cat carrier has been out and available for the cat to see, explore and get used to, which will eliminate the negative association that could be formed if the carrier is only brought out when the cat needs to be transported.

The old traditional cat carriers that are enclosed hard plastic with a caged front door at one end and a handle on top will often cause cats to back up in fear and sometimes panic as someone tries to open the door, reach in and forcibly pull them out. If that transition out of the carrier goes badly, you have already “lost” them psychologically before your time with them even begins.

This first big transition from owner custody to your custody should be managed very carefully. It is better to have them come in a carrier that allows access from above or one that opens up completely on an entire side. Cats are not as threatened by “top loaders” or “side loaders.” You can even stock and sell these in your retail area to encourage owners to use the proper carrier type.

The bottom line is owners must be working with you in advance to make sure that the cat can be removed from their carrier in a way that starts them off feeling safe and stressed as little as possible during transport, and that facilitates a much less stressful transition from the owner’s custody to yours.

At no time in any transition between location or situation coming into, during or leaving your care should a cat be loose or in a physically unsure situation. Remember to keep their legs close underneath their torsos. Any hyper-extending of their legs away from their torsos will be threatening to a cat.

The next transition is introducing them to the space they will be staying in. Make sure the space the cat is going into next is completely ready for them to enter smoothly before they leave their carrier. To transfer them from their carrier, reach down from above to lift or move them. Use your non-dominant hand to wrap around and between the two front legs and your dominant hand to slide underneath the back legs, cupping them fully and pushing them upwards against their torso.

If you offer cat grooming as well, swaddling them in a towel after bathing and during gentle drying with their legs wrapped securely up against their bodies is very reassuring for cats. You also want to make sure all the spaces cats are in for grooming are separate from noise, stress, dogs, strangers, etc., and that the bath water is completely prepared in advance.

As your cat clients move throughout their time in your care, remember that any change at all in circumstance, such as arrivals, departures, new animals or people, food routines, litter boxes cleanings or sounds, need to be handled as smoothly, gently, safely and quietly as possible to set the cat up for a stress-free stay.