When you go away, your cat needs looking after — and the two main options are a boarding cattery or an in-home cat sitter. I look after cats in their own homes for a living, so you might guess where my preference lies, but the honest answer is that it depends on the cat. Here is a fair comparison of both, so you can choose what is right for yours.
The key difference: moving your cat or not
It really comes down to one thing. A cattery means your cat leaves home and stays in a boarding facility while you are away. A cat sitter means your cat stays put in their own home, and someone visits each day to care for them.
That difference matters more to cats than many owners realise, because cats are deeply territorial. International Cat Care explains that cats form strong bonds with their home environment and are not naturally sociable with unfamiliar cats — so being moved to a strange place full of other cats can be genuinely stressful for them.
A side-by-side comparison
| Cattery | Cat sitter | |
|---|---|---|
| Your cat's environment | Unfamiliar, away from home | Their own home and territory |
| Stress for most cats | Higher — new place, other cats | Lower — familiar surroundings |
| Routine | Cattery's schedule | Your cat's own routine kept |
| Contact with other cats | Often nearby | None |
| Home security | Home left empty | Lived-in look maintained |
| 24/7 supervision | Yes | No — daily visits |
| Typical cost (one cat) | Per night | Per visit, often cheaper |
When a cat sitter is the better choice
For most cats, staying home wins. A sitter is usually the kinder option if your cat:
- Is nervous, shy, or hides when strangers or other cats are around
- Is elderly or set in their ways
- Lives in a multi-cat household that gets on well together
- Is comfortable and confident in their own home
Keeping a cat in their own territory, with their own smells, hiding spots and routine, removes most of the upheaval. There is the added bonus that a sitter coming and going keeps your home looking lived-in — lights changed, curtains drawn, post taken in — which a cattery obviously cannot do.
When a cattery might suit better
Catteries are not the villain of the piece, and for some situations they genuinely are the safer choice. A good cattery may suit a cat who:
- Needs close, round-the-clock monitoring for a medical condition
- Will be alone for a very long stretch with no daily visits possible
- Is unusually sociable and unfazed by new environments
If you do choose a cattery, International Cat Care has a helpful guide to choosing a good one — look for pens well separated from other cats and from any dog kennels, high perches, and a calm, quiet set-up.
My approach to cat sitting
When I look after cats, I come to them. Each visit covers fresh food and water, the litter tray, any medication, and as much play and fuss as your cat is in the mood for, with a WhatsApp photo so you can relax while you are away. Your cat keeps their territory, their routine and their comfort — and your home gets looked after too. You can see exactly what is included on our cat sitting page, and the cost of visits on our prices page.
If you are weighing up how long your cat could manage between visits, how long can you leave a cat alone? goes into more detail, and how much does a cat sitter cost? covers the money side.
Is a cattery or a cat sitter cheaper?
For a single cat needing one visit a day, a sitter is often cheaper than nightly cattery fees, and there is no stressful journey involved. For very long absences or cats needing two visits a day, the costs move closer together, so compare both for your circumstances.
Will my cat be lonely with just a sitter visiting?
Most cats are content with a daily visit for feeding, fresh water, a clean tray and some company, and far prefer it to a cattery full of strangers. Cats who are very people-oriented may do better with two visits a day, which is easy to arrange.
If you would like your cat cared for at home around Biggleswade or the surrounding villages, get in touch for a free meet and greet.