Cat Boarding FAQ's

At Whisker Ridge Retreat, we want to ensure that your cat's stay is as comfortable and stress-free as possible and that their health and well-being is our number one priority. Below, you’ll find answers to some of our most common questions, including what to bring, what to leave at home, and what to expect during check-in. Our goal is to make the boarding experience seamless for both you and your feline family member. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us directly!

To ensure a peaceful, healthy, and safe stay for every guest, we kindly require the following before check-in. You can email or text us a digital copy or we can copy at check-in:

Health Statement: A recent wellness statement from your veterinarian (annual exam record or certificate of good health).
Vaccination Records: Proof of current FVRCP and Rabies vaccinations.
Flea & Tick Prevention: Cats must be on a safe, effective flea and tick treatment at the time of boarding. Products should be veterinarian-recommended or equivalent quality (over-the-counter is fine if it’s a reputable brand).
Neutering Requirement: All male cats must be neutered, as unneutered males are prone to spraying and elevated stress in shared environments.

What to Bring

In addition to the requirements above, to ensure your cat feels right at home, please bring:

Food: For continuity in their diet, and to avoid digestive upsets, we recommend bringing their usual food (enough for their stay). Otherwise, we feed our cat guests a high quality dry food. If bringing your own dry food, please bring in a covered plastic storage container or gallon zip-lock bag.
Comfort Items: A favorite blanket or toy (optional) can help provide extra comfort during their stay; especially if the item has their home scent. If you want to bring any large items please discuss with us first to ensure it fits comfortably in their suite.
Medications: If your cat requires any medications, please bring them in their original packaging with clear instructions. We only administer oral or topical medications at this time.
Cat Carrier: We place your kitty's cat carrier in their suite as a familiar place for them to hide when feeling shy.

What NOT to Bring

To maintain the safety and cleanliness of our facility, please do not bring:

Litter or Litter Boxes: Whisker Ridge Retreat provides fresh, high-quality litter for all our feline guests. If your cat has specific needs requiring the use of their own litter box or a different type of litter, please discuss this with us at the time of booking. We are happy to accommodate your cat's needs to ensure a pleasant stay.
Bowls: We supply sanitized bowls to ensure hygiene throughout their stay. If your cat has a condition requiring they use a particular food and/or water bowl; however, you may provide those and we will accommodate.
Excessive Personal Items: While a favorite blanket or toy is welcome, too many items can clutter your cat’s suite.
Fleas or Ticks: Please ensure all of your cats are free of flea and ticks before bringing them to Whisker Ridge Retreat. Proof of a vet approved flea and tick control product is required. Upon arrival, every cat will undergo a quick flea and tick check as part of our check-in process. We cannot allow cats with fleas or ticks in our facility. Please see our Flea & Tick Control Procedures for more information.
Viruses: If your cat displays any symptoms of a viral infection at check in, we will have to arrange another date for their stay. We cannot let any cats with viruses enter our facility. This is for the safety of all cats as viruses are highly contagious. Symptoms include sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes and nasal congestion. Please see our Contagion Control Procedures for more information.

If your cat has specific needs requiring the use of their own litter box or a different type of litter or food/water bowls, please discuss this with us at the time of booking. We are happy to accommodate your cat's needs to ensure a pleasant stay.

FAQ's

Do you accept any type of cat for boarding? We accept all breeds. Male cats MUST be neutered and all cats must be at least 5 months old or older.
Can I visit your facility before boarding my cat? Absolutely! We can provide you a tour of our facility by appointment. We request that you do not wear any strong scents/perfumes and that you wear surgical booties (that we provide) before entry. This ensures the safety of cats we are boarding. To avoid upsetting our cat guests we ask to use soft voices while on the tour.
What happens if my cat gets sick or injured during their stay: While we take great measures to ensure only healthy cats enter our facility, it's possible cats may become ill during their stay. Sometimes this is due to a diet change or perhaps they had an illness without symptoms at check in time or there's always age-related illnesses that creep up on cats. Even though cats from different households are placed in separate catio suites they are still in close proximity. Even if your cat has been fully vaccinated, it is not guaranteed that it will not get sick, let alone if the vaccine cycle is incomplete or not boosted.Cats may injure themselves in any environment, and while we don't expect any injuries, we like to be prepared. Regardless of why an illness or injury may present itself, we will immediately move your cat to one of our quarantine kennels and contact your Vet straight away. We'll keep you informed during the entire process. Our quarantine suites are smaller than our boarding suites as cats in these situations do better in smaller spaces but rest assured, our quarantine kennels are safe and cozy and your cat will be well cared for with all the extras needed to keep them safe and secure. We will follow all recommendations from your Vet. If your Vet is not able to handle an emergency situation, we will take your cat to the Emergency Clinic in Bristol. Please be advised that you; as the owner, will be responsible for all Vet and supplemental costs.
How do you ensure the safety and cleanliness of your facility: We incorporate all of these measures and more:
- Regular Inspections
- Safe Enclosures
- Emergency Protocols
- Health Assessments
- Controlled Access
- Routine Cleaning & Disinfecting
- Litter Management
- Pest Control
- Supervised Interactions
- Staff Training
- Remote Monitoring
- Video Surveillance
Do cats from separate households ever mingle together: No
My cat is an outdoor cat. Will they adjust to being in an indoor suite? Yes, cats quickly adjust. It's understood that some cats will be shy and not want any interaction with strangers, and we will respect that demeanor. They will know we are here for them and are caring for them and if they approach us for cuddles, we'll give lots of cuddles, but we won't force it. For extremely shy kitties we do have a back scratcher we can reach in to give gentle stroking with.
Do you have a play area for cats to enjoy outside of their suite? We do! We are in a spacious facility set up like our very own home with an office and studio we work from right there in the cat hotel. We give each cat ample time to roam and hang out with us which feels "just like home" to them. If a cat is aggressive towards us we will ensure they stay in their catio suite but we will still interact with toys and sweet talk. It's completely understood that some cats are "spicy". We do not let cats from different catio's mingle in these common areas but if your cat is our only guest, they get the run of the place! If there are multiple guests in different catio's, we schedule each one to enjoy a couple of hours of "free range" play time. The catio's are large and space though so rest assured, when your kitty is enjoying their time in their private suite, they will be cozy and comfortable without being constrained.
Can I choose the suite my cat will stay in? If we are not booked up that is fine!
Will I receive daily updates on my cats well being? Yes, absolutely. We will email owners a daily update with photo's and/or video's of their cats.
Do you offer discounts for long term boarding? Yes we do! 1 cat for 1 continuous month of boarding is $500 and an additional cat from the same household using the same suite is $100 extra.
What if I cannot pick my cat up by the check-out time? We understand that flights get delayed or situations change; especially with emergencies. Owners should phone us straight away to inform us of late pickups. There is a $15 late fee due at the time of pick up. If you do not pick your cat up by 5:00 PM, there is an additional $15 late fee per suite AND an additional suite fee ($20 1 cat or $25 2 cats or $30 3 cats) for each additional day you are late picking up your cat. If the owner is late by 7 days and has not contacted us with clear instructions on their new pick-up date their cat will be considered abandoned and law enforcement will be contacted. We will abide by whatever the law enforcement official advises at that time and owners will be responsible for any fines, penalties or court fees that result from this situation.
Do you offer a refund if I pick my cat up earlier than I booked them for? No, we do not offer refunds for picking your cat up earlier than their check-out time.
Do you offer a refund if I cancel my cats boarding before check-in time? Only if you cancel the boarding at least 2 weeks prior to check in time.