Petme · Canada

Cat sitter vs cattery in Canada

Keep your cat home with a sitter, or board it at a cattery? How to choose for your cat.

When you travel, you can hire an in-home cat sitter who visits or stays at your place, or board your cat at a cattery. Each suits a different cat. This compares them on stress, cost, and practicality so you can pick with confidence.

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The core difference

Home turf vs a new place

A cat sitter comes to your home, so your cat keeps its own litter box, food, smells, and hiding spots. A cattery moves your cat to a staffed boarding facility with other cats nearby.

For cats, stress usually comes from a change of territory rather than from being alone. That is why most cats settle better with an in-home sitter than in a cattery, though there are exceptions.

Which suits your cat

When each one wins

Choose an in-home sitter

Best for most cats: shy cats, seniors, cats on medication, and single-cat homes. The routine barely changes and there is no car trip or unfamiliar environment.

Consider a cattery

Can suit cats that need constant on-site staff, homes where no sitter can access the property, or owners who simply prefer a staffed facility.

Cost

In-home drop-ins (CAD 20 to 45 a visit) are often cheaper than a cattery for one cat. A cattery can be more economical for several cats at once.

Safety

Vet cover either way

A good cattery is licensed and staffed, but it does not usually include vet-expense cover for your cat. With Petme, every in-home booking includes up to CAD 20,000 in vet expenses during the stay, no deductible, at any licensed Canadian clinic.

In-home care also means fewer animals around your cat and earlier notice of any problem, since the sitter is focused on your cat alone during each visit.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is a cat sitter better than a cattery?

For most cats, yes. An in-home sitter keeps the cat on its own routine and territory, which is less stressful than boarding at a cattery. A cattery can suit cats needing constant on-site staff.

Is a cat sitter cheaper than a cattery?

Usually for one cat, with in-home drop-ins around CAD 20 to 45 a visit. A cattery can be more economical for several cats at once.

What about my cat’s safety with a sitter?

Petme sitters are verified, and every booking includes up to CAD 20,000 in vet cover during the stay at any licensed Canadian clinic, which most catteries do not include.

How often will a sitter visit?

Once a day suits many healthy adult cats for short trips. Kittens, seniors, and cats on medication usually need two visits a day.

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