Alternatives to Dog and Cat Boarding
Whether you have a multi-pet household with dogs and cats, or just dogs, your main options come down to boarding facilities or pet sitters. We always recommend in-home sitters over multiple drop-ins per day, as in-home sitters can provide the same level of individualized care your pets expect.
That said, boarding facilities may be a good solution for cats and dogs that enjoy new environments and getting to make new friends. But for those pets with shyer personalities — or who have behavioral or medical issues that would be challenging to maintain in a group stay environment — boarding facilities could be stressful.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of each option:
boarding Vs In-Home sitters for cat and dog homes
| Features | Pet Boarding | In-home Sitters |
|---|---|---|
| Customizable schedules | ⛔ | ✅ |
| Individualized behavioral and medical care | ⛔ | ✅ |
| Private and quiet environment | ⛔ | ✅ |
| Socialization opportunities | ✅ | ⛔ |
| Insured and bonded | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pets of the same household can stay together | ⛔ | ✅ |
Not sure how to prepare your home for a pet sitter? Check out our guide here.
Can I board my cat and dog together?
While you may be able to board your cats and dogs at the same location, typically, they won’t be able to stay together. This is ultimately for the safety of your pets, as many dogs have a prey drive that is activated by cats. That said, if you have bonded or close animal siblings, this arrangement can be challenging for you and stressful for them.
Usually, a boarding center will have separate wings for dogs and cats. So if you have a bonded, cross-species pair, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to stay together. Some luxury boarders may have private suites available that could allow a cat and dog to be boarded together, but you’ll need to call ahead to make sure they can accommodate this. You’ll also be paying a premium for this particular accommodation.
You’ll also need to keep in mind that a kennel that is safe for a dog isn’t necessarily safe for a cat and vice versa. Most boarding facilities simply don’t have the setups that would allow both a dog and a cat to be boarded safely together.
Can I leave my dog and cat alone together while I’m on vacation?
If you’ve had both animals for at least a year, and they typically coexist without fighting, it should be safe to leave them with a pet sitter. Introducing new pets to the family can sometimes be an adventure, but if you trust them to be alone while you’re at work, then there shouldn't be an issue.
If you’ve found that you need to monitor your pets' interactions with each other, or feel that they do best together when supervised, it may be best to arrange separate borders or sitters for each animal. If either animal behaves in ways that could be unsafe for them or each other, you may want to do so. For example:
Stalking or “hunting” behaviors
Occasional fights beyond play wrestling
Food aggression or resource guarding
A history of past aggression or reactivity, including a bite history to each other or humans
If your home is set up to accommodate it, it may also be possible for an in-home pet sitter to keep them separated while you’re away, and care for each animal individually. However, discuss this setup in detail with your sitter to make sure they have the skillset to accommodate.
Dog and Cat Sitters Are The Best Alternative to Pet Boarding
The easiest way to help your pets stay calm with your extended absence is to change as little of their routine as possible. If your cats and dogs are used to staying at home together, then the best option for you is likely an in-home pet sitter.
Professional pet sitters stay with your animals overnight and provide the same level of care and attention that you do. If you’ve never used an in-home pet sitter before, here are 3 important questions you should ask any prospective sitter.
And if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, we hope you’ll reach out to G&G Pets before your next trip. We’ll match you with the perfect sitter for you and your pets' needs — whether you have dogs, cats, or both! We can even feed the goldfish.
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