You worry about leaving your cat while you’re away and want the right choice fast. If your cat is anxious, elderly, or has health needs, a cat sitter who keeps them at home usually causes less stress; if your cat needs constant monitoring, social time, or a secure outdoor run, a well-run cattery can be better.
They will think about how your cat behaves at home and what comforts keep them calm. The rest of the article will help you compare the two, check practical pros and cons, and find the right option for your situation.
Key Takeaways
Match care to your cat’s temperament and medical needs.
Compare personalised in-home care with structured facility care.
Check qualifications, safety and comfort before deciding.
What Is a Cat Sitter and a Cattery?
A cat sitter visits or stays in a home to care for a cat where it lives, while a cattery boards cats overnight in a dedicated facility. Both aim to keep cats safe, fed and comfortable, but they do so in very different ways.
Understanding Cat Sitting Services
A cat sitter usually comes to the owner’s home once or more each day. They feed the cat, change the litter, refresh water, and spend time playing or stroking to reduce stress. Some sitters offer extra services like administering tablets or injections, bringing in post, or watering plants.
Choose a sitter who provides written instructions, emergency contact details and proof of experience or insurance. Meet them first so the cat and sitter can get used to each other. Sitter visits keep the cat in its normal environment, which helps cats that are nervous around new places.
How Catteries Work
A cattery is a licensed boarding facility that provides separate enclosures or pens for cats to stay overnight. Staff feed scheduled meals, clean litter trays, and monitor health. Many catteries require up‑to‑date vaccinations and a pre‑stay health check.
Catteries vary from basic kennels to premium suites with extra enrichment, such as play areas, hiding spaces and one‑to‑one attention. Owners should visit beforehand to check cleanliness, staffing levels and licence display. For cats who tolerate new environments, catteries give continuous supervision and quick access to veterinary care if needed.
Comparing Cat Sitters and Catteries
This section compares how each option affects the cat’s space, daily routine and stress, and the money and logistics involved. It highlights the most practical differences to help readers match their cat’s needs and their own plans.
Key Differences in Environment
A cat sitter keeps the cat in its own home, so familiar smells, furniture and hiding spots stay unchanged. This matters for shy or elderly cats that value a single safe territory. Sitters usually work in short visits (15–60 minutes) or overnight stays, which means the home environment stays mostly intact.
A cattery provides a dedicated space with staff supervision and cleaning routines. Sizes and enrichment vary; some high-end catteries offer larger runs and play areas while budget kennels may be small. Catteries can control hygiene and reduce transmission risk for multi-cat households or unvaccinated cats.
When a cat has special needs—medical equipment, extended hiding, or complex feeding—confirm the sitter’s experience or pick a cattery that accepts medical cases. Check ventilation, noise levels and access to quiet rooms for either option.
Routine, Stress, and Emotional Wellbeing
A cat left at home with a sitter usually keeps feeding times, litter habits and sleeping spots the same. That continuity often reduces hiding, reduced appetite or clinginess when the owner returns. Sitters can offer one-to-one interaction, play sessions and gradual introduction for nervous cats.
In a cattery, routine is regimented: set feeding times, group or single units, and more human turnover. Some confident cats adapt quickly and enjoy social enrichment. Others show stress signs—withdrawal, changes in litter use or vocalisation—especially on arrival or first nights.
Evaluate how your cat reacts to change. If a cat benefits from steady human contact and a calm setting, a trusted sitter can ease anxiety. If the cat needs constant supervision or you prefer a monitored facility with staff on site, a cattery may be better.
Cost and Practical Considerations
Cat sitters in the UK commonly charge per visit; typical rates range from around £12–£18 per visit for daytime calls, with higher fees for overnight stays or extra tasks. Two visits per day increases cost but keeps the cat’s routine intact. Sitters may offer home checks like bringing in post or adjusting heating.
Catteries usually charge a daily rate, often between roughly £15–£30 per day depending on standards and extras. This can be cheaper for longer trips but may add travel time and stress from transport. Catteries may require vaccinations, microchipping and advance booking during peak holidays.
Consider logistics: key handover, emergency contacts, and insurance. Ask sitters about DBS checks, references and medication experience. For catteries, check visit policies, staff qualifications and whether they handle medication or isolation for sick cats.
How to Decide What’s Best for Your Cat
Look at how your cat reacts to people, places and routine. Balance their medical needs, age and stress levels against the practical options available to you.
Personality, Health, and Behaviour
Assess how the cat behaves at home around strangers and other animals. If a cat hides, hisses, or freezes when visitors arrive, a quiet home visit or a live-in sitter is usually better than a busy cattery. Confident, social cats that enjoys attention may cope well in a well-run boarding facility with experienced staff.
Check health needs carefully. Cats that need daily medications, wound care, or close monitoring do best with someone trained to give meds — either a trained sitter or a cattery with veterinary links. Ask for references and proof of competence before hiring. Observe how the cat reacts to short trial visits with a sitter or a short stay at a cattery to see real behaviour.
Age and Special Needs
Kittens and senior cats have different needs. Kittens require frequent feeding, socialisation and supervision to stay safe. A sitter who can visit several times a day or a live-in carer suits young kittens better than a cattery where routines may not match feeding schedules.
Older cats may need softer food, temperature control and quiet rest. Mobility issues or chronic illness often mean closer, one-to-one care. If the cat uses a special feeding regimen, carries oxygen, or needs insulin, choose a carer who can show experience with those exact tasks. Request written instructions and a veterinary emergency plan in every case.
Adapting to Change and Social Preferences
Some cats handle change poorly; signs include hiding, stopped eating, or toileting outside the litter tray. For these cats, staying in their home with a familiar routine usually reduces stress. A sitter who follows the cat’s usual feeding times, play habits and quiet spots helps maintain normal behaviour.
Other cats adapt quickly and may enjoy the stimulation of a cattery that offers climbing spaces and regular human contact. Visit potential catteries to check cleanliness and to see how cats behave there. Ask about staff ratios, daily routines and how they introduce new cats, so the environment matches the cat’s social needs.
Tips for Finding the Right Cat Sitter or Cattery
Choose someone who matches the cat’s needs, can follow medical and routine instructions, and offers clear emergency plans and references. Check credentials, visit in person when possible, and get everything written down before booking.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
They should ask about daily routines the cat follows: feeding times, play sessions, sleeping spots and any hiding places. Ask how many visits per day the sitter will make, or how often staff check cats in a cattery. Find out who will cover holidays or sickness, and whether backups exist.
Ask specifically about medication experience. Request examples of how they have handled upset cats, blocked litter trays or travel stress. Check cancellation terms, arrival and collection windows, and whether updates (texts, photos) are included and how often.
Checking Qualifications and References
They must confirm insurance and, for sitters, public liability or professional indemnity cover. For catteries, check for local licensing or inspection by the council and any membership of recognised industry bodies. Ask for at least two recent references and contact them.
When speaking to referees, ask about punctuality, how the carer handled emergencies, and whether the cat returned calm and healthy. Visit the cattery or meet the sitter in the home first. Observe cleanliness, secure enclosures and how staff or the sitter interacts with cats.
Ensuring Clear Instructions and Emergency Planning
They should write a clear care sheet with feeding amounts, medication times and administration method, vet contact details, and the cat’s microchip number. Include behavioural notes: fears, favourite toys and how to coax the cat from hiding.
Agree on an emergency vet plan in writing: who decides on treatment, maximum spending limit and whether the sitter will transport the cat. Leave spare keys, proof of ownership, and a signed authorisation for veterinary treatment to avoid delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section gives clear, practical answers about choosing between a cat sitter and a cattery, what to watch for in sitters, signs a cattery may suit a cat, likely costs, and how to find a nearby quality cattery.
How should we decide between a cat sitter and a boarding cattery for our feline friend?
Decide based on your cat’s age, health and social needs. Kittens and very active young cats often need more supervision than a single home visit provides, while older or anxious cats usually cope better at home with a sitter.
Consider medical needs and routine. Cats on daily medication or with unstable conditions may do better with a live-in sitter or a cattery that can manage treatments — ask staff about experience with medical care first. For guidance on factors to weigh, see advice about choosing between a sitter and a cattery from a veterinary perspective (VetPartners) — https://www.vetpartners.co.uk/vet-corner/should-i-use-a-cat-sitter-or-a-cattery/.
What are some signs that a cat sitter might not be the right fit for our pet?
They avoid a meet-and-greet or refuse a trial visit. That shows they won’t learn the cat’s routine or spot subtle health changes.
They can’t give clear answers about emergencies, vet contacts, or backups if they’re ill. Also watch for poor record-keeping, inconsistent visit times, or refusal to follow written instructions.
When looking for a cat sitter, what could indicate they are properly qualified and trustworthy?
Look for experience with cats and clear emergency plans. A reputable sitter will ask about medical history, dietary needs, and behaviour, and will provide written instructions and emergency contacts.
Check for insurance, references, and any relevant training such as animal care or veterinary nursing experience. Local cat sitter services often publish vetting and training information on their FAQ pages, which can help verify standards — https://www.thecatbutler.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/.
Could leaving my cat in a cattery be distressing for them, and how can we mitigate this?
Yes, some cats find new environments stressful, especially nervous or home-loving cats. Choose a cattery with individual pens, good hygiene, and a calm atmosphere to reduce stress.
Bring familiar items like bedding and toys and ensure the cattery asks for vaccination proof and explains emergency procedures. For what to look for in a cattery’s layout and care, see a list of common cattery standards and FAQs — https://www.catseyecattery.co.uk/our-cattery/cattery-faqs/.
What’s an average daily rate we might expect to pay for a professional cat sitter?
Expect roughly £12–£18 per visit for a standard daytime check and feed. Two visits per day or additional services like medication or longer visits raise the cost.
Live-in sitters or overnight stays cost more. Compare local sitter rates and what each visit includes before booking to avoid surprises; a price comparison can help decide between sitter and cattery options — https://www.kittyyarns.co.uk/blogs/blog/cat-sitter-vs-cattery.
What should we consider when looking for a quality cattery within close proximity?
Visit first and check cleanliness, ventilation and whether pens are individual and well maintained. Ask to see where food is prepared and how staff manage toileting and escapes.
Check licencing and that the cattery requires up-to-date vaccinations. Also ask about staff experience with different breeds and health needs, and whether you can leave a contact at your vet — local cattery FAQ pages often list these requirements and can help you assess suitability — https://www.petsloo.co.uk/catteries-across-the-uk/.
