Whether you’re heading out of town for business or pleasure, it can be tricky to figure out what to do with your cat.
Many pet owners initially consider boarding their cat, but this rarely works out well. Generally speaking, cats hate being boarded. Some even develop lasting anxiety problems after being left to wait in a cramped cage for days or weeks while their pet parent travels.
This leads some to consider bringing their cat along for the trip. But where will you both stay? Do hotels even allow cats? If you can find a hotel that’ll welcome cats, how will she react during the stay? Is there a better option available?
We’ll try to answer your questions about pet-friendly accommodations below, so you can figure out the best solution for keeping your cat safe and happy while you travel.
Yes, some hotels, including a handful of international chains, do allow guests to stay with a cat. You could even say that some “welcome” cats. And almost all hotels allow service animals.
A few of the chains that often welcome cats include Holiday Inn Express, Embassy Suites, Residence Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Kimpton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, La Quinta Hotels, and Best Western Hotels, among others. Some Red Roof Inn and Quality Inn locations also welcome pets.
But pet policies and pet fees vary by location. Just because one location at a pet-friendly hotel chain allowed you to bring a cat once doesn’t mean another location will do the same.
And the specific pet policies enforced by different locations will also differ. Some hotel locations will limit the number of cats or pets allowed per room (many have a two-pets per room policy). Other cat-friendly hotels will allow pets to stay during some time periods while excluding them at others. Some may prohibit you from leaving your cat in the room should you leave the property.
The hotel’s tolerance of nuisance behaviors will also vary – some may be more tolerant of vocal or zoomie-prone cats than others.
The costs associated with staying with your cat will vary too. Some locations will impose a pet fee on cats staying on the premises, while others allow them to stay without requiring a pet fee. Many will also charge extra deposits for cat owners, and most will hold you responsible for any damage your cat causes. This may even include vague kinds of “damage,” such as odors.
We won’t say that it’s never OK to stay at a hotel with your cat, but it generally doesn’t work very well. Some of the reasons for this include:
· Your cat probably won’t like it. Cats are creatures of habit who may become anxious or stressed when forced to stay in an unfamiliar place. This may lead your cat to exhibit nuisance behaviors, such as vocalizing all night, or suffer from digestive issues.
· Even the most cat-friendly accommodations rarely provide many pet amenities. Instead, you’ll have to bring everything your cat needs. This includes everything from a pet bed to a litter box. Additionally, while some hotels have places for dogs to walk around and relieve themselves, your cat will likely have to be confined to your room the entire time.
· There are bathroom issues to consider. Speaking of litter boxes, it’s hard to set up and maintain one in a hotel room. For starters, there may not be a good spot for the litter box (hotel bathrooms are often quite small), and your cat may not feel comfortable using the litter box in this strange place. Additionally, cleaning the litter box will present challenges, and have you making repeated trips to the dumpster.
· You probably won’t have a viable backup plan. Lots of things can happen while traveling that’ll disrupt your plans. The hotel may be overbooked. You may make a mistake with the reservation. Severe weather could force you to alter your trip. The hotel chain may be less pet friendly than you’d hoped. If any of these things happen, you may not be able to find another hotel that’ll allow you to stay with your cat.
· You’ll be far away from your vet. If your cat gets sick or suffers an injury, you’ll have to take her to an unfamiliar vet. This will not only be stressful for your cat, but it means that she won’t get care from a vet who is already familiar with any health problems she has.
· You’ll have to leave your cat alone at times. One of the biggest downsides of staying with your cat in a hotel is that you will have to leave her alone in the room at times. Whether you need to go to a work meeting, or you simply want to go out to dinner, you won’t be able to take your cat with you. This will undoubtedly cause your already-stressed cat to become even more nervous.
· As mentioned, most hotels only allow you to bring up to two pets. If you care for several cats, you may not even have the option to stay at a hotel. And many hotels that will allow you to bring more than two cats will generally charge an expensive daily pet fee for each kitty.
It’s also worth noting that hotels are notorious for changing their pet policies without warning. You and Fluffy may travel across the country (or even all the way to a different country), only to find that they have increased the pet fee they charge or that they no longer accept cats at all. This will leave you and your cat in quite a predicament, and unfortunately, these kinds of stories are not rare.
If you simply must stay at a cat-friendly hotel chain with your pet, employ the following strategies to help make things go as smoothly as possible:
· Schedule a vet visit before your trip. You don’t want to discover that your cat has fallen ill while you’re in another city or country, so have your vet examine your cat before your trip. This will also give you the chance to ensure your cat’s vaccinations are up to date.
· Always call ahead and verify that they welcome pets and find out the specifics of their pet policy. The policies hotels advertise don’t always apply to each location, and the pet friendliness of different locations will vary. Find out if they only allow a given number of pets per room and if you’ll have to pay any additional fees when you arrive.
· Be sure you have a comfortable crate for your cat. It is wise to confine your cat to a crate while you’re in a car, and it’ll likely be required if you’re traveling by bus or plane. Additionally, you may want to keep your kitty in the crate if you have to leave her alone in the room for more than a few minutes.
· Pick up a disposable litter box. As mentioned, it can be tricky to deal with litter boxes in a hotel room. But a disposable litter box will help make things a little bit easier, though you may have to purchase more than one if you are staying at the hotel for an extended period of time.
· Bring along some pet toys or other comfort items. Your cat will almost certainly feel some stress and anxiety while staying in the hotel room. So, bring a few of her favorite toys, as well as a favorite blanket or bed. The familiar feel and smells associated with these items may help soothe her a bit.
· Pre-package your food (if you feed your cat kibble). Canned foods are pretty convenient to offer while on the road, but a big bag of kibble can be a bit of a pain. So, fill several reusable plastic containers with pre-portioned meals to make feeding time easier.
· Be sure your cat has ID tags and a microchip. You never want your cat to run away or become lost, but this is especially true when you’re traveling. You’re far less likely to find your cat while in a strange place than you are around your home, so you’ll want to ensure that she has current ID tags (with up-to-date contact info), as well as a microchip.
· Bring some cleaning supplies. Normally, you can rely on housekeeping to keep your room clean while traveling, but that’s probably not going to be the case when you travel with a cat. In fact, many hotel chains have language in their pet policies that specifically indicates that you will be responsible for cleaning up after accidents and removing pet hair from the furniture (if you don’t, they’ll charge additional pet fees). So, consider bringing things like pet-safe wet wipes and perhaps a handheld vacuum cleaner.
· Place a note on the door indicating that you have a cat. Whether you are in the room or not, you don’t want housekeeping or the hotel staff to open the door unexpectedly. This may spook your cat, causing her to slip out the door. Some pet-friendly hotels provide hotel guests with stickers or signs to hang on the door, but others do not.
As you can see, even cat-friendly hotels are likely to be a great option for you and your feline friend. Your cat probably won’t like it, and you’ll likely find the entire ordeal stressful. You may also have to follow rules laid out in the hotel’s pet policy, pay an expensive pet fee, and submit a non-refundable damage deposit. Plus, there are all of the myriad dangers associated with traveling with your furry friend.
But there is a better option – you can simply leave your cat with one of The Comforted Kitty’s professional cat sitters.
Our team is made up of hand-picked, experienced feline experts, who know exactly how to provide your cat with the care she deserves while you’re gone. You’ll even have the chance to meet the sitter you select beforehand. This will not only give you the chance to see how your sitter interacts with your precious pet, but it’ll also give you an opportunity to discuss your cat’s specific needs. And did we mention all of our sitters are licensed and insured?
Avoid the hassle of staying with your pet in a hotel and head over to our scheduling page to get started.
