Sensory load
Reduce simultaneous novelty
Sound, scent, travel, people, room features, food, litter, and handling all arrive together unless care deliberately slows the sequence.
Nervous-system-aware boarding
Settling is not something the cat owes the room.
Decompression is the reduction of avoidable demand while the cat begins mapping unfamiliar territory and deciding what is safe enough to approach.
Plan earlyProtect routineShare baselinePrepare suppliesConfirm fit
Current availability, rates, policies, and final care acceptance are managed by Cats in the City.
Reduce surprisesSpecific planning gives the team better information at arrival.
One accountable handoffDates, room, food, medication, contacts, and contingencies stay connected.
Planning principles
A smoother stay begins before check-in.
Preparation should reduce uncertainty for the cat, guardian, and care team without pretending every transition can be made invisible.
Choice
Let the cat control proximity
Hiding, elevation, distance, approach, and withdrawal can help the cat regulate without being forced into contact.
Predictability
Make care easier to map
Consistent approach, placement, timing, and response reduce the amount of new information the cat must process.
Continue planning
The next useful page is one decision away.
Follow the pathway that matches the cat rather than reading the entire website in sequence.
Related guide
Boarding rebuilt around the nervous system
The broader environmental philosophy.
Open guideRelated guide
Shy or reactive cats
Care planning for cats who need more distance or different approach.
Open guideRelated guide
The first 24 hours
Arrival and early stabilization in sequence.
Open guideQuestions guardians ask
Clear answers before the request.
Care fit is confirmed only after Cats in the City reviews the complete profile and requested dates.
Is hiding always a problem?
No. Hiding can be an adaptive use of space. The team looks at the complete pattern: intake, litter, movement, posture, responsiveness, and whether the cat’s functional range is expanding or narrowing.
Should staff leave a fearful cat completely alone?
Low demand is not neglect. Care still includes observation, food, water, litter, room maintenance, and carefully paced contact.
How long does decompression take?
There is no universal clock. The cat’s history, health, trip, room fit, appetite, and prior experience all affect the pace.
Next step
Let the care plan start with the cat.
Share the dates, routine, health history, appetite pattern, medication needs, and room priorities. Cats in the City will review the request and confirm the appropriate location and pathway.