Baseline
Describe the cat at home
Food, water, litter, sleep, movement, social style, hiding, play, medication, and normal variation create the comparison point.
First-stay planning
The first stay should build information, not pressure.
A first boarding stay introduces carrier travel, separation, unfamiliar scent, private territory, new caregivers, different sounds, and a new care sequence at the same time.
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.
Transition
Expect a different presentation
A social cat may hide; a quiet cat may vocalize; appetite and elimination may temporarily shift. The direction of change matters.
Fit
Choose by care and room use
Age, mobility, appetite, medical needs, household size, and how the cat uses space should guide location and room.
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 fit finder
Combine first-stay, appetite, medical, room, and location needs.
Open guideRelated guide
The first 24 hours
See what the team is trying to understand after arrival.
Open guideRelated guide
Decompression
Protect low-demand room orientation.
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.
Should I schedule a trial night?
A shorter stay may help some guardians gather information, but it is still a complete transition and is not automatically easier for every cat. Discuss timing and purpose with the team.
Will my cat be forced to socialize?
No. Care includes observation, private territory, essentials, and enrichment offered according to response rather than compulsory interaction.
What if my cat has never been away from home?
That history is important but does not predict one outcome. Plan the first stay from baseline, health, appetite, mobility, and handling.
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.