Things You'll Need
- Veterinary records
- Cat food
- Cat medications
Instructions
Check with local veterinarians in the Rockwall area to see if they offer boarding services for cats. The Rockwall Veterinary Hospital (rockwallveterinaryhospital.com) and nearby Animal Hospital of Rowlett (ahrdvm.com) both offer boarding services for cats. If your local veterinarian does not offer boarding services for cats, ask them for a recommendation for a local service that does. A veterinary hospital that allows boarding may offer more specialized services for older cats or those on medications because the staff can easily treat any medical conditions that arise in your absence.
Contact local pet boarding facilities and ask if they provide lodging for cats. Some pet boarding facilities only house dogs, not cats. The Lake Pointe Pet Resort (lakepointepetresort.com) in Rowlett accepts cats in its indoor suites, where they also house dogs. Cat Connection (catconnection.net), located in nearby Dallas, offers unique, cat-only accommodations for its feline guests. This facility houses the cats in separate cat condos and offers the cats access to a large playroom to interact with other cats boarded there.
Obtain records from your veterinarian to prove your cat has been vaccinated for rabies, panleukopenia or distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, calici virus and pneumonitis (FVRCPP), according to ThePetCenter.com. Make sure the vaccinations are all current with your veterinarian. Ask the specific facility personnel what they require in terms of how recent the vaccines need to be, as most require rabies vaccinations within 3 years and FVRCPP within 1 year. Some facilities will accept a special waiver from your veterinarian for exceptions to these requirements.
Contact the boarding facility by phone or by email to make sure it will have space available for your cat during the dates of your vacation. Kennels have limited space and fill up quickly during the winter holidays and in the summer. Give as much advanced notice as possible to ensure the facility can accommodate your cat.
Tour the facility to make sure the accommodations for your cat are kept clean, sanitary and neat. Check to see that the staff acts in a professional manner. Some facilities will not allow you into the pets' quarters so that you do not upset the resident pets or bring in any outside parasites. If so, they should provide a viewing window to see into the cat condos or playroom. Ask the staff if the kennel belongs to the American Boarding Kennels Association, which has certain requirements for cleanliness, ethics and professionalism.
Make the reservation with the facility and pay any required deposit in person, over the phone or online through the kennel's website. Rates for boarding a cat range from $15 to $30 per day, as of April 2011. Most facilities, such as the A&B Kennel Club (abkennelclub.com) in Wylie, and Cat Connection offer online reservation forms and require at least 24 to 48 hours notice for boarding requests or cancellations. Give all of the required information for your cat including its age, breed, medical history, veterinarian information and feeding regimen. Depending on the facility, you may need to provide a credit card number to reserve the space.
Bring your cat to the boarding facility in a cat carrier to prevent the cat from escaping. Most kennels require you to bring the cat in a carrier for its own safety when being dropped off. Bring enough of your cat's food for the duration of the stay, if the kennel does not provide the brand or type of food your cat eats regularly. Give the food to the kennel personnel and label it with your cat's name. Provide the kennel with any medication your cat takes, along with directions describing the dosage and frequency to the staff.
Check in with the kennel staff during your trip to see how your cat is doing. Some facilities provide a special pet camera you can access online as part of the service or for an extra charge. Since many of the facilities in the Rockwall, Texas area offer grooming services, see if you can have your cat groomed before it returns home.