If your cats could talk, they'd tell you that sometimes an overfilled food bowl just doesn't cut it when you're out of town. Kitties may not need to be taken for walks like dogs do, but they still crave attention, which they miss out on if left home alone. If you want to be sure that your feline is left in good hands while you're away, consider these local cats-only options.
In-home cat sitting means that your pets get to stay in the comfort of their own digs, which cuts down on the stress that comes with switching locations. And they don't have to hang out in a crate while you're away. Plus, sometimes sitters can take care of other duties, like watering your plants or collecting your mail.
Duane Thelin of Sitting Kitties [1] has been in business in Seattle for more than four years, and he truly adores cats. He says that just watching his cats playing is his own joie de vivre (he also admits a fondness for Bruce Springsteen, fresh-picked strawberries and good books).
"Usually, the first thing I do when I walk in the door is give the cats some attention," Thelin says. During his daily visits ($24 for 30-35 minutes), he provides food and water; plays with, pets and brushes his charges; and cleans out their litter boxes. He can also administer medications (pills, liquid meds via syringe, insulin shots and subcutaneous fluids), bring in your mail and water your plants.
Thelin, who serves Beacon Hill, Capitol Hill, the Central District, Eastlake, First Hill, Leschi, Madison Park, Madison Valley, Madrona, Montlake and southeast Lake Union, only accepts new clients who want their cats visited every day.
"Leaving a cat alone for nearly 48 hours straight, over a week or two, seems unkind to me," he says. "Cats can get lonely and anxious. Also, if a cat got sick or somehow hurt itself, it could be a long time before someone was available to help the cat."
For cat owners in the Ballard and Phinney Ridge areas, Barbara Lorell of Absolutely Reliable Cat-Sitting [2] is available for all your cat-care needs.
With three cats of her own, Lorell is a big cat lover, and is careful to look out for any behavioral changes or medical issues that may arise with your kitties while you're away. She charges $25 per visit (about 40 minutes for up to two cats), which includes plenty of petting, playing and lap time. She, too, can administer medications.
If you're heading for a getaway up north -- or if your cat just really needs to get away himself -- you can drop your cat off at the Cat Nap Inn [3] in Sedro-Woolley.
In business for nearly nine years, this little gem set on six country acres is a cats-only boarding facility, which, according to owner Kolleen Fox, "offers a more peaceful, quiet and less stressful atmosphere -- no barking dogs or doggy smells."
The experienced staff at the immaculately clean facility offer individualized care for each cat, adhering to food and litter preferences, providing wheatgrass or catnip when called for, and addressing any behavioral or medical issues that arise. "[Owners'] kitties are being pampered while they are enjoying their own vacation too," Fox says.
And you won't find any crates or cages here. The cats are housed in what look like miniature hotel rooms called "studios" (smaller rooms that are better for less mobile cats) and "suites" (rooms that have multiple levels for kitties to jump between).
All rooms have either a window or aquarium view, and each has its own air filtration system so there's no cross contamination between cats. Rates range from $13 to $29 per room, per night, and discounts are offered to multiple-cat families sharing the same suite.
If you choose to board your cat, regardless of where, Fox encourages you to ask crucial questions of facilities, such as: Does the facility have fire extinguishers and smoke alarms? What is the cat-to-staff ratio? How long have the staff worked there? She also suggests an important question to ask yourself when visiting a facility: Do the cats look happy?
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
