Eating is not just a comfort issue during boarding. Appetite gives us useful information about stress, nausea, dental pain, medication tolerance and whether a cat is settling into the change in routine.
The more clearly we understand your cat's normal feeding habits, the easier it is to tell the difference between an expected adjustment and a change that deserves attention.
If your cat is fussy, on a prescription diet, prone to vomiting or diarrhoea, diabetic, underweight, overweight or recovering from illness, bring their usual food. Boarding is not a good time to test a new diet.
Label the food with your cat's name and include feeding amounts. If food needs refrigeration, measuring, mixing or special handling, tell us before arrival so the routine is practical.
For short stays, a labelled container may be enough. For longer stays, send more than the exact amount if your travel dates might change or if your cat eats a food that cannot be bought easily.
If food runs out, the team may need to use the closest practical alternative. That may be fine for some cats, but it can be a real problem for cats on prescription diets or cats with sensitive stomachs.
Feeding instructions are easy to misremember when travel is busy. Write down the amount, frequency, food type and anything your cat must not eat.
If your cat has several foods, explain which are essential and which are optional. For example, a prescription diet is different from a preferred treat that can be skipped if needed.
Some cats graze slowly across the day. Some eat in one sitting. Some refuse food if the bowl is moved, the texture changes or the environment feels unfamiliar.
Knowing your cat's normal appetite helps us interpret what we see. A cat who usually eats everything quickly is different from a cat who commonly eats small amounts at a time.
Treats may help some cats settle, but they can also make it harder to judge true appetite. If treats are part of your cat's normal routine, tell us what is normal and what should be avoided.
For cats on urinary, kidney, diabetic, gastrointestinal, allergy or weight-loss diets, treats should be discussed rather than added casually. Small extras can matter when a diet is being used as treatment.
Prescription diets are part of medical care, not just preference. If your cat is on a urinary, kidney, gastrointestinal, diabetic, weight or allergy diet, tell us why they are eating it and whether anything else must be avoided.
If treats, mixed foods or alternative brands are not allowed, include that in writing. This matters most when a diet is being used to reduce recurrence of urinary signs, control diabetes or support a chronic health condition.
If your cat eats a raw diet, contact us before boarding. Raw food can create storage, hygiene and handling issues in a shared care environment, and we need to know whether it can be accommodated safely.
Sometimes a temporary alternative is more practical. If a diet change is needed, it should be discussed before the stay rather than improvised at drop-off.
Some cats eat less when they are unsettled. Others eat well but hide, freeze or seem tense. Appetite is important, but it is not the only measure of comfort.
Tell us how your cat usually behaves around food at home. A cat who normally runs to the bowl gives us different information from a cat who eats privately overnight.
A cat who eats less on the first day may simply be adjusting, but appetite should not be ignored. Poor eating is more concerning in kittens, senior cats, diabetic cats, cats on medication and cats with recent illness.
If your cat was already eating poorly before boarding, tell us. A cattery stay should not be used to wait out appetite loss that may need veterinary attention.
Food instructions are especially important for diabetic cats, cats with kidney disease, cats with urinary problems, cats recovering from gastrointestinal illness and cats who need medication with meals.
For these cats, a missed meal may affect medicine timing or the need for veterinary advice. Clear notes help the team avoid treating feeding as a simple preference when it is part of care.
When your cat comes home, return to their usual feeding routine unless we have advised otherwise. Give them a quiet space and watch whether appetite returns to their normal level.
Contact us if your cat does not eat, vomits repeatedly, seems painful, hides in a very unusual way or has diarrhoea that does not settle. These signs may need more than post-travel reassurance.
What to bring, what to label and what is better left at home.
Early preparation for diabetic cats and cats with more complex treatment routines.
Extra preparation for older cats, including appetite, comfort, toileting and medication notes.
What to expect when your cat comes home and when to contact us.
If your cat has medication, anxiety, dietary needs, senior health changes or a first boarding stay coming up, talk to us early so the arrangements are practical.
If something changes before boarding, contact us before drop-off so we can decide whether the stay can go ahead as arranged or whether your cat needs extra support first.
Cat-specific advice for appetite, toileting, stress, senior comfort and clinic visits.
Carrier, litter and environment support for cats at home.
Carrier and travel planning can make boarding drop-off easier too.
Watch our cattery preparation video.
