Senior cats can board well, but they often need more thoughtful preparation than a young healthy cat. Appetite, arthritis comfort, medication, toileting, weight changes and stress tolerance all become more important with age.
A veterinary-led cattery can be helpful because boarding information and health context can sit together. The aim is not to over-medicalise the stay; it is to make sure age-related needs are not missed.
Older cats often change gradually. They may sleep more, jump less, drink more, lose weight, become fussy with food, miss the litter tray or hide more than they used to.
These changes may feel normal at home because they have crept in slowly, but they are important boarding information. They help us understand what comfort and observation should look like during the stay.
Older cats may not limp, even when movement is uncomfortable. They may simply stop jumping, groom less, hesitate before stepping down or become grumpy when lifted.
Tell us about these small changes. They can affect bedding, handling, litter tray access and whether pain support should be discussed before the stay.
Many senior cats have some degree of joint pain, even when they do not limp. They may avoid high jumps, hesitate before climbing, resent handling or become less tidy with grooming.
Tell us if your cat has arthritis, uses pain relief, struggles with steps or prefers low bedding. Small adjustments to access, bedding and handling can make boarding kinder.
Older cats may seek warmer beds, quieter spaces and easier access to food and water. They may also become less tolerant of noise, handling or changes in routine.
Tell us what helps your cat rest at home. A favourite blanket, low-sided bed or note about where they like to hide can make the stay feel less demanding.
Appetite and thirst deserve attention in older cats. A senior cat who eats poorly, drinks much more or loses weight may have an underlying issue that should not be ignored during boarding.
Bring familiar food if appetite is fragile, and tell us what normal eating looks like. If your cat has kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disease or a prescription diet, make that clear before drop-off.
Many senior cats lose weight because of medical problems such as thyroid disease, kidney disease, diabetes, dental pain, gastrointestinal disease or chronic inflammation.
If your cat has lost weight recently, mention it before boarding. A stay away from home is not the best time to ignore a change that may already need investigation.
Older cats may urinate more, pass larger clumps, have accidents, become constipated or struggle to posture comfortably. These changes can be connected with pain, kidney disease, diabetes or other conditions.
Tell us what is normal at home and what has changed. Toileting information can be just as important as medication instructions for a senior cat.
Older cats are more likely to take regular medication. Bring labelled medicine, written instructions and information about how your cat accepts treatment at home.
If a medication has recently changed, or if giving it has become difficult, talk to us before the stay. A stressful medication routine can affect both boarding comfort and the success of long-term treatment.
If your senior cat has had recent blood tests, urine tests or blood pressure checks elsewhere, let us know. Current results can give useful context if appetite, thirst or behaviour changes during boarding.
This is most useful for cats with kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, hypertension or long-term medication. The more current the information, the easier it is to make sensible choices.
A pre-boarding health check may be sensible if your senior cat has new appetite changes, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, breathing changes, urinary changes, pain signs or a condition that has not been reviewed recently.
This does not mean every older cat needs testing before boarding. It means we should not ignore changes that could make the stay harder or less safe.
Older cats may need a quieter return home after boarding. Give them easy access to food, water, bedding and litter trays, and watch whether appetite and toileting return to normal.
Call if they seem flat, painful, confused, not eating, straining to urinate or very different from their usual self after pick-up. It is better to ask early than to wait through a worrying change.
When your senior cat comes home, keep food, water, bedding and litter trays easy to access. Avoid forcing them back into busy household routines immediately.
If they seem sore, confused, weak, not eating or much more withdrawn than usual, contact us. Older cats deserve prompt follow-up when the return home does not look right.
Early preparation for diabetic cats and cats with more complex treatment routines.
How food routines are handled while your cat is staying with us.
When a health check before boarding is sensible.
Return to the main cattery page for bookings, vaccination requirements and how the cattery works.
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.
