How Much Does It Cost To Board a Cat?

If you have a trip coming up, you’re probably wondering about the best and most practical options for cat care while you’re gone. While there are many factors to consider when deciding what’s best for you and your cat, the overall price of cat care will likely play a factor. So how much does it cost to board a cat?

On average, it costs $31 per night to board your cat. While starting nightly rates vary between $15-$60 per night, you can find luxury boarding options that range up to $60-$90. Prices vary based on location, number of cats, preferred room size, specialized medical care, holiday rates, etc.

In this article, I’ll take a closer look at how much it costs to board a cat, how to find cat boarding near you, and whether or not you should consider boarding.

Nightly Rates For Cat Boarding Across The U.S.

To get an idea of how much cat boarding actually costs, I called and/or visited the website of 30 different cat boarding businesses across the country. I researched highly-rated businesses that offer cat boarding in 10 different cities and called three in each area. 

After I gathered the starting nightly rates for cats at each business, I found the following average costs for cat boarding:

Overall, I found that it costs $31.23 on average to board a cat for a night in the U.S. Of course, this rate varies by area and by a variety of other factors. 

Most cat boarding facilities that I called had starting rates that were within $10 of other nearby cat boarding businesses. However, some cities had a wider range.

For example, I found that starting rates in Chicago ranged from $24-$49 per night, which is more than double. Meanwhile, nightly rates in Portland ranged from $17-$50 per night for a basic room, which is the biggest difference I saw in local starting rates.

Because of the varying prices, I recommend calling a few different places in your area that offer cat boarding. When you do, be sure to ask about daily/nightly rates as well as what’s included for the price.

Additional Price Factors When Boarding Your Cat

While I was researching places to board your cat in different cities across the country, I quickly learned that the cost varies based on a variety of factors in addition to location. 

Here are eight of the biggest price factors worth considering when it comes to boarding your cat:

• Exams, vaccinations, and vet visits. Most cat boarding facilities require your cat to be up-to-date on shots and vaccinations. A few of the places I called required cats to have an examination prior to boarding (around $55). Some places only allowed cats to be boarded there if they’re already a patient in the same building. Be sure to ask your local cat boarding facilities what exams, vaccinations, and forms they require. 

• Multiple cats. If you’re boarding multiple cats, I found that many cat boarding facilities offer discounts. While the nightly rate may not be doubled, it’s still going to cost more than boarding a single cat for a night. Also, your cats will likely be sharing a room to get this discount. If you plan on boarding more than one cat, be sure to ask about accommodations and discounts.

• Preferred room size. The prices I included in the table above reflect the starting prices for the most basic rooms offered by each facility. However, many cat boarding businesses offer different sizes and types of rooms (including windows, cat trees, extra floor levels, etc.) for a higher nightly rate. If you want your cat to have a bigger room while you’re gone, ask about different room sizes and rates.

• Seasonal rates. If you’re looking to board your cat over the holidays, you may find a slightly higher nightly rate. Be sure to ask about holiday rates if you’re looking to board your cat over Thanksgiving or Christmas especially. 

• Minimum stays. Some cat boarding facilities have minimum stays, which can greatly raise the overall cost of boarding if you don’t plan on being gone that long. Most of the facilities I called did offer single-day or single-night stays; however, some required a minimum stay of three days and up to five days over the holidays.

• Long-term stays. If you do plan on being gone for an extended period of time, you may be able to get a long-term stay discount. Some of the cat boarding facilities I contacted offered weekly and monthly rates in addition to daily rates. If you plan on being gone for more than a few days, ask your local cat boarding facilities about long-term stays. 

• Medical needs. Nearly all of the places I called had an additional charge for medical needs. While the charge was usually only a few dollars per night on average, it’s worth considering if your cat will need special attention during their stay. 

• 24/7 webcams. Many cat boarding facilities now offer optional 24/7 webcams so that you can check in on your cat during their stay. Some places offered this perk for free for all cats while others included it as a perk on select room upgrades. If you’ll want to check in on your cat during your trip, 24/7 webcams may be worth asking about when you’re looking for the best place to board your cat!

How To Find Cat Boarding Near You

If you’re planning a trip, you should make a plan for your cat care as soon as possible. If you’re thinking about boarding your cat, I recommend calling a few nearby cat boarding facilities to get an estimate, ask about any requirements, and check availability. 

To find cat boarding near you, follow these steps: 

1. Do some local research. I recommend doing a Google search for “cat boarding in (your city)” and starting there. You’ll be able to see where nearby cat boarding facilities are on the map, read reviews from previous customers, and find links to businesses’ websites. 
2. Post on social media. There’s a Facebook group for nearly every town, city, and community now. You can join local Facebook groups and post as an anonymous member to ask for recommendations on cat boarding in the area. This is a great way to get first-hand reviews while still protecting your privacy.
3. Check availability & gather quotes. Once you’ve found some cat boarding facilities online or through local recommendations, visit their websites and/or call them. I like calling businesses and talking to someone directly to ask about availability and pricing. Get quotes from a few nearby places if possible before making your decision.
4. Visit in person if you can. Once you have an idea of what’s available in your area and for what price, take the time to visit your top choices in person if possible. You’ll feel better knowing where your cat is going to be staying. Plus, this will give you a chance to compare the rooms, meet the staff, and get an idea of where to go when it’s time to drop off your cat.
5. Make a reservation. Once you’ve made your decision on the best place to board your cat, make a reservation. Some facilities may prefer that you do this over the phone or online. Either way, make your reservation as early as possible to ensure availability during your trip. 

Should You Board Your Cat or Leave Them at Home?

Between staying at home and going to a boarding facility, your cat would likely prefer to stay at home. As long as your home is safe and secure, it’s generally fine to leave your cat at home while you go out for a day or if you’re staying somewhere overnight. 

However, if you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time, you’ll either need someone to stop in and check on your pet or you’ll need to consider boarding. 

In the past, I’ve used Rover to hire someone to stop in and check on my cats every day or two when I’ve gone on vacation. If you’re thinking about leaving your cat at home but don’t have friends or family nearby that can stop in and check on them, Rover is a great way to find a trustworthy person in the area.

In my experience, the daily cost is about the same between hiring someone to check on your cat in your house and boarding a cat overnight.

Of course, if you board your cat, they’ll be around more people and other pets than they would be at home. If your cat is very socialized, this may not be a big issue. But if your cat is more skittish, they’ll likely be thankful to hang out at home unbothered aside from the occasional drop-in visit. 

Ultimately, taking your cat to a boarding facility may be a little stressful for them, especially if they aren’t very social. However, cat boarding does offer full-time care while you’re gone, which is especially great for cats with medical needs.

Final Thoughts

If you’re getting ready to take a trip, take the time to figure out cat care early. Many boarding facilities require up-to-date vaccinations and some even require prior examinations before your cat can stay. 

Among the 30 different cat boarding facilities I checked out across 10 different U.S. cities, I found that it costs around $31 per night on average to board your cat in a standard room. Of course, the price varied depending on location. 

In addition to location, several other factors impact how much it costs to board your cat including any initial required exams and vaccinations, how many cats you’re boarding, the type of room you choose for your cat, if you’re traveling during a holiday, if your cat has any medical needs and more. 

In order to figure out exactly how much it’ll cost to board your cat, I recommend searching online or asking for recommendations for nearby cat boarding facilities. Then, call several places in the area to get a quote and check availability. If you’re able to visit the facilities in person before you make a reservation, go check them out. Then, once you’ve made your decision, book your cat’s stay as soon as possible!

Alternatively, you can always leave your cat at home. If you can get a friend or family member to drop in and check on your cat throughout your trip instead, you’ll save quite a bit of money. Plus, your cat will likely be thrilled to stay home. 

More Travel Tabby Content To Help You Prepare For Your Upcoming Trip:

• Taking Your Cat to a Friend’s House: What You Need To Know
• 8 Best Cat Carriers With Litter Box for Traveling Cats
• Can You Take Your Cat to Your Parents’ House?