New Guest Information for Your Cat’s First Stay
Planning your cat’s first stay at Kitty Cottage?
We know leaving your cat somewhere new can come with plenty of questions. What should you bring? What information do we need? Should your cat bring their own food? What happens at check-in? And how can you help them feel more comfortable while you’re away?
This page is designed to make preparing for your first visit as simple as possible.
Kitty Cottage is a cat-only boarding facility in Franklin, Massachusetts, and everything about our environment is centered around feline guests. Before your cat arrives, we take time to learn about their health, routines, personality, feeding preferences, medications, and anything else that can help us provide thoughtful, individualized care.
The more we know about your cat before their stay, the better prepared we can be to help them settle in.
If you haven’t requested your dates yet, start by completing our Request a Stay form.
Before Your Cat’s First Boarding Stay
Every cat is different.
Some cats walk into a new environment ready to investigate everything immediately. Others prefer to observe from a comfortable spot until they decide the new place is safe.
Both reactions are completely normal.
Before your cat stays with us, think about the routines and preferences that make them comfortable at home.
Helpful information includes:
You’ll have an opportunity to share important information when requesting your stay and during check-in.
Our goal is not to make every cat follow exactly the same routine. We want to understand your cat’s normal habits so we can make their boarding experience as familiar and comfortable as possible.
To see where your cat will be staying, visit our Cat Boarding Accommodations page.
New Guest Boarding Checklist
Preparing a few things ahead of time can make your cat’s arrival much easier.
Before check-in, please make sure you have the following information and items ready.
Required Veterinary Documentation
Kitty Cottage requires current veterinary documentation for required vaccinations and other health standards.
Please do not wait until the day of arrival to determine whether your cat meets the requirements.
Review our complete Health & Safety Requirements before your scheduled boarding dates so you have enough time to contact your veterinarian if necessary.
Emergency Contact Information
We need reliable contact information in case we need to reach you while you’re away.
Please provide:
- Your mobile phone number
- Another number where you can be reached if appropriate
- Travel or itinerary information when relevant
- A local emergency contact
- Your veterinarian’s name and phone number
If your regular veterinarian cannot be reached during an emergency, Kitty Cottage has procedures in place for obtaining emergency veterinary care.
You can read more on our Health & Safety page.
Your Cat’s Food
We encourage you to provide your cat’s regular food so we can maintain their normal diet while they are away from home.
Changing foods during an already unfamiliar experience can be disruptive for some cats, particularly those with sensitive stomachs, prescription diets, food allergies, or strong preferences.
Please provide clear feeding instructions, including:
- Brand and type of food
- Wet or dry food
- Portion size
- Number of meals per day
- Normal feeding times
- Special preparation instructions
- Supplements when applicable
If your cat follows a prescription or medically necessary diet, make sure we know before their stay.
Medications
If your cat takes medication, bring enough for their entire stay along with complete instructions.
Please tell us:
- Medication name
- Dosage
- Administration method
- Time or frequency
- Any special handling instructions
- What the medication is treating
- Your veterinarian’s instructions when applicable
Kitty Cottage caregivers are experienced with many medication routines.
Additional medication fees may apply depending on the type and frequency of treatment. Visit our Cat Boarding Rates page for current pricing.
What Should I Bring for Cat Boarding?
You don’t need to pack everything your cat owns.
Kitty Cottage provides the basic necessities your cat needs during their stay, including comfortable accommodations, bedding, litter, housekeeping, daily care, and enrichment.
There are, however, a few things we encourage families to bring.
Your Cat’s Regular Food
Maintaining your cat’s normal diet can help keep their routine consistent during boarding. Pack enough food for the entire stay, plus a little extra in case travel plans change.
Required Medications
Bring all medications your cat will need during their stay along with clear administration instructions.
A Familiar Comfort Item
Cats rely heavily on scent, and something that smells like home can be reassuring in a new environment. You’re welcome to bring an appropriate comfort item such as:
- • A favorite blanket
- • A small pillow
- • A favorite toy
- • A T-shirt or other safe fabric item that smells like home
If you bring a comfort item specifically for the familiar scent, there’s no need to wash it immediately before boarding.
Your Cat’s Carrier
Your cat should arrive in a secure carrier suitable for safe transportation. A familiar carrier can also make the trip to and from Kitty Cottage safer and less stressful.
What You Don’t Need to Bring
There’s no need to pack your cat’s entire home.
Kitty Cottage provides the everyday items needed for boarding, including:
- Comfortable boarding accommodations
- Bedding
- Litter
- Litter boxes
- Daily housekeeping
- Toys and enrichment
- Individual attention
- Fresh water
- Plenty of TLC
If you’re unsure whether a particular item is appropriate to bring, just ask us before check-in.
Preparing Your Cat for Boarding
Cats often respond well to predictability.
While there’s no way to make boarding feel exactly like home, a few simple steps can help make the transition easier.
Keep Their Routine Normal Before the Stay
Try to keep your cat’s meals and daily routine as normal as possible in the days leading up to boarding. There’s generally no need to make major changes just because a trip is coming.
Leave the Carrier Out Ahead of Time
If your cat only sees their carrier immediately before a veterinary visit or boarding stay, the carrier itself can become a source of stress.
Consider leaving it somewhere accessible before the trip with the door open.
Adding familiar bedding or treats can help make the carrier feel less unusual.
Avoid Last-Minute Food Changes
Unless your veterinarian recommends otherwise, keeping your cat on their regular diet before and during boarding can help prevent unnecessary digestive upset.
Tell Us About Their Personality
A shy cat and an outgoing cat may need very different introductions to a new environment.
Let us know whether your cat:
There’s no such thing as giving us too much useful information about your cat.
Your Cat’s Check-In Appointment
Check-in at Kitty Cottage is handled by appointment.
Scheduling arrivals allows our caregivers to focus on each incoming guest and family without rushing.
During check-in, we’ll review the information needed to provide appropriate care throughout your cat’s stay.
This may include:
Appointment-based check-in also gives your cat time to arrive and become settled without the front office becoming overly busy.
If you need to change your scheduled arrival time, please contact Kitty Cottage as early as possible.
Picking Up Your Cat
Check-out is also scheduled by appointment.
This gives our caregivers time to prepare your cat and make sure the belongings they arrived with are ready to go home.
When you pick up your cat, make sure you leave with:
- • Your cat
- • Their carrier
- • Remaining food
- • Medications
- • Favorite toys or bedding
- • Any other items brought from home
Some cats immediately return to their normal home routine after boarding.
Others may want extra sleep, attention, food, or quiet time when they get home.
Every cat is different.
If you ever have questions about your cat’s stay or behavior after boarding, feel free to contact us.
Helping Your Cat Settle In
Once your cat arrives, our caregivers give them time to adjust.
Some cats immediately begin exploring their condo.
Others may prefer to stay tucked into a comfortable spot while they observe their surroundings.
We don’t expect every new guest to be ready to play immediately.
Instead, we pay attention to body language and behavior and allow cats to become comfortable at their own pace.
As your cat settles in, our caregivers can begin learning what they enjoy.
That might mean:
For a closer look at the boarding environment and daily experience, visit our Accommodations page.
First-Time Boarding for Senior Cats
Senior cats often have established routines and may have additional physical or medical needs.
Before boarding a senior cat, tell us about:
We can adjust care and accommodations when appropriate to help your senior guest remain comfortable.
If your cat has medical concerns, please also review our Health & Safety page before requesting a stay.
Health Requirements for New Guests
Every Kitty Cottage guest must meet our current health and vaccination requirements before boarding.
These requirements are designed to help protect your cat and the other feline guests staying with us.
Requirements include veterinary documentation, current vaccinations based on your cat’s lifestyle, parasite prevention, and other health standards.
Because individual requirements can vary, we intentionally keep the complete policy on one dedicated page rather than duplicating it here.
Please review our Health & Safety Requirements before your cat’s first stay.
If you’re unsure whether your documentation meets our current requirements, contact us before check-in.
First-Time Boarding for Shy Cats
If your cat is shy, nervous around unfamiliar people, or has never boarded before, tell us.
Being reserved does not automatically mean a cat won’t do well in boarding.
It simply means we may need to approach them differently.
Our caregivers understand that some cats need more time and personal space before interacting.
Instead of forcing attention, we allow shy guests to observe and adjust while continuing to monitor their eating, litter habits, behavior, and overall well-being.
Bringing a familiar item from home can also be particularly helpful for cats who take longer to settle in.
Boarding a Cat Who Takes Medication
Medication needs are common, especially among senior cats and cats managing chronic conditions.
Kitty Cottage caregivers can accommodate many common medication routines.
Depending on your cat’s needs, we may be able to administer:
Please discuss all medication requirements with us before your cat’s stay.
We want to make sure we understand what your cat needs and that the required care can be safely accommodated.
Current medication charges are listed on our Rates page.
What Happens If My Cat Needs Veterinary Care?
We hope your cat never needs veterinary attention while staying with us.
However, preparing for unexpected situations is an important part of responsible boarding.
Before your cat stays at Kitty Cottage, we keep your veterinarian’s contact information and relevant medical information on file.
We also require authorization regarding medical decisions if your cat needs care while you’re away.
If a concern develops, our first step is generally to contact you and your veterinarian.
If emergency veterinary care is necessary and your regular veterinarian is unavailable, Kitty Cottage has procedures in place for obtaining emergency treatment.
For complete details, review our Health & Safety page.
Ready for Your Cat’s First Stay at Kitty Cottage?
A little preparation can make your cat’s first boarding experience easier for everyone.
Before arrival:
- Review our Health & Safety Requirements
- Pack your cat’s normal food
- Prepare any medications and instructions
- Gather required veterinary documentation
- Provide your veterinarian and emergency contact information
- Choose an appropriate comfort item from home
- Tell us everything that may help us understand your cat
Most importantly, don’t hesitate to ask questions.
We want you to feel confident about where your cat will be staying and what their care will look like while you’re away.
Take a look at our Cat Boarding Accommodations, review our current Rates, or contact us to request your cat’s first stay.
Contact Kitty Cottage
Have a question about your cat’s first visit, health documentation, medications, food, or check-in?
Contact our team before your stay.
Kitty Cottage
140 Wachusett Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: (508) 528-6456
Email: kc@kittycottagefranklin.com
Office Hours
- Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM–6:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM–12:30 PM and 2:30 PM–6:30 PM
Check-in and check-out are by appointment.