The complete owner's guide to sending your cat off prepared, comfortable, and with everything they actually need.
5 minutes | Cat Boarding
First-time boarders often show up with a suitcase’s worth of cat gear. Seasoned ones arrive with a tote bag. Both are fine. But after years of welcoming cats through our doors, we’ve got a pretty clear picture of what actually helps and what just takes up space in the suite.
This is that list.
These aren't suggestions. Every cat boarding at Gillitts needs these, without exception.
FVRCP certificate
This covers feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Your cat must be up to date before arriving. No certificate, no boarding.
Rabies vaccination record
Required for all boarding cats. Bring the original certificate or a clear photo of it. We keep a copy on file.
Vaccination requirements protect every cat in our care, including yours. A single unvaccinated cat can put an entire facility at risk. We check records on arrival, a vet letter or elderly cats that have previous vaccinations are the only exceptions.
This is the one most owners underestimate. Switching food abruptly, even to a premium brand, can cause digestive upset, appetite loss, and a very unimpressed cat. We feed your cat exactly what they eat at home.
Enough food for the full stay, plus two extra days
Delays happen. Flights get pushed. Always bring a buffer. Dry food can be sent in a sealed container or ziplock. Wet food should be portioned by meal if possible.
Feeding instructions
How much, how often, wet or dry or both. Some cats graze, others eat set meals. Write it down so we follow your cat’s actual routine, not a guess.
Their usual treats, if they have them
Treats are useful tools for building trust with new people. If your cat has a favourite, bring a small supply and let us know what they respond to.
Cats use scent to map their world. When everything smells unfamiliar, even a beautifully comfortable suite can feel unsettling. A few items from home can change that completely.
A worn blanket or item of clothing
The single most effective comfort item you can bring. It should smell like you and like home. Wash it before packing and you’ve defeated the entire purpose. Send it unwashed.
Their own bedding, if they have a strong attachment to it
Not essential for every cat, but for a particularly anxious or shy cat, their own bed or blanket can significantly speed up the settling-in process.
One or two favourite toys
Keep it simple. A feather wand, a crinkle ball, a well-loved toy mouse. Familiar objects help, especially during the first day or two when everything else is new.
Cats have up to 200 million scent receptors, compared to around 5 million in humans. Familiar smells are genuinely calming for them on a neurological level, not just a nice extra. It’s one of the most evidence-backed things you can do to reduce boarding stress.
If your cat takes medication, is on a prescription diet, or has any ongoing health conditions, we need to know before they arrive. Not on the day.
All medications in original packaging
Clearly labelled with your cat’s name, the medication name, dose, and frequency. If a pharmacist’s label is peeling off, stick it down or write it out separately. Guessing at doses is not something we do.
Administration notes
Does it go in food? In a pill pocket? In a specific flavour of treat? At a specific time of day? Tell us everything. We’ve given tablets to cats who needed four people and a prayer to medicate, and cats who take them voluntarily. We adapt, but we need the context.
Updated vet’s contact details
If your vet has changed after filling in the booking form give us a heads up. In an emergency, we want to be able to call your regular vet who already knows your cat’s history, not start from scratch.
Packing light is genuinely better. Here are the things that don't help, and in some cases, actively cause problems.
Strong-smelling cleaning products or air fresheners
Cats are highly sensitive to synthetic fragrances. They can cause stress and respiratory irritation. Leave the purfume at home.
A new or unfamiliar toy you bought especially for boarding
Well-intentioned, but it smells of nothing your cat recognises. Familiar objects are more comforting than new ones.
Backpack carriers
Good for short distances on foot. Not suited for car travel or anxious cats who need to feel enclosed and secure rather than exposed.
Catnip in large quantities
A small amount is fine. A bag of the stuff can overexcite anxious cats and disrupt their ability to settle. A little goes a long way.
Print this out, stick it on your fridge, and tick it off the day before drop-off.
Reference
Image by Batuhan Küçükdemir
