Companion Animal Boarding Stress Management

Boarding facilities create stress for many companion animals and benefit from enrichment and communication programs.

Key Facts

Separation from owners and novel environments cause acute stress in many boarding animals
Cats show more prolonged stress responses in boarding environments than dogs on average
Familiar items — bedding, toys — reduce stress responses in newly boarded animals
Group play programs in dog boarding improve welfare but require careful assessment for compatibility
Stay-at-home pet sitters and in-home boarding reduce environmental novelty stress for many animals

Welfare Considerations

Boarding stress is a welfare concern that affects millions of companion animals whose owners travel. The combination of owner separation, novel smells and sounds, unfamiliar caregivers, and proximity to other animals creates a multi-stressor environment that taxes the adaptive capacity of many animals. For cats especially, boarding stress can suppress immune function and trigger disease. Individual assessment of each animals stress tolerance and welfare needs — combined with enrichment, familiar items, and appropriate social management — can substantially reduce boarding welfare costs. Owners who communicate their animals behavioral needs to boarding facilities improve outcomes.

What You Can Do

Prepare your animal for boarding through short practice stays before long absences
Bring familiar bedding and toys to boarding facilities to provide olfactory comfort
Communicate your animals specific needs and triggers to boarding staff
Consider in-home pet sitting as a lower-stress alternative for some animals
Ask boarding facilities about their stress assessment and enrichment programs