Cats in boarding facilities experience stress from unfamiliar environments, proximity to other cats, and the absence of their home territory, with facility design and management quality determining the degree of welfare compromise.
Cat boarding stress is frequently underestimated because cats often hide distress behind reduced activity rather than obvious distress behaviors. Cortisol levels in boarded cats are significantly elevated compared to home values, particularly in the first days. Facility design that prevents constant visual and olfactory exposure to other cats, combined with familiar scent items, reduces boarding stress substantially. For highly territorial cats, in-home care is the welfare-superior alternative.