cat sitter vs cattery: which is better for your cat?
For most cats, a cat sitter who visits your home is less stressful than a cattery. Cats are territorial creatures of habit, and staying put keeps their smells, hiding spots and routine intact. A cattery can still be the better choice for some cats, for example one who needs round-the-clock supervision, or when no one can reliably visit your home.
If you're weighing up cat sitter vs cattery for your next trip, here's how they compare, honestly, from a team that only does cats.
What's the difference between a cat sitter and a cattery?
A cat sitter comes to your home while you're away. They feed your cat, clean the litter tray, give any medication, check on them and keep them company. Your cat stays in the place they know best.
A cattery (also called cat boarding) is where your cat goes to stay while you're away. Cats usually have their own pen or chalet, with staff feeding and checking on them through the day. In the UK, catteries must be licensed by the local council.
| Cat sitter (home visits) | Cattery | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your cat stays | At home, in familiar territory | In a pen or chalet away from home |
| Stress | Usually lower: no travel, no new smells or neighbours | Can be higher, especially for shy or older cats |
| Routine | Kept as close to normal as possible | Fits the cattery's schedule |
| Travel | None | Car journey there and back |
| Other cats | None, unless you have more than one | Other cats nearby, though usually not in direct contact |
| Medication | Given at home on your schedule | Many catteries can give it; check first |
| Supervision | During visits only | Staff on site through the day |
| Vaccinations | Not required for the sitter to visit | Up-to-date vaccinations usually required |
| Your home | Checked on while you're away | Empty |
| Best for | Most cats, especially nervous, older or multi-cat homes | Cats needing near-constant supervision, or when home visits aren't possible |
Are catteries stressful for cats?
They can be, even good ones. Cats are highly territorial and feel safest in a place they know. A cattery means a car journey, new smells, new sounds and other cats nearby, all at once. As Petplan puts it, "even the most comfortable and caring catteries can be stressful for some cats."
How much it affects your cat depends on their personality. A confident, sociable cat may settle in within a day. A shy or anxious cat may hide, stop eating or come home unsettled.
A cat sitter avoids most of this. Your cat keeps their own bed, their own window and their own routine. The only new thing is the person who visits.
How much does a cat sitter cost compared to a cattery in London?
In and around London, most catteries charge from about £15 to £25 per night for one cat, with premium cat hotels at £35 or more (Compare Cattery Prices). A cat sitter typically costs about £15 to £25 for a standard 30-minute visit, and up to £35 or more for an hour (Airtasker). Both usually charge more over summer and Christmas, so it's worth booking early.
One thing the nightly rate doesn't show: very few catteries are actually in central London. Most are in outer boroughs or just beyond the M25, so a cattery stay usually means a drive out and back, with the time, fuel or taxi fare that comes with it. For many cats, that car journey is stressful in itself, before they've even arrived.
The comparison isn't always straightforward:
One cat, one visit a day: a sitter is often similar to, or cheaper than, a cattery.
Two or more cats: a sitter usually works out cheaper, because catteries tend to charge per cat while a visit covers everyone at home.
Two visits a day: a sitter can cost more than a cattery, but your cat stays at home.
Hidden extras: catteries may charge for medication, and you'll need up-to-date vaccinations. With a sitter there's no travel to factor in.
How often should a cat sitter visit?
Most healthy adult cats do well with one visit a day. Many owners choose two visits a day for:
kittens and senior cats
cats on medication at set times
nervous cats who do better with more company
cats who eat several small meals rather than one or two
A good visit isn't just a refill of the food bowl. It should include fresh water, a clean litter tray, a check that your cat is eating and behaving normally, and some time together, whether that's play, a chat or just sitting nearby while they decide whether to come out.
When is a cattery the better choice?
We're a cat sitting company, but we'd rather you made the right call for your cat. A cattery can be the better option when:
Your cat needs close supervision through the day, for example after surgery or with a condition that needs regular monitoring.
Your cat is a known escape artist and you're worried about doors being opened.
No one can reliably get into your home, or there's building work or other disruption going on.
You're away for a long time and your cat genuinely enjoys company and new places (some do).
If you go with a cattery, visit it first, check its licence, and bring something that smells of home, like a blanket or a worn T-shirt.
How do you know your cat is OK while you're away?
This is the worry most owners have with a sitter: you're not there, so how do you know the visit actually happened?
Whatever you choose, ask for regular updates and photos. With nestr, it's built in. You set a checklist for each visit (fed, water topped up, litter cleaned, meds given), and the sitter ticks off each item with a timestamped photo. The sitter is only paid once the check-in is complete, so you're never left wondering.
It's the bit of cat sitting that's always relied on trust and the occasional "all good!" text. We think you deserve better than that.
Why we think home is usually best
From Philippa, founder of nestr
I've lived with cats my whole life, and the one who taught me most about this was Paddi.
I adopted Paddi from Battersea. She'd been given up after ten years in her first home, and she came to me with bad separation anxiety. I worked my life around her as much as I could, and I was at home with her most of the time.
Then Christmas came. I really wanted to go home, but I couldn't take her with me, as we already had a cat there. I couldn't find a single sitter available over the holidays, so a cattery felt like my only option.
We drove 40 minutes out of London. The only pens left were outdoor ones, and Paddi was an indoor cat. There were cats either side of her, meowing loudly. I could already tell she was scared and unhappy, and I cried as I left her.
While I was away, I didn't hear much from the cattery, so I rang every morning and every evening. Each time they said she was fine, but maybe not eating very much. I couldn't stand it. After three days, I went back and picked her up early. I lost the money I'd paid and had less time at home than I'd hoped, but I knew it was the right call.
I want to be clear: this isn't a criticism of that cattery. They were doing their best, and plenty of cats cope well with a cattery stay. It was a personal decision, based on me and my cat, and Paddi just wasn't one of those cats. Nothing could replace her own home.
That Christmas is a big part of why nestr exists. If I'd found a sitter, Paddi could have stayed somewhere she felt safe, and a photo at every visit would have told me what those phone calls couldn't.
Read more about me and my cats.
Cat sitter or cattery: quick answers
Do cats prefer to stay at home? Most do. Cats are territorial and attached to their surroundings, so staying at home is usually less stressful than moving somewhere new.
Is it cruel to put a cat in a cattery? No. A good, licensed cattery is a safe option, and some cats settle well. It's just more of a change than most cats would choose.
Can I leave my cat alone for a weekend? It's not recommended to leave a cat without anyone checking in. Even if food and water last, someone should check they're well and the litter is clean at least once a day.
What should I leave for my cat sitter? Food and treats, your vet's details, an emergency contact, medication instructions, and notes on your cat's habits and favourite hiding spots.
Is a cat sitter good for a nervous cat? Usually, yes. Staying at home means fewer changes, and a patient sitter will let a shy cat come to them in their own time.