Cat Care: It’s Not an Alternative Revenue Source – It’s Cat Care!

I am fortunate to attend several pet care industry conferences a year.   Since the pet care industry (overnight care and day care) is currently dominated by dog care, most of these conferences focus on dogs.  That said, there is usually a panel discussion or presentation on cats that starts with the premise that cats are great “alternative revenue source” or “additional service to consider.”  After 15 plus years of watching Cat Safari, I must tell you I am offended by these conversations.  But I’m not the only one; check out this perspective from Captain and Kip, Pet Camp’s resident experts in all things feline-friendly:

“Hey there, fellow cat (or human who understands the feline way)! If you’re anything like us, you know that we cats have our own way of doing things, and that means we need a special kind of place when our humans are away. Not just any pet care facility will do—especially not those that treat us like an “extra service” for extra cash. Oh no, we need a place designed specifically for us, with humans who understand what makes us tick and who care about our comfort, not just their bottom line.

Let’s talk about the basics. We’re not dogs, and we don’t thrive in the same environments as dogs. Dogs are cool in their own way, but they’re loud, energetic, and often all over the place. We, on the other hand, are calm, composed, and have a certain standard of living we’d like to maintain, thank you very much. That means that if a facility has loud barking and crowded spaces, it’s just not going to cut it. A cat-focused place will have separate, cozy spaces just for us, designed to feel safe and familiar, so we don’t have to deal with all the noise and chaos that comes with a dog-centric environment.

Then there’s the question of our social needs. Sure, some of us are a bit cuddlier than others, but we all value our independence and personal space. A good cat care facility knows this and doesn’t force interaction on us. They’ll offer us fun things to do on our own terms—places to climb, scratch, hide, and explore. They understand that sometimes, we just want to watch the world from our perch and do things on our schedule.

And don’t even get us started on cleanliness! We are meticulous groomers, and a messy, smelly environment just won’t work for us. A true cat-focused facility is spotless, with none of those overpowering scents that stress us out. They keep things clean in a way that respects our sensitive noses. Plus, they’re usually better at keeping an eye on health issues that can pop up for us, like urinary problems or tummy troubles. We’re delicate creatures, and it takes someone who knows us well to spot those slight changes in our behavior that might mean we need some extra care.

Another thing we love about a cat-specific facility is the staff. Humans trained in feline behavior can tell when we’re happy, stressed, or just need some alone time. They respect our boundaries and know how to read our body language—a swish of the tail, a flick of the ear, that look that says, “I’m fine on my own, thanks.” It’s a relief to be around humans who get it!

So, if you’re looking for a place to leave your feline familiar when you go on your trips, find a facility that’s all about us cats. He or she wants a place where they’re more than just a side gig, where the caretakers actually care about their comfort and happiness. Because when you come back, you’ll find them content, relaxed, and just as fabulous as ever. And trust us, that makes everyone’s life a little easier.”

There you have it, straight from the experts themselves! Take it from Captain and Kip: at other pet care facilities cat care is an afterthought, but at Cat Safari, it is the only thought.

Thanks for reading.

Pet Care Cat Safari has been proving award winning care for San Francisco’s cats since 1997.  Located in Presidio Heights and serving cats from all over the San Francisco Bay Area, at Cat Safari we know that cats deserve more than being an after thought to a dog-centric pet care facility.  Stop over and visit or give is a call with any cat questions.