When you have a pet, you have certain responsibilities to perform. You should take the best possible care of your pets. However, when you are travelling, it’s not possible to take your pet every time. In such cases, choosing a small animal boarding service is the only option.
If you are keeping your pet in a boarding facility for the first time, your pet is likely to feel stressed. However, you can make your furry friend feel comfortable with certain considerations.
Minimising Pet Stress Before Boarding: Steps to Take
There are a few considerations that you can adopt to decrease your pet’s stress before putting them in a boarding facility:
- Select the Right Facility: Being the owner, you know your pet better than anyone else. To be precise, you know about the settings they prefer that will help you select a suitable boarding environment. Boarding options can range from tiny, intimate settings to bigger spaces. Some provide basic but adequate accommodations, while others offer lavish facilities for pets. You should determine whether your pet prefers one-on-one attention during walks and playing or to interact with other animals.
- Do a Trial Run: Several boarding services welcome owners to bring their animals with them for a visit prior to their stay. You can schedule your pet’s stay for half a day or one night so that they can become accustomed to the sounds, sights, and smells.
- Make the Surroundings Familiar: Being introduced to a new environment can be stressful for your pet. Make your pet’s surroundings familiar so that they feel comfortable. You can bring along your pet’s favourite toy, bedding, or snacks. Anything with the feel or smell of your home will make your pet relaxed during the stay.
- Open Lines of Communication: Because you spend so much time with your pets, you learn things about them that others do not. Knowing your pet’s interests, eating routine, and phobias allows boarding professionals to gain the necessary insights.
So, when you come to drop off your furry friend, take the time to inform the boarding staff of everything that you think will make your pet feel at ease.
Pet boarding doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By selecting the right facility, doing a trial run, and making the surroundings familiar, you can minimise your pet’s stress levels significantly.
Harley Wood Cattery offers high-quality small animal boarding services while providing relaxation and comfort to every pet. Small animals like cats, rabbits, and other pets can experience our wonderful surroundings under expert supervision.