It’s mid-October and you’ve just started ringing around catteries to book Christmas cat care in Christchurch. First one’s full. Second one’s full. Third one’s full. By the fifth call, you’re starting to panic a bit.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I had a meet and greet just this week with two lovely ladies who’d been frantically calling every cattery in Christchurch. Every single one was booked solid for Christmas week.
Here’s what I told them, and what might actually be good news for your cat: catteries being full might have just saved you from a decision that wasn’t ideal anyway.
Why Catteries Fill Up So Fast for Christmas
Before we talk about an alternative to catteries in Christchurch, let’s understand why this happens every year. Professional catteries in Christchurch book out eight to ten weeks in advance for the Christmas period. That’s not them being difficult, it’s just capacity. Good catteries can only take a certain number of cats because they’re providing proper individual care and attention.
The Christmas and New Year period is also when most Kiwis travel. Everyone’s trying to book the same two weeks, which creates this annual scramble. Add to that the fact that many casual pet sitters are away themselves during the holidays, and you’ve got a perfect storm of limited availability.
So if you’re reading this in mid-October or later and haven’t booked yet, your options are genuinely limited.
When Catteries Work Well (And When They Don’t)
Let me be really clear about something. I’m not anti-cattery. There are some absolutely wonderful boarding facilities in Christchurch run by people who genuinely love cats and provide excellent care.
Some cats do perfectly fine in catteries. Confident, social cats who’ve been to boarding facilities before and seem to enjoy the experience can thrive there. Cats who used to go to catteries with a sibling or companion often settle in well because they have that familiar friend with them.
But here’s where it gets tricky. Many cats find catteries stressful, and you might not realise your cat is one of them until after the fact. Cats are incredibly good at hiding stress, which is actually a survival instinct in the wild. By the time you notice behavioural changes, your cat has been stressed for quite a while.
Cats who tend to struggle most with catteries include:
Timid or naturally anxious cats who find new environments overwhelming. Senior cats with health concerns who need familiar surroundings for comfort. Cats with medical conditions where stress can impact their immune system. Indoor-only cats who’ve never experienced anywhere outside their home territory. Cats who’ve recently lost a companion they used to board with. Single cats who prefer human company to other felines.
If your cat falls into any of these categories, catteries being full might genuinely be a blessing in disguise.
Understanding Why Cats Prefer Home
Cats are territorial creatures in a way that dogs simply aren’t. A dog’s social structure is about the pack, which is why many dogs adapt reasonably well to boarding kennels where they’re around other dogs. A cat’s world revolves around territory and familiar scents.
When you take a cat out of their home environment, you’re not just changing their location. You’re removing every single familiar scent, sound, hiding spot, and routine they rely on for security. Even the nicest cattery with the most caring staff can’t replicate the comfort of home.
Research on feline stress shows that cats in unfamiliar environments experience elevated cortisol levels, which is your body’s stress hormone. This stress response can affect eating habits, litter box behaviour, immune function, and overall wellbeing. Some cats stop eating properly in catteries. Others become withdrawn or aggressive. Many seem fine during boarding but show stress behaviours for days or even weeks after returning home.
The travel itself is also stressful. Most cats hate car rides, and the journey to and from a cattery bookends their stay with anxiety.
What In-Home Cat Sitting Actually Looks Like
If you’ve never used professional in-home cat sitting before, you might be wondering exactly what it involves and whether it’s genuinely as good as boarding.
With professional in-home cat sitting, your cat stays in their own territory with all their familiar smells, sounds, and routines intact. A professional cat sitter visits your home once, twice, or even three times daily depending on your cat’s needs and your preferences.
During each visit, the cat sitter feeds your cat according to their normal schedule, cleans litter trays, provides fresh water, does health checks to make sure everything’s normal, spends time playing or providing companionship, and takes photos to send you so you can see your cat is happy and settled.
For cats who need extra attention or have medical needs, overnight care is also available where the sitter stays in your home from evening until morning, providing company throughout the night and often including a bonus midday visit as well.
Your cat never experiences the stress of travel or unfamiliar environments. They can stick to their normal routines, sleep in their favourite spots, and maintain the sense of security that comes from being in their own territory.
The Practical Benefits You Might Not Have Considered
Beyond your cat’s wellbeing, in-home cat sitting offers some practical advantages that catteries can’t match.
Your home looks lived in while you’re away, which is a significant security benefit during the Christmas period when break-ins tend to increase. The cat sitter can collect mail and packages, water plants, open and close curtains to maintain a lived-in appearance, and generally keep an eye on your property.
If something goes wrong with your home, like a burst pipe or power outage, you’ll know about it immediately rather than returning to a disaster. Your cat sitter is your eyes and ears while you’re away.
There’s also no risk of your cat picking up illnesses from other cats, which can happen in boarding environments despite the best hygiene practices. And you don’t need to stress about getting your cat to the cattery at a specific time or worry about being late for pickup.
What About Cost?
This is usually the first question people ask when comparing catteries to in-home sitting. The honest answer is that professional in-home cat sitting is often comparable in price to good quality catteries, and sometimes even more economical depending on how many visits your cat needs.
A single daily visit for an independent cat typically costs around thirty dollars. If your cat needs twice daily visits for proper care and companionship, you’re looking at around fifty dollars per day. For cats who need overnight care, expect around one hundred to one hundred twenty dollars per night.
Quality catteries in Christchurch generally charge between twenty five and forty dollars per day. At first glance, that might seem cheaper than twice-daily in-home visits. But consider what you’re actually getting.
With a cattery, you’re paying for shared care in a facility. With in-home sitting, you’re paying for individual attention in your cat’s own home, plus home security, mail collection, plant watering, and complete peace of mind. Many people find that the added value of in-home care makes it worth any additional cost.
If you have multiple cats, in-home sitting often works out cheaper because you’re not paying per cat per day. One visit cares for all your cats simultaneously.
How to Find Reliable In-Home Cat Sitting in Christchurch
If catteries are full and you’re now considering in-home cat sitting, here’s what to look for in a professional service.
Insurance is non-negotiable. Professional cat sitters should carry public liability insurance that covers pet care. This protects both your property and your cat if anything unexpected happens.
Look for someone with genuine experience specifically with cats. Dogs and cats are completely different in their needs and behaviours. A good dog walker isn’t automatically a good cat sitter.
GPS tracking and photo updates should be standard, not extras. You should receive confirmation of every single visit with photos showing your cat is happy and well.
Ask about their emergency protocols. What happens if your cat gets sick or injured? Which vet will they use? What happens if they get sick, do they have backup?
A professional cat sitter will want to do a meet and greet before you book. This isn’t just for you to meet them, it’s for them to understand your cat’s personality, routine, and any special needs. Anyone who’s happy to just take your keys without meeting your cat first isn’t providing professional service.
Check references from other cat owners in Christchurch. Actual clients, not just friends and family.
What If I’ve Already Committed to a Cattery (And I’m Having Second Thoughts)?
If you booked a cattery months ago when availability was better and you’re now wondering if you made the right choice, don’t panic.
First, assess whether your cat genuinely needs a different option. If your cat has been to this cattery before and did well, they’ll probably be fine again. If they’ve never been to a cattery and you’re worried, or if they struggled last time, it’s worth reconsidering.
Most reputable catteries will work with you if you need to cancel, especially if you give them notice. Check their cancellation policy. They might even be relieved to have a last-minute spot open up for someone who’s desperately trying to find Christmas care.
If you do cancel, book alternative care immediately. Don’t wait until the last minute hoping something will work out.
The Bottom Line
Catteries being fully booked for Christmas isn’t a crisis, it’s an opportunity to consider what’s actually best for your cat.
Good catteries serve an important purpose and work well for many cats. But if your cat is anxious, elderly, has health concerns, or you’ve simply never felt entirely comfortable with the boarding option, in-home care might be exactly what you’ve been looking for all along.
The most important thing is that your cat receives reliable, professional care that keeps them safe, comfortable, and as stress-free as possible while you’re away. Whether that’s in a cattery or in their own home depends on your individual cat’s needs and personality.
If you’re one of the many Christchurch cat owners currently scrambling for Christmas care, take a breath. You have options, and your cat might actually prefer the one you’re about to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Cat Care Options
Do cats feel abandoned when you board them?
Cats don’t understand the concept of abandonment the way we do, but they absolutely notice when their routine and environment change dramatically. Some cats experience what looks like sadness or withdrawal in boarding situations, though this is more likely stress and anxiety from the unfamiliar environment rather than feeling abandoned. In-home care helps because your cat maintains their normal routine and surroundings, reducing this stress response significantly.
Will my cat be okay in a cattery for two weeks?
Many cats do fine in catteries for two weeks, especially confident cats who’ve been boarded before. However, two weeks is a long time for an anxious or elderly cat in an unfamiliar environment. The longer the stay, the more stress can accumulate. If your cat has never been to a cattery before, a two-week Christmas stay isn’t an ideal first experience. Consider whether in-home care might be less stressful for an extended absence.
Why do I feel guilty about leaving my cat in a cattery?
Guilt about boarding your cat usually comes from knowing, on some level, that your cat would prefer to stay home. That’s your intuition picking up on your cat’s personality and needs. Some cats genuinely don’t mind catteries, in which case you shouldn’t feel guilty at all. But if you’re feeling guilty, it might be because you sense your particular cat would find boarding stressful. Trust that instinct. In-home care often resolves this guilt because you know your cat is comfortable in their own territory.
I feel guilty about boarding my cat, what should I do?
If you’re feeling guilty before you’ve even left, that’s worth paying attention to. Ask yourself why you feel guilty. Is it because your cat is anxious or elderly? Because they struggled last time? Because you know they hate travel? If the answer is yes to any of these, consider whether in-home care is a better option. If catteries are already booked, this might be the perfect opportunity to try in-home sitting instead. The guilt often disappears when you see photo updates of your cat relaxed in their own home.
How do I know if my cat will be stressed in a cattery?
Signs your cat might struggle with boarding include hiding when visitors come over, being anxious about car travel, taking days to settle after moving house, being territorial about their home space, having health issues that stress can aggravate, or being elderly and set in their routines. If your cat shows any of these traits, they’re likely to find catteries stressful. In-home care eliminates most of these stressors by keeping your cat in familiar territory.
What’s better for anxious cats, catteries or in-home sitting?
For anxious cats, in-home sitting is almost always the better choice. Anxious cats rely heavily on familiar environments and routines for security. Taking them to a cattery removes every single familiar element they use to feel safe. In-home care means your anxious cat stays in their secure territory with all their known hiding spots, familiar scents, and normal routines intact. The stress reduction is significant and often visible in photo updates showing relaxed, comfortable cats.
Can professional cat sitters handle medical needs?
Yes, experienced professional cat sitters are trained in medication administration, managing special diets, and monitoring cats with health conditions. They know what to watch for and when to contact a vet. For cats with medical needs, in-home care often provides better monitoring because your cat is the sitter’s only focus during visits, whereas cattery staff are managing multiple cats simultaneously.
Is it too late to book Christmas cat care in Christchurch?
If it’s mid-October or later, most catteries will be fully booked for Christmas. However, professional in-home cat sitters may still have limited availability. Contact local pet sitting services immediately to check. If professional services are full, start asking trusted friends or family now, but make sure they understand the commitment and have a backup plan if something goes wrong. Never leave booking until December, it’s genuinely too late by then.
Need reliable Christmas cat care in Christchurch? VIPets provides professional in-home cat sitting with GPS-tracked visits and photo updates. We still have limited availability for Christmas week. Book cat sitting in Christchurch now.
