What Is a Cat Hotel? How It Differs from Cat Boarding and Kennels

In short: a cat hotel is a boarding facility built only for cats, where each cat (or each family of cats) gets its own private room or villa instead of a cage or a run in a shared kennel block. It is a type of cattery, but with more space, more comfort and more one-on-one attention than traditional cat boarding, and it boards cats only, never dogs.

If you are going away and searching for somewhere for your cat to stay, you will see a lot of different words: pet hotel, cat hotel, cattery, cat boarding, cat runs and cat kennels. They are often used as if they mean the same thing, but the experience your cat gets can be very different. This guide explains each one, so you know what you are actually booking.

What is a pet hotel?

A pet hotel is a boarding facility that looks after animals while their owners are away, with more comfort than a basic kennel. Most pet hotels take dogs and cats, and some take rabbits and birds too. "Hotel" usually means private rooms rather than shared pens, bedding and climate control, and some extra attention such as play time or photo updates.

The catch for cat owners is that most pet hotels are designed around dogs, because dogs make up most of their guests. Cats are often housed in a quieter corner of the same building, but they can still hear, smell and sometimes see the dogs.

What is a cat hotel?

A cat hotel is a pet hotel for cats only. Everything about it, from the size and layout of the rooms to the daily routine, is built around how cats behave and what keeps them calm. A good cat hotel usually has:

Private rooms or villas for each cat or each family of cats, never shared with cats from another home.
Height and hiding places, such as shelves, lofts and baskets, because cats feel safest when they can climb up and look down.
Outdoor or garden access in some rooms, so cats can sunbathe, sniff the grass and watch birds.
Cats only: no dogs are boarded, so there is no kennel noise and no stream of strange dogs coming and going.
Heating for cold nights, which matters on the Highveld in winter.
Daily one-on-one time with people who like cats, and updates for the owner.

At The Cat Hotel in Linden, Johannesburg, for example, every family gets its own indoor or garden villa, and cats from different families never share.

Cat hotel vs cat boarding, cattery, cat runs and kennels

Here is how the common options compare.

Option	What it usually is	Space	Dogs boarded too?	Best for
Cat hotel	A cats-only facility with private rooms or villas, often with gardens, lofts and heating	Room to climb, hide and play	No	Most cats, especially nervous cats, older cats and longer stays
Cattery	Any boarding facility just for cats. Quality ranges from basic pens to hotel-style villas	Varies a lot	Usually no	Cats, if you check the space and the rules first
Cat boarding	The general term for paying someone to keep your cat at their premises while you are away	Varies	Sometimes	Depends entirely on the facility
Cat runs	Narrow enclosures in a row, often concrete or mesh, with a small sleeping box at the back	Small and linear	Sometimes	Short stays for confident cats
Cat kennels	Cages or pens in a facility that mainly boards dogs	Usually the least	Yes	Rarely the best choice for a cat

In short, "cattery" and "cat boarding" describe what a place does, while "cat hotel" describes a standard of care. The words on the sign matter less than what you see when you visit, which is why we always suggest booking a viewing before your cat's first stay.

Are cat kennels a good idea for cats?

For most cats, no. Cats are territorial and easily stressed by new places. In a kennel that mainly boards dogs, they have to cope with barking, unfamiliar smells and a busy, noisy routine on top of being away from home. Stressed cats often stop eating, hide, over-groom or pick up infections such as cat flu more easily.

That is why many cat owners in Johannesburg who search for "cat kennels" end up choosing a cattery or cat hotel instead. A kennel that boards both cats and dogs can only do it well if the two are kept completely apart, in separate buildings out of sight and earshot of each other. That takes a large property, which usually means a drive out of town. If you do consider one, ask to see exactly where the cats are kept.

We started out with traditional concrete runs ourselves and replaced them with villas and gardens. Read why we replaced cages with villas.

What about a pet sitter or a neighbour?

A pet sitter means your cat stays in its own territory, which some cats prefer. It works well for short trips if you trust the sitter and they visit at least twice a day. The downsides are that your cat is alone for most of the day and night, nobody may notice quickly if something goes wrong, and an empty house is not secure.

A cat hotel suits longer trips, moves, renovations, cats on medication and cats who need to be watched closely, because someone is around all day and help is close by at night.

When is a cat hotel the right choice?

You are away for more than a couple of nights.
You are moving house or renovating, and want your cat safely out of the chaos.
Your cat is older, on medication or has a health condition that needs watching.
Your cat is shy or nervous and would not cope with dogs or a shared space.
You have several cats and want them to stay together in one room.

If that sounds like you, take a look at how to choose a cat hotel for a checklist of what to look for.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cat hotel the same as a cattery?

A cat hotel is a type of cattery. Every cat hotel is a cattery, because it only boards cats, but not every cattery offers hotel-style private villas, gardens and daily one-on-one time.

What is the difference between cat boarding and a cat hotel?

Cat boarding is the general service of looking after your cat at a facility while you are away. A cat hotel is a cats-only boarding facility with private rooms or villas, more space and more personal attention than basic cages or runs.

Do cat hotels take dogs?

No. A true cat hotel boards cats only. The Cat Hotel in Johannesburg boards cats only and never takes dogs, and the cattery is self-contained.

Can my cats share a room at a cat hotel?

Cats from the same family can usually share a room or villa. Cats from different families should never share, because it causes stress and spreads illness.

How much does a cat hotel cost in Johannesburg?

Prices depend on the size of the room and how many cats share it. At The Cat Hotel in Linden, rates range from R195 to R470 per villa per night. See the full cat boarding rates.