About Cat Behavior & Care

Cat Care & The Science Behind Our Cat Hotel

Everything we do is rooted in research, cat behavior science and years of hands-on experience with cats.
This page exists to share that foundation with you to understand, not just what we do, but why.

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The Truth About Cat Socialization

Are Cats Really Solitary Animals?

The short answer is NO, and science has been making this case for decades. Cats have a reputation for independence, but that reputation has more to do with human misunderstanding than with how cats actually behave. 

Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior describes domestic cays as “facultatively social”. Meaning they are capable of living both socially and solitarily, with their preference shaped largely by environment and life experience. 

Studies of free-roaming cat colonies consistently show that when food resources allow, cats naturally form social groups with internal structure. Within those groups they:

  • Groom each other
  • Sleep together, even in warm weather, indicating social bonding
  • Cooperatively raise kittens, even when females are unrelated
  • Form associate relationships. Specific cats they choose to spend time with 

Research from Oregon State University found that when given a choice between food, toys, catnip, and human social interaction, the majority of cats choose human interaction. 

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What Research Tells Us About Cats in Boarding Environments

The Kessler & Turner Boarding Study

One of the most important and directly relevant Studies for understanding cat boarding was conducted by Kessler & Turner (1997), published in the Journal of Animal Welfare. The researchers tracked 140 boarding cats over a two-week stay in a boarding cattery, housed under three different conditions: singly, in pairs, and in groups.  Stress levels were measured using a validated, non-invasive Cat Stress Score that evaluates posture, behavior, activity, and vocalization. 

Key findings from this study include:

  • Stress levels declined significantly across all housing types during the two-week stay, with the sharpest reduction in the first few days. Suggesting cats adapt to boarding environments.
  • Cats that had boarded previously adjusted more rapidly than first-time boarders.
  • The housing style did not produce significantly different stress outcomes, provided the environment was appropriate and well-managed.
  • The researchers concluded that appropriate conditions, acclimation support, adequate floor space, group density are the most critical factors in cat welfare during boarding stays. 

Communal vs. Single Housing

A peer-reviewed study published in BMC Veterinary Research (Finka, Ellis, & Stravisky 2014) conducted a comprehensive review of all available research comparing single and multi-cat housing in confined environments including boarding catteries and shelters. Their findings showed the quality and management of the environment consistently mattered more than the housing type itself. However, in well-managed group housing with adequate space, enrichment, and attentive cat selection, the welfare outcomes were not only comparable, but in some measures better than single housing.

A separate study comparing communal vs. discrete-unit housing in shelters (Ottway & Hawkins, 2003) found that communal housing supported positive social behaviors including affirmative interactions between cats and that cats in group settings showed more active, engaged behavior overall., 

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The Science of Cat Stress and Why It Matters in Boarding

Cats are highly sensitive beings

Research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that stressed cats were more likely to develop upper respiratory infections, a finding that all boarding environments must address appropriately. This is why the environment of a cat boarding facility matters so much more than many people realize. A facility that inadvertently creates stress is not just making your cat uncomfortable, it may be actively affecting their health. 

How Pheromones Work — The Silent Language of Cats

Cats communicate largely through chemical signals called pheromones, which are substances secreted from various glands on their body that carry messages to other cats. These signals are invisible and odorless to humans. They are processed through specialized organ called the vomeronasal organ, sending signals directly to the brain’s limbic system, the center of emotional processing. There are different categories of feline pheromones: facial pheromones signal safety and familiarity, while stress pheromones signal alarm. Critically, a stress pheromone released by one cat can elevate anxiety in other nearby cats, even if those cats are not experiencing the stressful event themselves. 

Why We Don't Offer Nail Trims or Grooming

Some boarding facilities offer nail trims and grooming as add-on services. We intentionally do not and the reason is rooted directly in pheromone science. Even a calm appearing nail trim is a stressful experience for a cat. Cats have sweat glands in the paw pads that release stress-signaling pheromones during times of anxiety. These interdigital secretions serve as alarm signals within cat communities, raising the anxiety and stress level of every other cat in the shared space. The same applies to grooming. Protecting the emotional environment of our entire cat community means declining services that might seem convenient but compromise the well-being every cat in our care. 

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What this means for your cat!

The facts above are important and is the reason we do communal boarding. Socialization is so important for well-being and there is nothing like watching a cat blossom to a new, more well-rounded level of health. We couldn’t imagine caring for your cat any other way. 

A communal cat setting can:

  • increase confidence and boost mood
  • harbor and strengthen socialization skills
  • help reinforce positive interactions for shyer cats
  • provide mental and physical stimulation that cats need and crave

Our approach allows for:

  • cats to acclimate in their own way and own time into our community
  • introduction to other cats only when they are ready
  • feeling safe away from home
  • socialization with cats along with humans

Would you like to board with us?

If so, click the button and fill out our reservation request form and we will call you within 24 hours, usually the same day!

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