At Under
One Woof, we’re passionate about doggy daycare and take it seriously. But
that’s not to say we don’t love cats too. Our feline friends are a big part of
our lives, and they’re one of the most popular animals in households throughout
America. Little wonder, then, that many people online pose a simple question:
why are dog boarding services more common?
In this
article, we’re going to explore that question and identify five reasons dog
boarding homes might be a more common sight.
However,
let’s start with an essential caveat…
…Cat
boarding homes – catteries – do exist
There are
indeed cat boarding homes – catteries – that you can take your feline to, and
these often provide excellent expertise while serving a very real purpose.
That said,
if you’re noticing many more dog boarding facilities, there might be a few
simple explanations why…
#1: Cats
are more solitary animals, and can be left at home more easily
It’s no
secret that cats can get along in their own company, and don’t mind being on
their own for extended periods of time.
By contrast, dogs need company and take very real strain from solitude.
Look no
further than the way catteries and dog boarding homes work: in the latter, dogs
are given ample time to play together, while in the former, cats are largely
kept segregated.
#2: Cats
are more likely to find a change in environment stressful
All animals will react to a change in environment, but cats seem to be especially prone to anxiety and might take longer to reorient themselves, with greater long-term effects to boot.
#3: Dogs
need more supervision
Dog boarding is often more essential for the simple fact that a dog needs to be walked daily, whereas a cat can be left to its own devices. Cats are also very good at climbing and can burn excess energy in a more confined space.
#4: Catteries
need to be more complex, and are thus harder to design and build
Cats,
thanks to their climbing abilities, are expert escape artists. As such,
catteries are often more complicated to build and so this might be a
contributing factor to the number of catteries you see in circulation.
#5: Cats
are more likely to get ill
Foreign dogs can play in close proximity with relative safety, but cats are more likely to pick up respiratory diseases from one another, so an element of segregation is important for this reason. All told, owners will often opt to keep their cat at home and have someone visit the house to keep the animal fed for all these reasons and more.
