30/06/2026
Every Cat Parent Should Think About This Before Traveling.
**Today, I came across a Facebook post** where someone was offering an in-home cat sitting service in Kolkata, Barrackpore, and New Town. The service includes visiting the owner's home, feeding the cats, cleaning their litter boxes, and taking care of their basic needs while the owners are away. I truly appreciate this initiative, and I believe it can be a very helpful service for many cat parents.
However, as someone who has been caring for cats for many years and has been running a cat crèche since 2021, I couldn't help but think about one important aspect.
These days, we are seeing more cases where even perfectly healthy indoor cats suddenly become unwell. Many cat parents leave for work after seeing their cats healthy in the morning, only to return home and find them lethargic, running a fever, or showing signs of illness. In those situations, they can immediately take their cat to a veterinarian.
But what happens if a cat becomes sick after the caregiver has already visited, fed the cat, and left?
Another important point is that when cats feel unwell, they naturally isolate themselves. They often hide and avoid contact. Friendly and social cats may allow an unfamiliar person to approach them, but shy, reserved, or introverted cats usually will not. In an emergency, would they allow a stranger to catch them and take them to a veterinary clinic? That is something every cat parent should think about.
This is one of the reasons why, at our cat crèche, every cat is provided with its own individual enclosure, food bowls, and litter tray. Nothing is shared. This allows us to closely monitor each cat throughout the day—whether they are eating properly, using the litter box normally, drinking enough water, or showing any changes in their behavior.
Years of experience teach you to recognize the subtle signs that a cat may not be feeling well. When we notice something unusual, we can immediately take the necessary precautions and arrange veterinary care if required.
Just yesterday, a Persian cat arrived at our crèche for a one-month stay while her family traveled abroad. They told us that they had previously used home-visit pet sitting services. However, they now feel more secure leaving their cat somewhere she can be continuously monitored, because there is a significant difference between someone simply visiting to feed a cat and someone observing that cat's health and behavior throughout the day.
I am not saying that home-visit cat sitting is good or bad. Every care option has its own advantages and limitations. For friendly, confident, and highly social cats, in-home visits may work very well.
However, for cats that are shy, anxious, reserved, or do not easily trust unfamiliar people, continuous supervised care may be the safer option.
Many people believe that a cat crèche automatically causes stress or anxiety. In reality, helping a cat settle in, feel safe, build trust, and gradually overcome that anxiety is the responsibility of the people running the crèche. A well-managed cat crèche is not just about providing food and shelter—it is about understanding feline behavior, monitoring their health, and ensuring that every cat feels secure and receives immediate care if something goes wrong.
Ultimately, every cat is different, and the best care depends on that individual cat's personality, health, and needs. As cat parents, it's important to consider every aspect before deciding which care option is best for our beloved companions.
