- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
While you’re exploring new destinations and kicking back in hotels, your cat will need a place to stay, too. If you don’t feel comfortable with a sitter dropping by or staying in your house, you might consider cat boarding instead.
The cost of cat boarding will depend on how many nights your cats will stay, how luxurious the facilities are, and whether you want them to board in a cattery or a sitter’s house. We’ll go over the average price ranges below, based on data from real Rover cat sitters and boarding facilities across the country.
Comparing Cat Sitting and Cat Boarding
You might think of cat sitting and cat boarding as the same thing, but these are two different services. A cat sitter is more like a babysitter. Your cats can stay at home while the sitter drops by or stays the night. Or, your cat could also stay overnight in your sitter’s house.
Boarding in a cat facility is more like renting a mini hotel room for your cats. Some cat boarding facilities have cages, like a shelter, while others have bigger “cat condos” complete with windows, beds, or even bonus perks like catios.
Here’s the average cost of each option, based on Rover pet sitter data and nightly rates at boarding centers across the U.S.
| Service | Rates | Per week | Per month |
| Drop-in visit | $22 per visit | $66 (3 visits) | $264 (12 visits) |
| Cat boarding in a facility | $36.55 per night | $255.85 | $1,096.50 |
| Cat boarding in a sitter’s home | $44.97 per night | $314.79 | $1,349.10 |
Cat sitter vs. cat boarding responsibilities
Sitters and boarding facilities all offer food, water, and litter boxes to keep your cats happy. But the time commitments and scope of work will affect the cost of these services:
- Drop-in visits: These are typically the most affordable option, because they only require around 30 minutes to an hour of a sitter’s time. Your cats will stay on their home turf, and the sitter can drop by every other day to provide essentials and attention.
- Boarding at a facility: This option is more expensive because you’ll pay for every night of your trip. However, you won’t need to open up your home to other people, and your cats will get care from a team of trained professionals.
- Boarding in a sitter’s house: This is the most expensive option. However, instead of your cats staying in a small space with other pets nearby, which can be uncomfortable or stressful, they’ll stay inside a house with someone who’ll take good care of them. Just keep in mind that leaving home will cause some level of stress for most cats.
damedeeso via iStock
Additional Fees To Expect When Boarding
The prices listed above are only an average amount. You can expect higher nightly or per-visit rates for any of the following reasons:
- Experience and reviews: Catteries and sitters with years of experience and a strong customer base will usually charge more than a hobbyist sitter.
- Training and certifications: Boarding facilities may have vets on-site or staff members trained in pet first aid or Fear Free best practices.
- Medical attention: If your cat needs to take medicine, a boarding facility or sitter may charge an additional fee.
- Grooming: Clipping your cat’s nails or brushing long-haired cats requires extra care and is usually an add-on cost.
- Multiple cats: Some boarding facilities allow bonded pairs to stay in the same room. But while you won’t necessarily need to pay for an extra space, expect an added fee for each additional cat.
- Luxuries: If you want your cats to board in larger or fancier rooms, you’ll pay a little more.
- Kittens: Mischievous kittens need extra supervision and usually have a higher base price to board than healthy adult cats.
- Location: Your state and city will play a role, both due to the overall cost of living and higher demand.
- Short notice: Booking only a few days in advance can result in a last-minute fee.
- Holiday surcharge: When families travel for the holidays, catteries and sitters are busier than ever. So, expect to pay higher boarding rates around any major holiday.
Should you tip your boarding facility?
Tipping isn’t typically expected at pet boarding centers since all the employees make a standard hourly wage.
Cat sitters who board pets in their own homes set their own rates, like an independent business owner, so tipping isn’t strictly necessary here, either.
That said, tipping can be a thoughtful way to show your appreciation if your sitter goes above and beyond to keep your pets well-cared for and comfortable.
Average Cat Boarding Rates in the Top 25 Cities
Here’s how the costs of cat boarding and cat sitting compare in 25 different cities, all based on real pricing data. Click the links in the first tab for high and low price ranges and average add-on costs, like boarding an additional cat or last-minute booking fees.
| Cities | Drop-in visit (30 minutes) | House sitting in your home | Boarding in your sitter’s home |
| New York, NY | $24.98 | $68.05 | $63.36 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $25.75 | $76.77 | $57.72 |
| Chicago, IL | $21.27 | $58.81 | $47.66 |
| Houston, TX | $21.27 | $53.20 | $38.59 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $21.50 | $53.23 | $37.53 |
| San Antonio, TX | $19.76 | $48.43 | $32.91 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $21.09 | $60.28 | $47.19 |
| San Diego, CA | $23.54 | $65.75 | $54.36 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $20.35 | $53.14 | $36.65 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $20.01 | $48.18 | $38.00 |
| Austin, TX | $21.66 | $57.00 | $42.62 |
| Columbus, OH | $19.39 | $50.18 | $38.38 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $19.05 | $46.73 | $38.01 |
| San Francisco, CA | $29.42 | $81.21 | $63.97 |
| Seattle, WA | $25.58 | $72.04 | $56.24 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $19.69 | $47.26 | $39.62 |
| Nashville, TN | $21.20 | $59.93 | $49.00 |
| Washington, DC | $22.25 | $58.86 | $48.50 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $21.46 | $54.83 | $38.42 |
| Boston, MA | $22.84 | $64.78 | $56.46 |
| Detroit, MI | $21.30 | $58.69 | $43.04 |
| Louisville, KY | $19.77 | $49.20 | $35.35 |
| Portland, OR | $21.38 | $57.52 | $47.02 |
| Memphis, TN | $20.61 | $48.78 | $36.52 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $21.27 | $51.36 | $36.71 |
Tips for Finding Boarding Facilities
Not sure where to find a cat boarding facility? Your vet can be a great place to start! Plenty of vet clinics have boarding centers in their buildings, and you’ll be close to medical attention during emergencies. Just keep in mind your cat might not be thrilled about boarding in the same place where they get booster shots.
Local Facebook groups or Nextdoor are also goldmines for recommendations, and so are your friends and family. Of course, while your friend’s cats may have done well at a boarding center, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right fit for yours—all cats have different levels of comfort!
Before you commit, call or email to ask questions like:
- Can you bring your cat’s comfort items, like favorite toys or beds?
- Can you bring your cat’s regular food and favorite treats?
- How often are the condos or cages cleaned?
- What level of training or certifications do the staff have?
- What‘s the protocol for medical emergencies?
Where to find a cat sitter for overnight boarding
If you can’t find a nearby facility that feels right to you or you think boarding in a cattery may be too stressful for your cats, boarding them at a cat sitter’s house could be a better fit.
Rover makes it easy to find sitters who offer in-home cat boarding near you. All sitters have to pass a third-party background check, display reviews on their profiles, and have full rate transparency. This makes it easier to find the perfect cat sitter to drop in or welcome your cats into their home.
Whether you ultimately go with boarding or cat sitting, make sure you visit the facility in person or meet your sitter first, just to make sure it’s a good fit!
Note: These prices are accurate as of September 2025, as pulled from Rover’s data.
