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 in a licensed cattery instead.
The cost of cat boarding depends on how many nights your cats will stay at the cattery and how well-equipped the facilities are. 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 who drops by or stays the night while your cat remains in their familiar surroundings.
Boarding in a cat facility is more like renting a mini hotel room for your cats. Some traditional catteries use standard indoor units, while others offer larger luxury chalets, suites, or “cat hotels” complete with windows, beds, or even a private catio.
Here’s the average cost of each option, based on Rover pet sitter data and nightly rates at catteries across the UK.
| Service | Rate | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-in visit | £20 per visit | £140 | £600 |
| Cat boarding in a facility | £40 per night | £280 | £1,200 |
Cat sitter vs. cat boarding responsibilities
Sitters and catteries both 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 require only about 30 minutes to an hour of a sitter’s time. Your cats will stay on their home turf, and the sitter can drop by daily 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 your home to others, and your cats will receive care from a team of trained professionals in facilities that are legally required to provide everything your cats need for safety and comfort.
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Additional Fees To Expect When Boarding
The prices listed above are only average amounts. You can expect higher nightly or per-visit rates for any of the following reasons:
- Training and certifications: Boarding facilities may have on-site vets or staff trained in pet first aid or feline behaviour.
- Medical attention: If your cat needs medication, a boarding facility 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 boarding base price than healthy adult cats.
- Location: Your region and city may play a role due to both the overall cost of living and the higher demand.
- Short notice: Booking only a few days in advance may incur a last-minute fee.
- Holiday surcharge: When families travel during peak periods, catteries are busier than ever. So, expect to pay higher boarding rates around Bank Holidays, school holidays, or winter festivities.
Should you tip your boarding facility?
Tipping isn’t typically expected at catteries, since all employees earn a standard hourly wage. However, if you’re a long-term user of a cattery, or they go above and beyond, say, by responding to a medical emergency, a thoughtful souvenir from your travels or a voucher is a nice gesture that can help you cement the relationship moving forward.
Average Cat Boarding Rates in the Top 16 Cities
Here’s how the costs of cat boarding and cat sitting compare across 16 cities, 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.
Average Cat Boarding and Cat Sitting Rates in UK Cities
| City | 30-minute drop-in visit | House sitting | Cat boarding |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £13.50 | £35.50 | £32.67 |
| Birmingham | £12 | £30 | £26 |
| Reading | £14 | £35 | £28 |
| Leeds | £12 | £30 | £27 |
| Glasgow | £12 | £30 | £29 |
| Cardiff | £12 | £30 | £28 |
| Sheffield | £12 | £30 | £24 |
| Liverpool | £12 | £31 | £28 |
| Edinburgh | £12 | £30 | £30 |
| Nottingham | £12 | £30 | £27 |
| Leicester | £12 | £30 | £25 |
| Coventry | £12 | £35 | £26 |
| Southampton | £12 | £32 | £25 |
| Swansea | £12 | £40 | £32 |
| Portsmouth | £11 | £35 | £32 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £12 | £30 | £27 |
Tips for Finding Boarding Facilities
Not sure where to find a cat boarding facility? Your vet can be a great place to start! Some vet clinics have boarding centres in their buildings (although many don’t board healthy cats), and you’ll be close to medical attention during emergencies or if a cat needs ongoing medical care during their stay. They’ll also be more than happy to give you a heads-up on their most trusted local catteries.
Just keep in mind your cat might not be thrilled about boarding in the same place where they get booster jabs.
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 centre, 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:
- What level of training or certifications do the staff have?
- Can you bring your cat’s comfort items, like favourite toys or beds?
- Can you bring your cat’s regular food and favourite treats?
- How often are the rooms or units cleaned?
- What’s the protocol for medical emergencies?
Where to find a house sitter for overnight care
If you can’t find a nearby facility that feels right to you or you think staying in a cattery may be too stressful for your cats, having a sitter stay at your house could be a better fit.
Rover makes it easy to find sitters who offer house-sitting near you. All sitters must pass a third-party background check, display reviews on their profiles, and provide full rate transparency. This makes it easier to find the perfect cat sitter to drop in, whether it’s for half an hour or 24-hour care.
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 July 2026, as pulled from Rover’s data.
