In the last issue of Pet Boarding & Daycare magazine, we explored why starting or improving your cat boarding efforts can add a significant profit center to your business. In this issue, we will delve into the details of what makes a space appealing for your customers and their cats, including clean spaces, odor elimination, comfort, activities, and distractions.

Clean Spaces
Cleanliness is of the utmost importance to cats. Anyone who spends any amount of time around cats knows they love to clean themselves and their surroundings. We also know that a clean facility speaks volumes to prospective clients about your commitment to the wellness and comfort of your boarding guests.

Make cleaning easy by utilizing cat boarding kennels that are made of materials that are easy to wipe clean and don’t absorb urine. It’s also important to make sure the kennels are made from materials that are durable enough to withstand pressure washing for easy cleanup of those inevitable big messes. It’s a good idea to pressure wash several times per year.

Another consideration is whether you can easily move the kennels, whether moving them outside to pressure wash or just to move them around within your cat space in order to clean in and behind them.

Odor Elimination
If you have cat boarding kennels made of materials that don’t absorb odors, you are already on your way to a great-smelling facility. Your next consideration is ventilation, and the smaller the space is, the more important ventilation becomes. The less cats can smell each others’ odors, the happier they seem to be.

The best practice for odor elimination is to remove the source as soon as possible after it has occurred. That means having a staff member checking in on the cat space and removing any messes right away.

Having an exhaust system running in your cat space is an important element for taking care of odors. Some cat lodging products have an exhaust system built right into the kennels so that each kennel’s air is being exhausted right at the source. Even an exhaust fan running in the room at all times will help to remove odors and keep your space smelling fresh and clean.

Cat Comfort
Both cleanliness and odor elimination help with cat comfort, but there are other things that are vital to making your cats’ comfort a priority. At Stone Mountain Pet Lodge in Blaine, MN, their philosophy is that a cat boarding program should mimic a “home away from home” as much as possible. Their cat boarding kennels are individual cubes that are often configured so that each cat has up to three cube spaces to themselves: one for the bedroom, one for the dining room, and one for the bathroom. Each cube offers 10 cubic feet of living space and is connected by portholes, so the cats have plenty of space to move around. The separation of living spaces helps cats’ level of comfort immensely, but even if each cat has only one cube of space, they have a comfortable area in which to relax.

Other comfort considerations are the materials and design of the kennels themselves. You’ll want to make sure the material used is gentle on the cats’ paws and also that the walls offer privacy for the cats so they aren’t seeing their neighbors but can still see out the front. Add in their favorite blanket or pet bed, their cat food, and their own brand of cat litter, and they’ll enjoy a home away from home.

Activities and Distractions
In the cat boarding room at Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, they have used a water fountain to offer soothing background noise, or they have relaxing music playing in the room. They also have windows in the cat boarding space that allow the cats to look out and see birds at the bird feeders. In addition to these sights and sounds, Stone Mountain offers a cat program that includes playtimes, cuddle times, and catnip treats or toys. An outdoor nature walk around their property in a screened-in pet stroller allows cats to get outside and safely enjoy some fresh air. These are all additional items customers can add on to their cat’s stay.

As you can see, there are some very specific components you can add to make cat boarding a profitable addition to your business by giving your cat customers a reason to board at your facility. Your accommodations can assure them that their cat will be cared for as they stay at their new home away from home.

Stone Mountain Pet Products is a family-run business located in the heart of Minnesota. This all started with Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, located in Blaine, MN. During the building process, Dave Larson, president and CEO, realized he needed better kennel equipment than what there was on the market. Using his existing business, Larson Systems, and his mechanical engineering background, he created several totally new designs, which are still in use at Stone Mountain Pet Lodge today. Our equipment is still holding strong after many years of use, with new customers seeing the added benefits of several improvements. Tim Larson is now heading up the sales effort while Rachel Larson is handling our writing. It has been a challenge and pleasure translating real world experience into useful products from which business owners across the country can benefit. If you are interested in learning more about the products Stone Mountain Pet Products offers, visit our website at www.stonemountainpetproducts.com.

Next Article