Long Island Cat and Dog Boarding

At Katie's Kitty, our goal is to set the gold standard for animal caregiving in the pet care industry. The cornerstone of our caring philosophy has always been, "What's best for the animal?" and it informs all the work that we do and the decisions we make. We believe it is for this reason that our reputation and our business continue to steadily grow. When we first opened our doors in 1997, we never envisioned that we would become the premier pet sitting service in Manhattan. Now well over a decade later, we find ourselves serving many neighboring geographical areas and are very pleased to offer the highest level of dog and cat care available on Long Island, with incomparable boarding service in many host family homes throughout Nassau County. And every home is available to be seen by appointment before you make your decision.

Most of the host homes that serve Katie's Kitty only board one animal at a time. This greatly increases the amount of personalized attention that your pet will receive. Cats and dogs that are very young, very old, frail, or have rudimentary medical needs will receive personalized and loving care all day and all night. In some instances, the boarder may have a pet of his or her own (in which case, that would be disclosed to you beforehand). But whether or not an animal permanently resides at the host home, you would nonetheless be invited (indeed, encouraged) to visit the home - along with your animal - to get a sense as to whether the chemistry is right between your cat or dog and the boarder. While this option is offered to every pet owner, it is mostly dog owners (for pragmatic reasons) that take advantage of what is commonly called a "play date" (there is, of course, no charge for this get-acquainted time).

When a Kennel Just Won't Do

It's among the hardest choices that we, as animal lovers, have to make when it comes to our pets. Knowing that we must leave town (whether for business or pleasure), we also know that we must leave our four-legged friend in someone else's care. Then it dawns on us that no friend or relative is available (or, at least, none that we know to truly be an animal lover). And so we turn to professional assistance in that regard.

We don't doubt for a minute that you could find a fine kennel in Nassau County. As the need for and interest in personalized animal care has skyrocketed on Long Island, there's been a commensurate increase in the quality and range of services offered by what are most commonly called kennels (although now sometimes referred to as "dog spas," "animal campsites" or "pet resorts"). Indeed, one could argue that kennels provide particular advantages over other options, such as the fact that your pet would be in a facility with multiple staff members - some that are actively staffed 24/7. But the fact remains that, with the exception of time spent in roaming privileges (more frequently offered to dogs than cats), it's likely that your pet would live mostly in a caged environment during the time you're away. For those whose animals are more 'family' than pet, the limitations of this milieu serve as the catalyst to seek alternative options.

That's where we come in. It's at that point that we invite you to call us and to make an appointment to meet with one of our pet boarders at his or her home. We'd also ask that you afford your pet the same level of care and attention that you would give to the planning of your own vacation (after all, in essence, he or she will also be on vacation). Indeed, if your approach is, "I just need a place to drop my pet off," we would respectfully suggest that we are not the right service for you. Our animal caregivers work hard to maintain our standard of care, but it can only be done to the extent that we have the assistance, cooperation and dedication of the pet owner as well.

Initial Considerations

The most important factor in the pet boarding equation is the degree to which your dog or cat and his or her new human friend will get along (if your pet just universally loves everyone he or she meets, consider yourself lucky). Once you feel confident in that regard, there are other aspects to consider.

For example, how much of the day will someone be at home at the house? Are children living in the home? What are the ages of the children? All of these factors come into play and their importance varies in direct proportion to the relative aspects of your animal's personality and demeanor. Some dogs are more "sociable" than others. Some much prefer the company of other dogs to humans and some, vice versa. A dog who is aggressive by nature is not a good match for a home with young children. A dog that needs a good amount of exercise might not fare as well in a home with a fenced-in yard, as the tendency of the homeowner might be to let the dog use the yard at his or her leisure (instead of specifically heading out for a walk). A dog that loves peace, quiet and individual attention might do best staying with a single person who works from home.

If your loved one is a cat, it's not at all uncommon for felines to go into hiding for the first several days of their time being boarded in a new home (think about it, what's to keep your cat from thinking that they've just been surrendered to a new owner?). But unlike a kennel environment, he or she will be dealing with only one person. And if that person is truly a cat lover (cats can tell), he or she will warm up to the new caregiver within a period of a few days for sure.

If your travel plans are during summer months, you'll want to know whether the boarder will be using air conditioning as a matter of course - or only when the weather becomes unbearably hot. Among other things you'll want to explore when dialoging with your potential boarder is whether they have any pets of their own, if they work from home and/or expect to home most of the day, and whether or not they intend to care for other animals during the period that your pet will be living with them.

Practical Matters

Unless dictated by an unforeseen circumstance (such as a hospital stay), please don't wait until the week before your vacation or business trip to make arrangements for boarding your pet. While last-minute arrangements can often be made, they are usually less than ideal for all parties involved (including your pet).

Don't be shy about asking for references. A good sitter/boarder's reputation grows easily and surely. But even at the same pet boarding agency, each sitter/boarder will have a different approach. After you've had the initial meeting with your potential pet boarder, it's a good idea to talk to two persons who have used their services in the past. Instead of asking general questions like, "Were you pleased with the service offered?" don't be afraid to get specific. Examples include: How many times have you used this sitter? For how long was your animal boarded? When was the last time you boarded your pet with this sitter? Would you use this sitter again? Did your pet seem perfectly okay in every way when returned to you? Was there anything you were not fully pleased with relative to the care provided by the sitter?

Just as people have likes and dislikes, most animals do as well. Be sure to let the person who will be caring for your pet know what makes him or her happy (that is, his or her routines - e.g., eating habits, exercise regimen, sleep patterns, etc.). Similarly, let him/her know if there are any "special needs" (particularly the medical needs of older animals) and give very specific instructions as to how to meet those needs. Remember that, as good as they are, our animal caregivers are NOT veterinary professionals and it is therefore prudent that medical information and related directions are reviewed in great detail for the benefit of all involved.

Lastly, make it as easy as possible for the person caring for your animal to access emergency veterinary care. Always give the name, address and phone of your animal's doctor. Although almost never necessary, it is always helpful if we have the name and contact info of an in-town relative or friend who could partner in your animal's care in the case of emergency. And always let the sitter know where the animal's carrying case is kept.

Peace of Mind

When you hire a Katie's Kitty sitter, you can relax knowing that you're hiring someone that has been carefully screened, is bonded and insured, and is genuinely committed to your animal's welfare, wellness and well-being. For reviews of some of our sitters, please click on our Testimonials page. If we can answer any questions, it would be our pleasure to do so. We look forward to hearing from you.

Petfully yours,
Peter and Katie Lindenbaum
170 East 83rd Street, Suite 4F
New York, NY 10028
(212) 288-5712