New Pet Business Offers Boarding and Grooming Just for Cats

Cats, like dogs, can get lonely and bored when their owners go on vacation without them. The best case scenario is to have a pet sitter come in to play with the animals.

When that’s no possible, pet owners often turn to board care for Fido. Unfortunately for Fluffy, there are few cat-only boarding facilitates in the area.

Dr. Hanna Ekström, owner of At Home Vet, said she recently opened Cozy Cat Boarding and Grooming Spa in Woodinville to help meet that need.

“Clients kept asking for a place to take their cat when they went away and couldn’t find someone to take care of the cat at home,” she said.

Ekstrom will be the first to tell you the best place for your cat is at home with someone coming in twice a day to play with them for a minimum of 30 minutes. But that’s not always possible.

Cozy Cat is a separate 1,000-square-foot house behind Ekström’s practice decked out with everything a cat could need for a happy stay away from home. Kind of like a bed and breakfast with spa facilities for the feline set, Cozy Cat can accommodate 12 felines, all of whom get their own little condo-like space. The spaces are designed with three "rooms"—a living room, bathroom and bedroom.

“Research shows that cats are happier with little hidey-holes that have different uses,” Ekström said.

Every cat has a window, with a bird feeder hanging in front of it, and a view of the house’s great room, but not a lot of views of the other feline guests. (For the most part, cats do not like to see one another, Ekström said.) Every cat gets to snuggle with a handmade blanket that Ekström and her daughter made.

So the cats don’t get in a rut while staying away from home, Ekström has planned distractions well beyond a boring TV channel. The pampered puss at Cozy Cat can eye the cages of finches, or watch fish swim in a nearby tank. When it’s their time to come out to play, they can sit in a caregiver's lap and be gently rocked as they get their coats brushed. For cats that want more activity, there are wooden chairs secured to the wall to jump and climb upon.

High quality meals are provided, Ekström said, but the owners can also provide their own food for picky eaters. They can also bring their own bedding and favorite toy, so long as those items can be washed, Ekström added.

The cost is $24 per day and $16 for each additional cat. If a cat needs a medical exam or treatment while there, that would be an additional fee, Ekström said.

The business is also a full service grooming spa for cats, complete with a waiting area where owners can relax and have a cup of coffee.

The community is invited for a grand tour and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new businesses Thursday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m. Cozy Cat is at 12459 NE Woodinville Drive, or call 425-402-0187.