Safeguarding Boarders with Our 15-Day Rule
Our 15 day rule: We do not allow any boarders to stay in our main boarding area if they have had recent vet visits for any reason.This limits exposure/the possibility of picking up a virus, then ’sharing’ with the rest of the boarders, some of which are seniors or on immune-supressive medications. Respecting our rule helps to keep all boarders safe & healthy.
Limited option may be available when necessary.
We know that sometimes this isn't possible due to a recent illness such as a UTI or other on-going treatments. For this reason we have LIMITED units when necessary and available. These suites are Captain's Quarters in our home and away from the kennel guests. They are $75 per day and can only be booked via text/phone after approval.
Find video to the segregated units here
Curbside Check-Ins: Happier Boarders, More Playtime!
All arrival & departure appointments remain curbside (unless it’s pouring buckets). During Covid we realized that swifter check-ins and check-outs made for happier boarders. Limiting clients taking a look-see & stroll around (who doesn’t want to see all of our furry friends?) affords our charges more human attention & playroom time.
We are always happy to schedule tours for anyone who is interested & have limited ‘tour time’ to Saturday mornings by appointment only. We also are happy to take photo & video updates of your fur-babies while they’re boarding with us upon request. Just shoot us a text & we’ll set up a photo-shoot for your feline friend!
Payment of your balance due is not required until the day of pick up.
Traffic can be tough on I95, pls plan accordingly - chk WAZE for UTD traffic conditions to avoid rescheduling.
WE REQUIRE UTD RABIES & DISTEMPER vaccinations. Keep in mind our 15 day rule: If your cats’ VACCINATIONS are due to expire just prior/during your cats stay, you MUST have them done 15 DAYS prior to your reservation - NO EXCEPTIONS. We do not allow any boarders to stay in our main boarding area if they have had recent vet visits for any reason. This rule is for the safety of our all boarders (a cat may unintentionally pick up a virus during a vet visit & bring it in to ’share’). Any potential boarder who presents with weeping eyes, sneezing or wheezing (without a vets letter stating it is not contagious ie. Asthma/Ocular issues) will be rejected for boarding. Thank you for your understanding & compliance.
We WILL NOT board ANY cat who has not been properly vaccinated as recommended by the AAHA without an annual Titer test.
Why is vaccination so important?
Rabies is pretty self explanatory - however - we do get many questions in regard to distemper(FVRCP). Below is an explanation on why it is so important & why we take our policy so seriously:
What causes a feline upper respiratory infection?
Feline upper respiratory infection (URI) is the common term for a respiratory infection caused by one or more viral or bacterial agents. The most common viruses that cause upper respiratory infections in cats are Feline Herpesvirus Type-1 (also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis or FVR) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV), while the most common bacteria that cause upper respiratory infections in cats are Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) and Chlamydophila felis (C. felis).
Herpesvirus and calicivirus are responsible for approximately 90% of all feline upper respiratory tract infections.
How does a cat get an upper respiratory infection?
The main viruses and bacteria that cause URI in cats are HIGHLY contagious. An infected cat will shed contagious particles in saliva or secretions from the nose or eyes. Susceptible cats can get an infection by direct contact with another infected cat or by environmental exposure to objects or air contaminated with infectious secretions. It is estimated that herpesvirus can survive 18 hours outside the host’s body while calicivirus may live up to ten days.
Several of these diseases can cause a carrier state in cats that have recovered from an infection.
The standard core vaccines that are given to cats include this vaccine. The FVR vaccine will not completely prevent an infection from occurring if your cat is exposed to the virus, but it will significantly reduce the severity of the infection and will shorten the length of the illness. Solid immunity to these viruses is not long term, and may be overcome by exposure to a high dose of virus. Therefore, the FVR vaccine needs to be boostered on a regular basis - your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended booster schedule for your individual cat, based on its lifestyle and risk of disease.
A cat that is a carrier of FVR may benefit from periodic boosters with the intranasal herpes and calicivirus vaccine (up to 2-3 times per year), which may prevent reactivation of the virus, thus decreasing the likelihood of recurrent infection and of viral shedding.
Boarding facilities, animal shelter and cat shows are all places where susceptible cats can be readily exposed. If you plan on boarding your cat consult your veterinarian to make certain you are UTD on all boosters/titers at least one month before the planned event/reservation.
Low-Stress Ways to Get Your Very Feisty Cat into the carrier:
The most common reason clients reschedule appointments is trouble rounding up Kitty. Here are some tips to avoid having to reschedule or being tardy (which throws off our timetable/agenda).
Don't let your cat out the night before/morning of your scheduled appointment. Yes, this sounds like a no brainer, however, we've had plenty of clients who want to give Kitty a last taste of the great outdoors before boarding. Cats, however, don't care about your travel schedule & will mosey back when they're good & ready. Tell family members to be extra careful entering/exiting the home if your cat is the type to dart outside.
Kitty has hidden! Cats find great hiding spots. I had one that sliced through a box spring & crawled up inside. You'll want to calmly start closing off all doors (including cat doors to the basement if that's where your litter box is). Start this a few hours prior to your appointment. If you've had trouble in the past, be sure you give yourself enough time. The more stressed you get the more your cat will freak out (pheromones!).
Don't feed AM meal/pick up food: If you've had trouble in the past, keep Kitty hungry. If he hears the treat bag or a can lid pop, he'll be more inclined to come out of hiding.
Acclimate Your Cat to a Carrier: If you're in the habit of storing your cat carrier out of sight until it's needed, Kitty is likely to be tipped off that something is afoot the moment you bring it out of storage. She's likely to become anxious at the mere sight of the carrier if she associates it with the vet. Instead, try this: Two weeks prior to the trip, wash and dry the carrier, making sure it doesn't have any musty or chemical smells that your cat might associate with the vet. Place the carrier in plain sight keeping the door open. Place a blanket, towel, or bed — one that bears your cat's scent — inside the carrier to make it more inviting. Place favorite toys or treats inside the carrier. These steps build a positive association with the carrier that should help make it easier when needed. If the carrier is already part of the scenery, your furry friend's anxiety won't be triggered by a sudden appearance on the day of her appointment.
Here's another list from: Jackson Galaxy Godspeed!
Captain Kitt's is a cats only luxury boarding hotel. We have accommodations for most every need. Small to XXL units, windows unit & playtime with the staff!
We do not board any other pets (rabbits, lizards, etc.) It's essential for us to maintain top airquality, we must limit the amount of airborne bacteria sources. Critter bedding oftentimes smells very pungent & we feel this will also be a source of discomfort for our other guests.
We are a family owned & operated business (for 20 years now!)
My husband & I reside on the premises for full service care. If there's an emergency after hours or on holidays we are here!
We also have assistants who are fully trained & supervised for the ultimate in time and attention afforded to each guest.
We have a professionally monitored (24/7) via Ring home security with a state of the art video alarm system. The system detects smoke & fire as well as any breach in security.
We also have strict policies on when lock checks are done (frequently) and when exterior doors can be opened (after another lock check!).
We know cats can be escape artists and we're ever vigilant about keeping them safe.
We provide Purina One kibble in Sensitive Systems, Indoor formula & URI formulas as well as Friskies & Fancy Feast canned varaities.
Should your cat be on a special diet (k/d, holistic brands) or you'd prefer your own food we ask that you bring enough food to cover his/her stay & we'd be happy label your food & administer per your instructions. A change in diet can cause GI upset and we encourage you to BYOF when on a high end brand.
Upon check-in we will reconfirm the menu for the duration of your cats stay. We also can provide treats & catnip.
We'd be happy to answer email, calls or text queries about your cats stay while he/she's here. Phone or text: 203.804.1440 We offer clients txt photo/videos or sometimes post on our social media pages (no last names!). Don't worry about times changes while away, our phone is set to focus/do not disturb at off hours & we will return the request during normal business hours. If you're traveling out of the country & don't have a cell plan you can also reach us on WhatsApp using 203-804-1440.
All reservations are on a 1st come 1st served basis. We encourage you to book early during peak times of year (school vacation periods).
We offer luxurious Captain's & 1st Mate's quarters for multi-cat households (or one lucky kitty!), surf & turf suites for singles with views (bird feeders & aquariums) & our standard suits, large enough for a single or two small kittens.
Check out our rates page for video & photos of the different units available.
Like people, every cat has his/her own personality. Some cats like the company of knowing someone else is around & do better in 24/7 care. Some don't. In the case that you have a severely skittish or aggressive cat you may consider leaving him at home & have a service come to him. We're here in case of emergencies including after hours vet visits, overnight care + monitored to prevent intruders from breaking windows/doors ajar allowing escapes & during extreme weather like blizzards when a traveling service may not be able to reach your home.
HOURS: We take specific appointments are: Mon-Fri between 9-11am or 3-5pm, Sat 9-11am only. We are closed Sat. afternoons & Sun to the public (still here for the guests). Should you require an early morning drop off to get to your destination, ask about a 7:30am early check in at no additional charge!
Most cats require a serene environment with as little disruption as possible while boarding. limiting hours with the public allows us to maintain a quiet day for them to relax & for us to have the time required to care for them / administer the routine tasks that keep them happy!
What can I do if I can't make your time parameters? If you choose to have a friend or relative pick up in your stead, we would need to know prior to the departure appointment. We will not release custody to anyone not listed in the client folder unless we hear directly from the client. Should you like the name of a local pet taxi service, please call.
Because we are a small family run business & don't have the staff of a corporate run kennel like PetCo. We require down time & although we are still here for the guests, we keep firm to our hours (save an emergency situation for an established client) to avoid burn out & still offer the best possible care.
We charge as hotel - As long as you depart/pick-up in the morning prior to 11am we will NOT charge you for that days stay. You will be charged for the 1st days stay regardless of the time of check in.
Once you make an official reservation we will email you an invoice with request for deposit.
The 25% non-refundable deposit secures & is specific to the dates indicated in the invoice only. This insures serious bookings & allows us an accurate accounting of availability. Until your deposit is paid, the reservation remains pending & will expire. Once you're an established client with no history of cancelling the deposit if waived. Clients with a heavy history of cancellation maybe required to pay 100% non-refundable payment upfront in full to secure a reservation.
We accept credit cards (no AMEX), Venmo, ApplePay, personal checks or our favorite, cash!
Yes. We allow only neutered/spayed cats into our facility. Intact cats have a tendency to mark their territory which would make for an unclean environment (young kittens under 5 months of age being the only exception). Should your cat be dangerous or unusually aggressive we'd also recommend you use an in home pet care service. Extreme neglect cases are reported to the proper authorities immediately. (i.e. Should your pet suffer from ailments or wounds blatantly untreated or malnourished). For obvious reasons, we can not board any cats with signs of a contagious conditions (sneezing, running eyes, etc.) or extreme levels of medical care/diabetic cats).
We ask that you give us as much advanced notice as possible to ensure we can accommodate your requests (school vacation/holidays become booked up quickly). Clients with a record of chronic cancellations will not be allowed to reserve time without full, non refundable payment in advance. Clients must provide a 25% non-refundable deposit during peak times of year in order to secure reservations.
To start the reservation process please fill out a RESERVATION REQUEST & we'll confirm with you within one business day. You may also text my cell: 203.804.1440. (All requests will be addressed & answered during normal business hours).
You MUST provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations (Rabies & Distemper/or Titer test results). If your cats VACCINATIONS are due to expire just prior to or during your cats stay, you MUST have them done 15 DAYS prior to your reservation. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Lastly, we check all cats for signs of respiratory virus at check in. Should any cats arrive with weeping eyes, wheezing or sneezing they will be rejected for boarding.
‼️THE DECISION TO VACCINATE or TITER TEST YOUR CAT IS BETWEEN YOU & YOUR VET. We follow & enforce the current guidelines of the AVMA. Read more about why we enforce our policy & current guidelines here:
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We encourage tours to insure you're comfortable with any facility & the caregivers tending to your furry friend. Contact us in advance & we'd be happy to schedule a private tour. No one will be admitted without an appointment for the security & safety of our guests. Sign up for one here
You can also check out our virtual video tour on line should your schedule preclude you from coming in person. We also take a video of your cat shortly after check-in so you can see the accommodations are correct & that the facility is spotless!
Our virtual tour is absolutely representative of how things appear on a daily basis (clients say even better in person!) See gallery link above. We have all 5-star reviews on ALL platforms (Yelp, Facebook & Google) & A+ BBB rating. Area vets know us through their patients & recommend our services regularily.
We are licensed by the State of CT Agricultural Department & have our permit from the Town of Clinton to run our boarding facility. We have many references to back up our pet expertise, including those from Vets & Vet Technicians. We pass each surprise state inspection with flying colors! Worried about the care your pet will receive from area kennels? Call the State Of CT Dept of Agriculture Animal Control Division & ask for information on commercial kennel inspections. CT Magazine named us top kennel in CT & We've been voted Best kennel by the readers of the New Haven Advocate 5 years straight (until they changed category to Doggy Daycare!) Also named one of the top cat friendly destinations by national Cat Fancy Magazine (#17, June/2010).
We can administer medications (excluding insulin) orally, transdermally, clean out ears & administer eyedrops IF the cat is amiable.
Should your pet require an extremely high level of medical attention or is aggressive while administration of medications, we'd ask that you board with your vet.
DIABETIC CATS: We do not board diabetic cats. Although we have in the past, we've had a rash of guests in the past who have had issues with the stability of glucose levels.
We are not a medical facility & believe the best care for the patient is boarding him/her medically where they can best be supervised with a trained eye.
Problems with motor function, coma, and even death can occur with flucuating levels & we believe the safest place for your cat is with a 24/7 vet clinic.
Chewy scoopable unscented litter & in some cases the old fashioned clay litter for cats with high levels of output. All boxes & scoops are sterilized prior to use to avoid cross contamination. We are strict with all our cleaning practices & this is why you'll never be assaulted by 'dirty kennel smell' when you enter our facility.
If you'd prefer to bring your own (pellets, wheat, corn, crystals) we will label it & return the unused portion at the end of your stay. We do not allow coconut litter, as it dusty/powdery & tracks EVERYWHERE, getting into all corners & very difficult to get out!
All guests will be checked for fleas & flea dirt upon arrival, should they be accompanied by 'stow-aways' they will be immediately treated with Advantage or Capstar oral medication if a topical treatment has already been administered, at the owners expense prior to entering guest quarters & segregrated for 48 hours. If your cat has fleas, we encourage you to treat him/her with Advantage/Frontline for cats at least 48 hours prior to check in to avoid the $75.00 per cat fee for flea combing/treating infected cat before we can allow him/her into our community boarding area. NO EXCEPTIONS. Should you have an infestation where the cat sleeps or has access too, you may bring in fleas despite treatments. We'd advise you diligently flea comb kitty with a soapy solution & do not bring any bedding with you in your carrier to avoid our finding/treating kitty. Our reputation & livelihood is staked on seeing to it our other clients do not become infected --- so PLEASE... should you think you have fleas... be just & dilligent about not bringing them into our facility - (you also may be turned down for your next reservation request).
We didn't always have such a great job. Leaving both the corporate world & the restaurant business for less stressful, fulfilling lives we stumbled upon pet care by accident. Friends &family would ask us to care for their pets while away & we discovered not only did we enjoy it, but that there is a great needfor responsible pet care professionals. We love what we do now, not many working people can say that!
We schedule vacations & time off at non-peak times of year. Generally the 2nd & 3rd weeks of January, annually and a week at the beginning of October. If you require a lengthy stay of 20+ days we will have slots available at our facility & there is still fulltime care, however, we will not take any reservations less than 20 days at this time so as not to overwhelm our fill ins. We give plenty of advanced notice of these dates via our company Facebook page. For a current list of holidays, hours & vacation block out dates check out the 'About Us' section of our website.
Yes! We have central air in the summer & in the winter there's even a fireplace away from direct contact with our guests to add to the toasty atmosphere.
We feel the cats prefer outside air/breezes whenever possible & when outdoor temperatures are adequate we keep the top portion of the screen doors open for circulation.
We also have a 22w Generac whole house generator that keeps heat/air & water on even if there's a storm that knocks power out for a week or more! (We've not lost power since it was installed... hahaha)
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