---
title: Boarding a Kitten: The 16-Week Rule | Happy Paws Kennels
url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-kitten/
business: Happy Paws Kennels
address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620
phone: 707-678-6600
hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM
type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971
rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night)
---

- [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/)
- [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/)
- Boarding a kitten

# Boarding a kitten: the 16-week rule

A kitten can board at Happy Paws Kennels once it is 16 weeks old on the first day of the stay and has the vaccines recommended for its age, including FVRCP and rabies. The rate is the same $35 a night as an adult cat on the 2026 rates.

[Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600)

Most kittens reach 16 weeks right as their vaccine series wraps up, so the date to watch is the last FVRCP booster, not just the birthday.

## How the vaccine timeline fits

The AAHA/AAFP guidelines, summarized by the Cat Fanciers' Association, start the FVRCP series at 6 to 8 weeks, with boosters every 2 to 4 weeks until 16 to 18 weeks. Rabies starts at 12 to 16 weeks depending on local rules, and the guidelines add an FVRCP booster at about six months. FVRCP covers rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.

That is why the kennel's floor is 16 weeks: by then a kitten has usually had most of its first series and a rabies dose, and the records show it.

## What to send before the first night

Upload them to your ProPetware account or email them, and bring a copy to the first check-in if you can. Records must not expire during the stay.

| Item | Why |
| --- | --- |
| Rabies certificate | Required for every cat |
| FVRCP series dates | Shows the kitten is on schedule for its age |
| Birth or adoption date | Confirms 16 weeks by the first day |

## Kitten stays in practice

A kitten is a cat in the cattery: its own four-level tower, its own litter box and blanket, and cat houses nearby to hide in. Bring the food it eats now in the original bag, since a sudden switch can upset a small stomach. House kibble and pate are available at no charge if you prefer.

Check the [kitten vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kitten-vaccine-schedule/) to line up the booster dates before you book, and plan trips for after the 16-week mark.

## If your kitten is under 16 weeks

Young kittens are still building immunity and sleep a lot, so an in-home sitter or a relative is often the gentler plan until the series is done. Call 707-678-6600 with your kitten's age and the dates to talk through timing, and ask about the first stay while you are at it.

### Sources (checked October 19, 2026)

- [Cat Fanciers' Association: AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guide for cats](https://cfa.org/cat-talk/aaha-aafp-feline-vaccination-guide-for-cats/)
- [AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidelines](https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/life-stage-feline-2021/vaccinations/)
- [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/)
- [Happy Paws Kennels things to know](https://happypawskennels.com/things-to-know/)

### 2026 nightly rates

- First Class kennel $72
- Business Class kennel $59
- Economy Class kennel $52
- Cat condo $35

All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026.

[All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/)

### Visit or call

6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620

[707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600)

| Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM |
| --- | --- |
| Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM |

[Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)

### Related

- [Kitten vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kitten-vaccine-schedule/)
- [FVRCP for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/fvrcp/)
- [Rabies vaccine for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/)
- [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/)
- [Two or more cats](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/multi-cat-stays/)
- [Indoor cats and boarding vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/indoor-cats-and-boarding-vaccines/)

## Read next

- [Boarding your cat and your dog on the same trip](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-cats-and-dogs-from-the-same-home/)
- [Cat boarding checklist](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-boarding-checklist/)
- [When cat day care makes sense](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/when-cat-day-care-makes-sense/)
- [Can indoor cats get fleas?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/can-indoor-cats-get-fleas/)
- [Cats and loud holidays](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cats-and-loud-holidays/)
- [Hamsters and gerbils while you travel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/hamster-and-gerbil-care-while-you-travel/)
- [Pet rats while you travel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/pet-rat-care-while-you-travel/)
- [Rabbits and guinea pigs in Central Valley heat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/small-pets/rabbits-and-guinea-pigs-in-hot-weather/)

Answers

## Questions people ask

Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/).

### How old must a kitten be to board?

16 weeks on the first day, with the vaccines recommended for its age.

### Which vaccines are required?

Rabies and FVRCP, as for every cat.

### Does a kitten pay less?

No. The cat condo rate is $35 a night, and $30 for each additional cat sharing a condo, on the 2026 rates.

### Can two kittens share a condo?

Cats from the same household can share a condo at the $30 additional-cat rate.