A week is the point where leaving food out stops being a plan. Someone has to check on your cat, and the choice is between your home and a cattery.
Option one: a cattery stay
A cattery gives your cat a defined space and daily attention. At Happy Paws each cat has an individual four-level condo with its own litter box and blanket, plus a cat tree and cat houses for play and hiding. Cats must be 16 weeks old and have current rabies and FVRCP vaccines on file, which also protects them from other guests. The 2026 rate is $35 a night, so a week is $245; two cats sharing a condo pay $35 and $30 each night.
Option two: a sitter at home
A sitter keeps your cat in his own space, and some cats prefer that. Quality varies, so meet the person first, leave written instructions and a key arrangement, and ask how many visits a day are included. Check what happens if the sitter falls ill. Add the sitter's per-visit fees for a full week, including any holiday surcharge, to compare totals fairly.
How to decide
Think about your cat. A confident cat that is happy in a quiet home may do well with visits. A cat that is anxious about strangers coming and going, or a cat that needs medication, may prefer one safe place with steady care. The cattery vs cat sitter page walks through more of these tradeoffs. If your cat has never been boarded, try a weekend first.
Prepare in the week before
Update vaccines, pack the usual food in the original bag with amounts in cups, bring a blanket that smells like home, and write down any quirks. Mark your calendar for the drop-off windows, 7:30 to 11:30 AM or 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Check-out is by 11:30 AM, and afternoon pick-up adds half of the nightly fee. If you travel around a holiday, the deposit rule applies: see the hours page.
For the first-time steps, read boarding a cat for the first time.