Trisha Shanks
Arrow Lakes News
530 Kangaroo Trail is now home to Country Road Cat Boarding, a boarding cattery — one that has a fresh, new outbuilding designed to imitate the comforts of home. Owner Cindy McNaughton has plenty of experience in the cat boarding business, having worked full-time caring for Okanagan cats. She was previously the owner of a cat boarding facility in Vernon for five years. After relocating to Nakusp, McNaughton decided he wanted to offer the same service to cats in the Nakusp area.
“My cat is like my best friend. If I ever had to leave her, it would be really stressful for me so I was hoping to address the same need for other people, trying to make it as stress-free as possible. I know leaving them is a hard thing,” she said during a tour of the dedicated outbuilding.
McNaughton works at the Nakusp Public Library and when she is at home she will be available to supervise, letting the cats out of their cages to roam within the building, use the scratching post and the atrium area. She plans to eventually build more interactive perches atop the cages for those guests who likes heights.
“Florence from PALS (Protecting Animal Life Society) was here and had a look. She gave me some suggestions for different levels and ropes and things,” McNaughton shared during the exclusive tour with the Arrow Lakes News. She plans to continue modifications to enrich the environs to become even more cat-friendly. The building is a Lifetime dual-entry shed purchased online and erected specifically for this purpose. It is brand new, and leak proof, as McNaughton was relieved to discover after last week’s torrential rainstorm. Fitted with portable heaters, the shed has been converted to a cozy, warm setting with natural daylight and an open-air, fully enclosed “conservatory” on one end. This allows the cats to have some outdoor time during nice weather in a protected space, and the only noises present are birds chirping in nearby trees. Each of the suites offers a cushy pillow on one level and a clean litterbox on the level below. Cats will find this quite luxurious.
Now that she’s built it, she hopes they will come. Getting the word out is her next step.
“I’ve been to the vet, asking them to refer me. They have been totally supportive of this. I might be working with PALS, if they have a need for space — especially mother cats and kittens which they have a few of right now. I’ve just started advertising on facebook. Maybe I’ll look at the Pennywise,” McNaughton said.
Most cats need a low-stress environment. In many boarding facilities, they are too close to the dogs, where it’s noisy and creates tension. Having a cat-only facility will make it easier on timid or particular cats; if they have to be out of their homes, at least they don’t have to deal with dogs as well.
Country Roads Cattery offers four, individual, multi-level cages, but if there are two cats from the same family, they can share. McNaughton encourages owners to bring their own food so that the impact of the change of environment is lessened and minimizes gastric upset by a change of diet. Services start at $15 per night, which includes playtime, outdoor time, treats, cuddles, feeding and litterbox cleaning. Pick up/drop off is available if needed. To book space or to tour the facility, contact Cindy at (250) 265-4131.