Leaving your cat at a kennel is stressful on you but it's even more stressful for your cat. Cats hate change, and this is the kind they hate the most, but there are still a few things you can do to make your cat's time away a little more tolerable. First, check out the kennel carefully and ask for references. See how much room your cat will have to live in.

Make sure there is a place for your cat to hide so he can feel safe. If the cat can’t go behind a wall, ask if you can put the cat’s crate in with the cat. This will give him a more familiar place to hide.

Be sure to bring familiar bedding material, toys, and something that smells of you, like an old T-shirt you’ve worn but haven’t washed. Ask if your cat can be held or petted by a friendly attendant. Cats left at home may do just fine (even if it’s just one cat), especially if he is an indoor cat or has a pet door to use. Some cat owners make telephone calls to their home numbers while away and leave messages on the answering machine so their cats can hear their owners’ voices over the loudspeaker. You can make a point of using the same tone of voice you use when you talk to him at home.