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The Cats' Inn
Categories: Pets Pet Services Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting Pets Pet Services Pet Groomers Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting, Pet Groomers [Edit]
951 Old County RdSte 6
Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 508-9878
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm
Sat 9 am - 12 pm
Karen D. said: "Ryland has been our go to pet guy for the last 2 years .. I have also recommended him to all my friends. He is great with dogs and is reliable which is what you want when you are leaving your pet at home. I really don't worry about…" read more »
22 reviews for The Cats' Inn
22 reviews in English
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Review from Frances K.
San Mateo, CA
12/4/2011
I took my cat here for a haircut about a month ago. I was excited to go to a place that catered just to cats! I wanted a haircut for my cat since he had been very ill from ingesting too much fur. Because he is small, I didn't want the lion cut. I asked for a haircut and they were very upfront that it would look choppy, and I said that was fine. They were insistent on getting proof of updated vaccinations, which I understood and respected.
I loved the facility and the result! My cat got the haircut I wanted, and they were very quick. I would definitely use them for grooming again in the future. I am planning on making a follow up appointment in the next month or so. -
Review from Noel H.
Foster City, CA
11/30/2011
There are bad reviews about this place for a reason. READ THIS CAREFULLY. I have veterinarian documents to prove all of this.
I have had my cat groomed here many times, all of which went well.
I have boarded my cat here 3 times, 2 of which went horribly. The first time, she came home and was coughing and wheezing. She woke me up in the middle of the night with a cough attack... it scared me to death because she was having trouble getting air into her lungs. I immediately took her to the vet, and they said she probably caught a virus there, and gave her an antibiotic shot. So I thought maybe it was a fluke, and decided to try boarding her there again.
Second time, no major problems.
Third time, she came home filthy. Five minutes after picking her up, she threw up in the car, then proceeded to throw up 7 more times, including vomitting blood and having diarrhea. I immediately bathed her and noticed that there was a lot of feces stuck to her fur and her face was stained in her tears. I spent $400 taking her to the vet this time and they xrayed for "foreign objects" in her abdomen and did bloodwork to see if she had any kidney problems (due to not eating or drinking). nothing was determined or obvious so the vet has no idea why she is sick. They gave her an anti-nausea injection and a fluid injection to make sure she's well hydrated. I am orally feeding her antibiotics and a bland chicken diet for a week. The vet said to watch her closely... results TO BE DETERMINED. We'll see if she stops coughing up blood!!!
That being said, I wrote these same details to the Cats' Inn and asked for explanation and compensation. SAMANTHA, the store manager, returned my call. She offered ZERO sympathy and only said she checked the daily health log and then proceeded to defend all of their actions. She said that someone cleaned my cat's face before returning her to me. If that's what they call cleaning, then that's a big problem in itself... my cat's face had big black streaks down her nose that didn't look at all like someone had cleaned her. She said that my cat did have diarrhea on the last day, yet NOBODY REPORTED THAT TO ME when I picked her up. So far, I have spent around $700 in vet fees and medication trying to make my cat better.
Samantha proceeded to cut me off while I was talking, kept saying the reason my cat is puking is because she's "stressed", said she can't offer any refunds or compensation, and kept defending how great their facility is and how much they love their cats. Don't be fooled by all the marketing and that they send picture emails to reassure that your cat is ok while you are out of town.
In summary, one time, my cat could barely breath. Another time, she's covered in poop and puked blood 7 times with diarrhea. Rude, unsympathetic manager, that offered nothing to compensate my cat's health and trouble. Why even bother calling????!!!!
You be the judge if you want to risk boarding your cat there.
I know they will probably deny all of this but if you wish to know more details, feel free to contact me. -
Review from Michelle C.
Belmont, CA
7/12/2011
I went her to get my baby girl's nails trimmed, because she won't behave for me to do it myself. This place is literally a 5 minute walk from my apartment. Cost was $10, same price as our vet, 9 Lives in RWC. Best thing of all, is that they were super fast, I was there in the shop for about 5 minutes or less. Then I just walked back home.
I just love reading their website about all the different spa packages you can have done to your cat. Mainly long haired cats. It is hilarious, lions main to the notorious panty shave. Makes me laugh every time. I always joke to my boyfriend that we'll do that to our Russian Blue. It will never happen because she's short haired, but still too funny. -
Review from Rommel H.
Burlingame, CA
4/6/2011
My best friend and his fiance went to Cabo on vacation for 10 days. His Fiance has a cat that she absolutely adores. As the bff, I got the task of taking care of "Lola". Well, this is where it gets complicated. After I agreed and the day they left for Mexico, I had a last minute trip I had to make to Canada. Well, I didn't want to give their house keys to someone they didn't know or trust and I had to make sure the cat was taken care of.
I've heard of Dog boarding but never cat boarding. I got on Yelp and did a search and was glad to find a local cat boarding business.
My first impression: nice facility, great staff and reasonable price. I will still a little nervous because I had no way of reaching my buddy or his fiance. So I dropped of Lola and left for Canada. My flight was scheduled to land literally a hour before my buddy. So I had the girlfriend pick up Lola and drop her off at the house.
Picked up my buddy and his fiance and they were completely oblivious. Lola was happy, well fed and groomed. I was praised. But, I cannot tell a lie and told my buddy and his fiance about my little quandary. So, after a little bit of an awkward moment, I drove them both to the Cat's Inn, had them tour the facility and meet the staff. They were so impressed they ended up using the Cat's Inn for boarding Lola whenever they were away for vacation or business...and my buddies girlfriend actually reimbursed me for boarding Lola (which was completely unnecessary but came in handy for happy hour) .
I would definitely recommend this business and wish they did dogs ! -
Review from Bonnie H.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2010
This review is for grooming only... comments about boarding will follow.
The Cat's Inn is like a salon for kitties!
My cat Paintfoot is a tuxedo cat (black with white belly). He looks like a perfect gentleman, but if he were human, he'd be the man in the suit with toilet paper on his feet or walk around with chocolate on his cheek without knowing. For a cat in tuxedo, he's just not very good at grooming himself (don't tell him I said that.). So yes, thank goodness for Cat's Inn and their flexible appointments (usually you can get one in the next day or two).... because you never know when Paintfoot is in need of emergency grooming.
My cat Leo is much better at grooming himself and I feel like he even has a pleasant natural scent. (mmm, Leo) Actually he often tries to (aggressively) help groom Paintfoot. But then he gets to be too aggressive and it always ends with a brawl.
I had just brought Leo in for a groom last week. As good of a groomer as he is, he's Maine Coon and can very easily end up with knots after a while. I noticed afterwards how much happier he is and came to sit on my lap much more than the days before I took him in. Both of them tend to be sweeter after their trip to Cats Inn.
I guess cats are just such proud creatures and they are embarrassed when they feel dirty or ungroomed. It makes me glad that I am able to call on Cats Inn at anytime to make my kitties feel more confident in themselves!
I love their Lion Cuts and they really do it in a way that really make them look like lions!
It does seem a little expensive, but it's totally worth it. They always come back smelling nice and clean and feeling good!
*****
I was reading some of the negative reviews about boarding, and just wanted to say this. What exactly do you mentally picture about a cat being boarded? Do you envision fun and games all day and special attention given to your cat 24/7? Did you not realize other cats may be there? Perhaps you should think about these things before boarding your cats and set some expectations in your mind before doing it. I never board my cats because I know how they would be stressed out being boarded and would prefer them to be in the comfort of their own home, so I get a catsitter instead (which cat's inn offers). Perhaps you should think about these basic things about your own cat like comfort level, attention-needed before deciding to board them. -
Review from Tammy A.
12/19/2007 ROTD 9/23/2008
I had a mixed experience with boarding Pal at The Cats Inn for 2-1/2 weeks. Staff followed my instructions for specialized feeding just fine and the gal I dealt with was friendly. However, I was a little put off that the enclosure used when I returned to pick her up was different than the original enclosure they put Pal in, and one of her towels went missing.
I don't know if this was coincidental or pre-arranged, but also when I came to pick her up Pal was in the showcase picture window. In fact, Pal didn't want to leave! Too bad she couldn't spend the entire time in there, haha.
Pal became violently ill with a virus just a few days after her return and died after five months of agony. I'll never know if her stay at The Cats Inn had any causality, but their close quarters for their many feline clients always put a little suspicion in my mind. I've since used on-site cat-sitters because it's much less stressful for the animal to stay in a familiar environment during their owners' absence. -
Review from Karly L.
Foster City, CA
9/10/2008
I found the Cats' Inn last year during that awful heat wave last summer. It was so hot that my big, black, insanely fluffy maine coon (? I think), stopped eating. I quickly made an appointment at the first grooming place the internet revealed, the Cats' Inn. They seemed small, but very nice, and I liked that there were no dogs to deal with ... well, for the usual reason.
I have to interject with a note about how much my cat, Jii-san, despises being groomed. He is ok with strangers, being petted, picked up, claws clipped. But get near him with a pair of scissors and he becomes a slippery fish.
Now, I assumed that a Cat groomer would have the knowledge and equipment to deal with this ... silly me. I dropped Jii-san off in the morning and headed off to an interview in the city. I got a call about two hours later, while I was waiting my turn to be interviewed, asking me to come pick up my cat right away, that they couldn't groom him because he was freaking out too much. I then had to call my husband back in foster city, who had to procure a car from a friend and take a long lunch break to pick Jii-san up. They suggested to him that we get a sedative from our vet and bring him back for a second try.
We did just that, but on the second try I get a call at work. They got about halfway through the grooming and the sedative wore off because they waited too long to start, and they wanted me to come pick up my half groomed cat. Now, My husband and I share a car, and on this day it was his turn to use it after I had dropped off Jii-san. So it was my turn to borrow a co workers car, and get the cat. Upon arrival, the groomer, who was the only one working that day, informed me that he managed to get the cat mostly groomed, but if I could just help hold him down for the last bit of it, he would be done. He led me back to the "grooming room", which was basically a closet with the laundry machines, on whose closed lids my cat was cowering. I helped him finish the last of my cat's lions' cut w/mohawk (so cute! ... but I digress), and got ready to take him home.
Thankfully they only charged me for the successful attempt, but when I asked for the extra sedative that I had given him, just in case, he had lost it. Seriously now, that was like 20 or 30 dollars! He promised he would look for it and give me a call if they found it. Needless to say I never got a call.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Lexi B.
San Jose, CA
1/29/2009
Oh Donut. You have come back into my life with a vengence.
Donut the Cat has returned, but I had to leave for a weekend. I had never taken a pet to kennel before and was a bit nervous to drop him off. Besides the fact that he's big boned, I worry that his lack of social skills and his weird demeanor might not be kennel-appropriate.
When I called them, they were wonderfully kind and listened to my cats special needs. Even when I was that anal-pet-owner that asked for my cat to be fed twice at day, 1/2 cup of Light Science Diet to help Donut trim down a bit, they didn't bat an eye. They said they could accomodate whatever he needed.
When I dropped him off, I realized I was behind in getting his rabies shots. They said that they could give him a 3-year rabies shot, a full bath, and nail trim. It was one stop kitty shop! Basically Donut's version of the shit, shower, and shave.
When I picked him up, I was pleased to see how clean the kennel was. Each little one ahd their own cage and surprisingly it didn't have that pet-funk smell. It was just a happy place for a kitty to shack up. The girl working there described Donut as "shy" which made me rethink the way I understand his personality. Much less grumpy, a little bit more bashful.
Each night was $20 and with all my fixins I got, a 4 night stay was $120.00. Not bad at all in my book! -
Review from John F.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2009
The Cats' Inn seemed like a delightful place for me to board my cat over the Christmas holiday out of town. They squeezed me in last minute which is the only reason that they get 2 stars instead of just 1 star.
The problem was that my well-vaccinated, healthy young male cat was returned with a serious cold. When I called them to discuss this matter, they admitted it was interesting, but didn't even bother to collect my information to see if other pets around mine had gotten sick.
$300 dollars in vet fees to give antibiotics in order to treat what the vet described as a pretty serious infection.
Avoid. Try Metro Pet in Emeryville or even a Pets Mart before you take your cat here. -
Review from Jennifer I.
San Mateo, CA
4/19/2011
For the past two years, we have used The Cats' Inn for boarding our cat Georgie whenever we are away. Initially, we were attracted by the clean, cats-only kennel and the fact that cats spend so much time playing outside of their cages. The friendly staff at The Cats' Inn did not disappoint us.
Because Georgie has IBD, she has problems keeping food down and she needs to receive medication every day. Despite these difficulties, Georgie thrives under the care of the staff at The Cats' Inn. She gets the medicine and food she needs on the schedule specified by our vet. Also, even though she is a bit shy (especially in new environments), Georgie really seems to enjoy staying there. She particularly loves being able to climb the numerous cat trees as well as the glass enclosed play areas.
Lastly, the drop-off service is super convenient and means that Georgie can come home even if we are unable to get to The Cats' Inn during regular hours. -
Review from Henrietta B.
San Mateo, CA
1/28/2010
Sometimes life is sh*tty. Literally.
Luckily, there's Cat's Inn just down the street.
One cat after another had bouts of diarrhea. There is only so much you can do to clean that sh*t up!
Now, I just moved here from the city. So, this is a new experience:
Call Cat's Inn at 8:30 AM after I find cat with poopy butt. "Hi, I was wondering if you had room to fit in a cat in need of a bath" ..."Sure, just drop him off before 10."
WHAAA???
You mean I can make a cat grooming appointment NOT 3 weeks before, even though it makes sense, since usually if you need to groom a cat, it's probably an emergency?!
Both times, kitty came back bathed, panty shaved, and smelling fresh and soft as a baby's butt.
Thanks Cat's Inn! -
Review from Charleen L.
Redwood City, CA
Updated - 8/12/2010
I am informed there is a dispute about my review. I can well imagine. However, I've gone over my review and confirmed the account is factual. Our cats' stay at the Cats' Inn was mid-March 2010. For the cat in chronic renal failure, it was his first stay. For the cat with cancer, I believe it was her fourth but it may have been her third. Both cats are doing wonderfully as I write this.
Edited to add:
Hey Cats' Inn! Since you continue to deny we were ever your customers, why not take us off your effling email list? And quit sending us crapola in the mail, too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/5/2010
We so desperately wanted this place to work out. It would be nice to actually take a vacation this… Read more »
Comment from Maggy S. of The Cats' Inn 6/23/2010
I'm sorry but this is not one of our customers. More » -
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Review from Durif M.
Foster City, CA
12/29/2008
I boarded my cat here for about a week.
The staff were all really friendly and you can tell how much they love cats by seeing how they talk treat and talk to them. My cat was really freaked out because it was his first time to board, but they were kind enough to send me an email update telling me how he's doing. My cat came home healthy and happy. The prices are reasonable too. -
Review from Monique D.
Grass Valley, CA
1/4/2007
I've been here a few times with my cat and she always comes home happy and healthy. The cages are steel but they provide lots of blankets and towels to keep the cats warm. Also, I like that you can buy a double cage for $25 a night and they'll try to honor your special requests like top or bottom cages. But, I'm not impressed by their standards of customer service. When I make a reservation I usually have to talk to a teenager who sounds high and confused about where she is let alone what I want. It makes me wary of leaving my cat here but frankly, there aren't many other options on the peninsula. Quite sad that we have to make do with this. Oh! And they're closed on Sundays so you can't even rescue your cat when you get home from a quick trip! And they get to make off with another night's payment from you. There must be better out there!
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Review from mary C.
Belmont, CA
4/6/2007 1 photo
I have three cats that I board at The Cats' Inn and they love it. One of my boys is an absolute crank while boarding there, but they very kindly put up with him. My girl has quickly become a favorite and I see her soak up all the attention they give her when I visit. I like the fact that they let their cats have some free roam time. When you're taking a tour, it's really cool to see cats on the cat walks and sleeping on the couches in the playroom. Surprisingly it doesn't seem too noisy. Most of the cats seem content to sleep in their beds or to walk around. I read Monique's review on the customer service, but maybe that particular teenager was still in training as I've noticed some new faces working there recently. Overall I think it's a happy place and I'm very comfortable with leaving my cats in the care of the Cats' Inn.
P.S. I have since moved and am in the process of researching for a new boarding facility should I need one. I miss being able to rely on The Cats' Inn! -
Review from Gina V.
Menlo Park, CA
4/20/2011 2 photos
I have a very geriatric, long-haired, high-maintenance, indoor-only, beyond inbred Persian cat that I adore more than I can say. I'm probably more fussy about where he can go and who he can stay with than most people are about their kids. This is partly because he's my dear little friend, but also because when I leave him with people, he craps in the house when he gets home to communicate that he didn't enjoy his time away. I've never liked the look of most boarding facilities, but was forced to have to put him in one last year when I couldn't find anyone to look after him. Lucky for me I found The Cat's Inn. You know that feeling when you drop your pet at boarding and you feel guilty and sick - like you're abandoning them? I don't feel that way at The Cat's Inn. The staff is fantastic -- they know him, take great care of him, remember what he likes to eat and what he will turn up his flat face to - they even send me pictures of him holding court at The Inn while I'm traveling to let me know he's doing well. If you need to board your cat, you'll be in great hands here.
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Review from Cianne M.
San Mateo, CA
8/21/2008
Never boarded my cat here, but go for grooming services. They usually do a good job and the prices are reasonable compared to my vet. Sometimes the Soft Paws applications don't last very long though. The front desk area is way too small. Normally gets overcrowded with people dropping off and picking up their cats. Sometimes need to wait outside. The employees could do a better job of organizing and acknowledging customers, but they usually seem flustered.
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Review from A G.
San Mateo, CA
2/7/2010
Don't do it unless you have no choice. A week later my indoor cat had fleas and Ringworm. I have the vets bill to prove it!
Cats are in small cages. Why not buy a big cage, a small litter box and ask a friend to change the litter and pour some food like they do! -
Review from Kim A.
San Bruno, CA
8/29/2007
I just brought my cat Emma in for grooming services and she looks great! Jamie did a terrific job. He was very gentle and gave Emma the exact cut I asked for. I will definitely be bringing her back to the Cat's Inn in the future. The staff at the Cat's Inn are all personable and professional. Today Christene is manning the phone and the front. She explained the services available and answered all my questions. The cats boarding there were all greeted with kindness and "pets" from the staff as they were working. I really like the fact that the facility is so clean. Emma is another satisfied customer of the Cat's Inn.
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Review from Jerri T.
San Jose, CA
3/31/2008
I'll never use this place again. When I picked my cat up she was dirty and miserable.
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Review from Mary ellen W.
San Bruno, CA
3/10/2008
I really want to like this place. I love that they are a cats only boarding facility, so the cats are not stressed out by dogs barking. however, both times I boarded cats at Cat's Inn, I've been very disappointed. Here's why. My cats were on a raw food diet. the form this particular brand of raw food takes is in ground up chicken, salmon, and veggies frozen into nuggets. you need to keep the big bag in the freezer, and just thaw what you need for that day, or as long as 4 days in advance. any longer, and you risk having nasty bacteria grow in the food. both times I explained this to the staff there, both times they said ok, they would put it in a freezer, and both times when I picked up my cat, I discovered that all the frozen nuggets were thawed into a big bag of raw meat mush. the trips I took were longer than 4 days. in fact one of them was for two weeks. they obviously did not put the food in a freezer. I suspect that they don't even have a freezer in their facility, and neglected to tell me this at all. thankfully my cats did not get sick from this experience. I've had much better luck with Pet Camp in San Francisco, and Wag Hotel looks good too but I haven't had a reason to try it yet.
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Review from Elena F.
Burlingame, CA
Updated - 4/15/2010
Sam & Maggie were incredibly helpful with our Bear. He's an alpha cat and doesn't like to be outside of his environment at all. Sam & Maggie allowed us to go into the back and hold Bear while he got his nails clipped (oh he really dislike that part) and then the panty shave (also not approved by Mr. Bear). So basically, he didn't need to be sedated while he got his much needed treatments. Next time...we'll try the warm bath. We hear alpha cats tend to calm down after one of those. Can't wait to try it out! Thanks Cat's Inn Team!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2010
One of our cats enjoys the lion cut...the other just freaks out and can't stand the stranger danger… Read more »
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