What to Know About Cat Boarding at The Cat Clinic in Columbia, SC

The Cat Clinic offers cat boarding alongside its veterinary services at its Columbia, South Carolina location, and it's designed for owners who need a safe place for their cat while they're away. The main things that set it apart: it's a cat-only facility, it's Fear Free® certified, and the team has more than 30 years of feline care experience. If your cat gets stressed around dogs or in mixed-animal settings, that combination is the core reason to consider it.

What The Cat Clinic Says About Its Boarding

According to the clinic's own description, boarding is positioned as more than basic housing. The key claims from the site:

• Pampering-focused care — the clinic says it goes "above and beyond" and emphasizes "pampering and love" during a cat's stay.
• "Luxurious facilities" — the site describes the boarding accommodations as luxurious, intended to make cats feel "cherished and valued."
• A "home away from home" — the clinic frames boarding as a place your cat might come to see as a second home.

These are the clinic's own characterizations, so treat them as the facility's positioning rather than independently verified ratings.

Why the Cat-Only Setting Matters for Boarding

The clinic's central argument is stress reduction. Because it treats and boards only cats:

• There are no barking dogs in the environment.
• The clinic says a cat-only setting is "much less stressful to cats than mixed-animal practices."
• Staff describe themselves as skilled at handling cats properly, which the clinic says can minimize the need for sedation and anesthesia.

For a cat that hides, stops eating, or panics at a general boarding facility, this is the most relevant practical difference. A quieter, cat-specific environment is the clinic's stated method for keeping stress down.

Fear Free® Certification

The Cat Clinic states it has earned Fear Free® certification, described as a nationally recognized program focused on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress during veterinary visits. The clinic says your cat's "comfort and emotional wellbeing come first."

If you're boarding a cat that also needs a vet visit during the same stay, this certification is worth asking about directly — it signals an intentional approach to low-stress handling, though you should confirm what it covers for boarding specifically.

Services Available Alongside Boarding

Boarding sits within a fuller service lineup, which can be useful if your cat needs care while you're away:

The clinic describes itself as a "fully comprehensive Veterinary Hospital," so boarding and medical care can happen in the same place.

Who This Boarding Is a Good Fit For

Consider The Cat Clinic's boarding if:

• Your cat is stressed by dogs or busy mixed-animal facilities.
• You want boarding and veterinary care handled by the same cat-focused team.
• You're located in or near Columbia, Forest Acres, Shandon, or the surrounding areas.
• You value a low-stress handling philosophy for a nervous or senior cat.

It may be less of a fit if you need a boarding option far outside the Columbia area, or if you have specific requirements (medication schedules, special diets, extended stays) that you haven't confirmed with the clinic first.

What to Confirm Before Booking

The clinic's page doesn't list boarding rates, required vaccinations, drop-off/pick-up hours, or whether medical care during boarding costs extra. Before you book, ask directly about:

• Vaccination and health requirements for boarding.
• Pricing and what's included in a boarding stay.
• Whether a vet exam is required before or during boarding.
• How medication and special diets are handled.
• Availability and reservation lead time, especially around holidays.

The clinic invites you to call or book online through its site, so that's the fastest way to get answers specific to your cat.