Our Story
Seventeen years ago, a vet co-owned cat hotel in Blakehurst changed what cat boarding looked like in Sydney.
Years in business
The Beginning
Hotel for Cats began with one question: why do cats have to holiday in cages?
The answer became Sydney’s finest cat boarding experience, designed and built by Holly Bathgate, raised beside Blakehurst Vet, and running since 2009.
The Idea
Seventeen years ago, a long-time client asked if Blakehurst Vet could care for her cat for two months while she travelled to Europe. At the time, the only option was a cage in the vet clinic. Holly simply couldn’t bring herself to do it.
That moment sparked a vision for something entirely new in Sydney cat boarding: spacious, beautifully designed suites with televisions, climbing shelves, and room for cats to stretch, play, and relax. A place created entirely around feline comfort. Not human convenience.
The Reality
Today, Hotel for Cats is a purpose-built facility on King Georges Road, Blakehurst, complete with designer suites, televisions, cat wheels, climbing shelves, and natural light throughout.
Sydney’s premier cat hotel, born from one woman’s vision, creativity, and deep love for cats.
“Sydney’s cats deserved better, and 17 years ago, nobody was giving it to them, so we did. A cat on holiday should feel like they’re on holiday. Not like they’re waiting for their family to come back.”
Holly Bathgate, Founder
Our Team
Small team. Big dedication. Every guest is known by name.
Corey Tanswell
Practice Manager, Hotel for Cats & Blakehurst Vet
Corey oversees both Hotel for Cats and Blakehurst Vet, bringing the same exacting standard of care to everything that happens across both businesses. With a career spanning country NSW and Sydney, and a vet nursing qualification, he understands animal welfare from every angle.
He leads a team of devoted, experienced feline butlers who are trained to ensure every stay is personal, attentive, and genuinely enjoyable. Whatever your cat’s personality, Corey’s team will make them feel completely at home.
“Many of our guests have been coming back for years. Watching them walk in like they own the place, that’s everything.”
Wendy Phillips
Assistant Manager, Hotel for Cats
Wendy keeps Hotel for Cats running smoothly every single day. With a strong background in animal welfare, behaviour and client support across foster care, volunteer coordination, and senior animal handling, she brings calm authority and genuine warmth to everything she does.
She’s the kind of person cats gravitate toward without knowing why.
Together, Corey and Wendy set the standard for every stay at Hotel for Cats, a place where your cat is known by name, cared for with intention, and treated like the family member they are.
“Every guest that comes through our doors has a family wondering if they’re happy and content on holiday. I never forget that.”
Why Hotel for Cats
We built Hotel for Cats because cats deserve better than a cage and a quick daily pat.
Personal by design.
Your cat is known by name, not room number. We stay small on purpose so every guest gets the attention they deserve.
Vet co-owned.
A full veterinary clinic is on-site. Peace of mind isn’t a feature here. It’s the foundation.
No shared spaces. No strangers. Every cat has their own suite. Quiet, comfortable, and entirely their own.
Designer rooms.
Custom furniture, climbing spaces, and natural light. Built for cats, not humans.
Ready to book your cat’s next holiday?
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