Choosing somewhere for your cat to stay is a personal decision. You are not simply reserving a room. You are trusting people to notice whether your cat has eaten, understand when they need a little space and learn the small things that help them feel comfortable.
At Hotel for Cats, those details have mattered from the very beginning.
Our hotel has been independently owned and family-run since Holly Bathgate created it in 2009. It grew alongside Blakehurst Vet and continues to be shaped by the same family, the same purpose and the belief that cats deserve a genuine holiday of their own.
Quick answer
A family-run cat hotel offers care shaped by people who are personally involved in the business and the standard it provides. At Hotel for Cats, decisions about the rooms, routines and guest experience are made here in Blakehurst by people who know the hotel and its cats. Every guest stays in private accommodation, receives individual attention and benefits from the reassurance of Blakehurst Vet on the same premises.
A hotel that began with one cat
Hotel for Cats began when a long-standing Blakehurst Vet client asked whether her cat could stay at the clinic while she travelled to Europe for two months.
At the time, the only available option would have been a cage inside the veterinary clinic. Holly could not imagine leaving a much-loved cat in that environment for such a long stay.
The request stayed with her. If one owner wanted something better for her cat, surely others did too.
Holly’s husband and business partner, veterinarian Dr Hamish Bathgate, suggested visiting existing catteries for ideas. Holly refused. She did not want to copy what was already available. She wanted to create something completely different.
Working with a carpenter, she developed spacious private rooms with climbing areas, comfortable beds and room for cats to move around properly. Hotel for Cats opened in 2009, built around the idea that a cat should feel as though they are on holiday, not simply waiting for their family to return.
You can read more about how Hotel for Cats began.
Family-run care begins with knowing the guest
Personal care is difficult to deliver when every cat is treated as though they have the same personality.
Some guests arrive ready to inspect their suite and introduce themselves to everyone. Others prefer their feline butler to serve dinner quietly and allow the friendship to develop in its own time.
Our team learns about each cat before they settle into their room. We ask about their usual food, routine, personality, health needs and the kind of attention they enjoy.
Throughout the stay, we monitor eating, drinking, toileting and behaviour. We get to know which guests greet breakfast enthusiastically, who prefers a gentle approach and who has very definite views about when a smooch is appropriate.
This individual knowledge helps us care for the cat in front of us, rather than following the same script for every guest.
Decisions are made here in Blakehurst
One of the meaningful differences in an independent family business is that decisions are made by people who understand the hotel firsthand.
The Bathgate family knows the building, the rooms, the team and the experience they want every owner to have. If something can be improved, it does not need to pass through layers of distant management before anyone can act.
That direct involvement has shaped the hotel as it has grown.
In 2020, Hotel for Cats and Blakehurst Vet moved into a purpose-built facility on King Georges Road. The accommodation continued to evolve, with new designer suites, Executive Junior Suites and the top-floor Penthouse rooms added to give owners more choice.
We do not assume that creating a beautiful cat hotel once is enough. The rooms and guest experience continue to develop as we find new ways to make each stay more comfortable and enjoyable.
Private accommodation for every cat
Every guest at Hotel for Cats has private accommodation. Cats from different households are never mixed.
Cats from the same family can share a suitable room when they already live happily together. Larger suites and our Penthouse rooms give siblings space to stay together while still choosing separate places to rest.
Our accommodation ranges from affordable private Condos to Junior and Senior Suites, the Grand Suites Collection, The Estate and human-sized Penthouse rooms.
Each category offers a different amount of space and different features, allowing owners to choose what suits their cat’s personality, mobility and length of stay.
You can compare our rooms and suites or read our guide to choosing the right luxury cat suite.
Rooms created around cats
The rooms at Hotel for Cats were not designed by taking ordinary animal accommodation and making it look more attractive. They were created around the way cats like to live.
Depending on the suite, a guest may have access to climbing furniture, elevated beds, large windows, televisions, cat wheels, window seats or private catios.
These features give cats choices. They can climb when they feel active, sit at a window and watch the world, or find the perfect position for an uninterrupted afternoon nap.
Senior Suites take a different approach, with low bedding and shelves that are easier for older or less mobile puddycats to use.
The room is part of the care because it determines how much freedom a cat has to settle and spend their day in their own way.
Attention that follows the cat’s lead
A family-run approach does not mean overwhelming every guest with affection.
Real personal care involves noticing what the cat actually wants.
One guest may enjoy toys, brushing and company whenever a team member enters the room. Another may feel more comfortable with a quiet voice and a little patience. A third might decide that the staff are acceptable, provided meals remain punctual.
Our team offers play, interaction and companionship according to the guest’s preferences. We allow cautious cats to take their time and give confident cats opportunities to explore and engage.
Our article on why some cats settle into boarding faster than others explains why every guest approaches a new environment differently.
The team behind each stay
Although Hotel for Cats is family-owned, caring for our guests is a team effort.
Our hotel attendants, veterinary nurses and managers bring their own knowledge and experience to the role. The family-run difference lies in the culture surrounding that work: people are encouraged to know the cats, notice changes and understand that good care is found in the details.
When a staff member enters a room, it is not simply to complete a list of tasks. It is an opportunity to see how the cat greets them, where they have chosen to sleep, how well they are eating and whether they seem like themselves.
This is how unfamiliar faces become trusted feline butlers over the course of a stay.
If you would like to know what happens when a guest arrives, our article on a cat’s first day at Hotel for Cats follows the check-in and settling process.
Blakehurst Vet on the same premises
Hotel for Cats operates alongside Blakehurst Vet, with a full veterinary clinic on the premises.
Our team monitors each guest’s appetite, water intake, toileting and behaviour. If something causes concern, veterinary expertise is close at hand.
This offers valuable reassurance for every owner and can be particularly important for senior cats, cats taking medication and guests with existing health needs.
You can read more about on-site veterinary support at Hotel for Cats and what happens if a cat becomes sick while boarding.
Familiar faces over many stays
Many guests return to Hotel for Cats whenever their families travel.
Returning cats often recognise the routine and become comfortable more quickly. The team may already know which room they enjoy, what kind of interaction they prefer and whether they consider breakfast the most important event of the day.
That continuity is valuable for owners too. They are not starting from the beginning with every booking or explaining their cat’s personality to an entirely unfamiliar business.
A first-time guest can become a familiar face, and a familiar face can become part of the Hotel for Cats family.
Reassurance while you travel
Every stay includes one complimentary weekly photo or video update with a written summary.
The update gives you a glimpse of how your cat is spending their holiday, whether they are playing, watching the world from a window or stretched across their bed as though they have always lived there.
Additional updates can be arranged if required.
A local cat hotel with a convenient location
Hotel for Cats is located in Blakehurst and welcomes cats from Hurstville, St George, the Sutherland Shire and across Sydney.
We are around 20 minutes from Sydney Airport under normal traffic conditions, making check-in and collection convenient for many travelling families.
Our guide to cat boarding near Sydney Airport has more information for owners planning a flight.
Frequently asked questions about family-run cat boarding
What does family-run cat hotel mean?
Hotel for Cats is independently owned and operated by the Bathgate family. The family remains involved in the hotel, its development and the standards of care provided to every guest.
Who founded Hotel for Cats?
Holly Bathgate founded Hotel for Cats after a Blakehurst Vet client needed somewhere suitable for her cat to stay during a two-month trip. Holly created an alternative built around spacious private rooms and individual feline care.
How long has Hotel for Cats been operating?
Hotel for Cats opened in Blakehurst in 2009. In 2020, it moved with Blakehurst Vet into the current purpose-built premises on King Georges Road.
Is Hotel for Cats part of a corporate chain?
No. Hotel for Cats is an independent, family-run Sydney business.
Will my cat have private accommodation?
Yes. Every guest has private accommodation, and cats from different households are never mixed. Cats from the same family may share a suitable room when they already live happily together.
Will the team get to know my cat?
Yes. We ask about your cat’s food, routine, health and personality before they settle into their room. Our team then adapts its approach according to the attention and interaction your cat enjoys.
Is veterinary support available?
Yes. Hotel for Cats operates alongside Blakehurst Vet, with a full veterinary clinic on the premises. Veterinary expertise is close at hand if a health concern arises during a stay.
Can you care for a cat who needs medication?
Our trained team can administer most oral and topical medications when arranged before arrival. Medication should remain in its original packaging with a clear veterinary prescription and dosage instructions.
Will I receive an update during the stay?
Every stay includes one complimentary weekly photo or video update with a written summary. Additional updates can be arranged if required.
Why choose an independent, family-run cat hotel?
A family-run hotel offers continuity, personal involvement and decisions made by people who know the business firsthand. At Hotel for Cats, that approach is reflected in the private rooms, individual care and attention given to every guest.
Still family-run, still created around cats
Hotel for Cats has grown considerably since Holly created those first rooms in 2009, but the reason behind it has not changed.
We want owners to travel without feeling guilty about where they have left their cat. We want every puddycat to have privacy, space and care from people who take the time to know them. Most of all, we want their stay to feel like a holiday of their own.
That is what being family-run means to us. The people responsible for the hotel are still here, still involved and still looking for ways to make the experience better.
Explore our rooms and suites and book your cat’s next stay online.