Even if you go to a cat inn hoping to see resident cats, you may not be able to meet them during your stay. It’s natural to feel disappointed, but the fact that the cat doesn’t show up doesn’t necessarily mean that the information about the inn was incorrect or that the guest disliked the guest.
Cats need a place to rest and escape. Depending on strangers, noise, weather, physical condition, and relationships with other cats, the cat may spend time in unusual locations. Before you start looking for the cat, respect the circumstances of the cat and the inn that day.
- Main reasons why you can’t meet cats
- First, reread the information about the accommodation.
- How to ask staff
- Places not to look for
- How to spend your time while waiting quietly
- Don’t let not being able to meet the cat be a failure
- “Another purpose” found at the inn
- Connect to your next trip
- Precautions when writing reviews
- Not necessarily eligible for refund or compensation
- Summary
- Reference materials
Main reasons why you can’t meet cats
There is more than one reason why resident cats don’t show up.
- Sleeping in a quiet place
- Avoiding people coming and going and loud noises
- Be in a different place depending on the heat or cold
- Time for meals, medication, hospital visits, and health management.
- Due to my age and health concerns, I do not go out to the customer service area.
- A cat that goes outside and patrols its range.
- Keeping distance between cats
Cats Protection Explanation also states that hiding is a natural behavior for cats, and they may choose to rest in a place where they feel safe. There is no need for the guest to determine the reason.
First, reread the information about the accommodation.
Check the explanation at check-in, guest room information, and inside the inn bulletin board. If the cat has a set area or socializing time, you won’t be able to meet him if you look for him outside of that area.
The information that “There is a resident cat inside the inn” does not guarantee that “you can meet him anytime” or “you will definitely come across him.” If the reservation page says that the condition is dependent on the cat’s health, I will accept that condition as part of the stay.
How to ask staff
It’s okay to ask briefly once, at a less busy time.
Is the resident cat resting today? If you have information about the time and place where we can meet, please tell me/us we would like to wait quietly within that range.
Avoid asking the staff to bring the cat to you, wake the cat up, or pick up and carry the cat to the photo location. If the staff informs you that they cannot meet you today, do not ask for any further action.
Places not to look for
Do not enter restricted areas, staff rooms, kitchens, or backyards. Avoid sticking hands or cameras under furniture, into beds, or into boxes.
The cat’s hiding place may be a safe haven chosen by the cat to calm itself. Repeatedly checking on or luring the cat out of hiding can further increase anxiety.
How to spend your time while waiting quietly
Continue your normal stay, reading a book, drinking tea, organizing your itinerary, etc. in the common area where the inn has announced that you can socialize. Don’t block passageways, keep the volume down, and don’t stand up too quickly if the cat appears.
Do not use calling sounds, bags of snacks, or cat teasers to attract cats without permission. If a cat approaches you, don’t touch them right away, and try to interact with them in a manner that respects the cat’s will Reference to.
Don’t let not being able to meet the cat be a failure
Nekoyado is not a facility that only provides cats. If you have another purpose for staying at the inn, such as the building, hot springs, food, local scenery, and conversations with the innkeepers, you will be less likely to have your entire trip influenced by the cat’s behavior.
The fact that an environment where cats can hide safely can be seen as an inn consideration for cats. Being up close and personal with the cat is not the only way to take care of the cat.
“Another purpose” found at the inn
While waiting for the cat, let’s take a look at the work that the inn has been doing for a long time.
- Taste dishes that express the seasons and region
- Learn about hot spring water quality and bathhouse construction
- See old buildings, gardens and furniture
- Ask the inn staff for walking destinations in the area
- Enjoy the morning and evening views and the quiet common area
- Find the season and plan you want to stay next time
If a cat appears, it will join the journey, but even if it does not appear, the time at the inn is still valid. If you plan accordingly, you can wait calmly without asking for a call.
Connect to your next trip
There is no need to immediately rebook just because you couldn’t meet. If I were to come back, I would not be looking for a guaranteed interaction with the cats, but would also have a new purpose, such as another seasonal dish or a local event.
In the review, I will write separately the fact that I could not meet them, the information about the accommodation that day, and the elements of the accommodation that I enjoyed. For specific examples, please see How to write a good review of a cat inn.
Precautions when writing reviews
Please do not conclude that the cat is not there or that the sign is false just because you have not been able to meet it once. Write down the dates you stayed and the information you received from the inn.
Example:
When I stayed in October, I was informed that the cat would be closed due to her health being a priority, so I did not see her. Inside the inn there was an area where cats could rest.
It is also important not to guess and write information that is not made public by the inn, such as the name of the cat’s illness, details of hospital visits, and the status of the backyard.
Not necessarily eligible for refund or compensation
Cat behavior is generally not guaranteed as an accommodation service. Just because you weren’t able to meet the cat doesn’t necessarily mean you can ask for a reduction in the fee or a refund. Please check the accommodation conditions and cancellation policy before booking.
If interacting with cats is an absolute requirement for your trip, you can also choose an inn that has a designated space and designated usage times. However, changes may occur depending on the cat’s physical condition.
Summary
The days when you can’t see the cat may be the days when the cat is choosing to take a break. Check the directions to the inn, ask quietly once, and do not enter the hiding place. Making plans that take into account the possibility that you may not be able to meet the cat will lead to a trip that is friendly to both the resident cat and the accommodation.
If you would like to choose a different type of accommodation, please also refer to Differences between accommodations with resident cats, accommodations where you can stay with cats, and accommodations with cat cafes.
Reference materials
- Cats Protection: Cats hiding
- Cats Protection: Spotting signs of cat stress
- 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines
Note: If guests do not diagnose the cat’s health condition and find any changes that are of concern, please notify the inn staff.
