Accommodation etiquette loved by resident cats | How to spend time in a way that is kind to both cats and hosts

An illustration depicting a resident cat approaching while a traveler waits quietly in the common room of an inn. Cat-inn guide

What is important in an inn with a resident cat is not the technique of getting closer to the cat, but protecting a state where the cat can choose to come close or go away on its own. Some days the cat will climb onto your lap, while other days it may rest without showing itself. Both are part of the daily life of a cat inn.

Here, we will summarize the actions that people who stay at a cat inn for the first time should remember, in the order of their stay. Each inn has different rules, so please prioritize local guidance over this article.

7 basics to remember first

  1. When you arrive, listen to the explanation about the accommodation before the cat does.
  2. Don’t chase the cat, wait for it to approach you.
  3. Don’t pick him up, touch him briefly and stop once.
  4. Do not give food or toys without permission.
  5. Check permission to shoot and publish without using flash
  6. Manage doors, windows, and luggage to prevent escape and accidental ingestion.
  7. Respect days when you cannot see each other and time to rest.

When you arrive, listen to the explanation about the accommodation before the cat.

Even if you find a cat at the entrance, don’t chase it without leaving your luggage and check in first. Please check the daily instructions, such as where the cat can spend time, what area the cat can touch, photography, guest room door, and treats.

Even if a past travelogue says, “I was able to hold you” or “I came to your room,” it does not necessarily mean that it is the same now. The age and physical condition of the cat and the operation of the accommodation will change. Rather than saying “I was able to do it before,” base it on the daily instructions.

Don’t chase the cat, leave an escape route and wait.

Avoid actions such as approaching the cat from the front, surrounding the cat from both sides of the aisle, and looking under furniture. Stay low and stand a short distance away, giving the cat time to see and smell you.

If the cat turns its face away, turns its ears to the side or back, stiffens its body, moves its tail strongly, or moves away from you, don’t approach it any further. Don’t judge your feelings based on one gesture, look at your whole body and the surrounding situation.

For more information, please also see Cat’s “signs that you can touch” and “signs that you want to be left alone”.

Keep your touching short and check with your accommodation before holding them.

Even if a cat approaches you, do not reach over your head and follow the inn’s instructions. Give short strokes to areas that are easily accepted by the cat, such as around the cheeks and chin, then pause. Once the cat leaves, it’s over.

Behaviors such as showing your belly or sitting on your lap do not mean that you are allowed to hold them. Picking up a cat restricts its movement and may cause it to fall when startled, or cause you to be scratched. Please do not pick up the cat without permission unless the inn staff gives clear instructions.

Do not use snacks, other people’s food, or toys without permission.

Cats may have dietary management, allergies, chronic illnesses, medication, and weight management. Do not give other people’s meals or snacks that you bring with you, and use food prepared by the inn only after receiving instructions on how much and how to use it.

Cat toys and strings can also lead to multiple cats fighting over each other and accidental ingestion. Be sure to check with the inn before making noise or attracting attention with snacks to take photos.

When taking photos, turn off the flash and check the public spaces.

Even at the inn that allow photography, there may be other rules regarding location, time, video, and SNS publication. Turn off flash and fill light to avoid waking the sleeping cat or moving it to your ideal background.

Make sure that there are no other guests, staff, room numbers, car license plates, etc. in the background. When posting a photo of a cat visiting the guest room, don’t generalize by saying things like “I will come anytime” or “I will definitely meet you,” but just give an example of your own stay.

Practical ways to take pictures are summarized in Etiquette for taking pictures at a cat inn.

Manage doors, windows, and luggage in guest room

At inns where cats come to the guest room, cats do not open the doors or windows at their own discretion, but enter and exit as directed by the inn. Before you go out into the hallway, close your luggage, and check out, please check to see if the cat is under your feet, under your futon, in your closet, or behind your bag.

Do not leave medicines, accessories, rubber bands, strings, plastic bags, sweets, etc. If you do not want the cat to enter your room, please do not hesitate and consult the inn when making a reservation or checking in.

For more information, please see How to spend time at an inn where a cat comes to the guest room.

Don’t let not being able to meet up be a failure

A resident cat is a cat that lives in an inn, and is not a facility that serves customers at set times. There are days when the cat is sleeping, hiding, recuperating, or doesn’t want to go out in public. Do not ask the host to call the cat or require a long search; support the cat’s decision to rest.

When choosing a place to stay, if you have something to look forward to other than cats, such as food, hot springs, buildings, and walking around the area, you won’t have to focus on the cat’s behavior.

Be considerate of the host and other guests

When you become obsessed with cats, you tend to block aisles, call out your name loudly, and interrupt your meal or check-in process. Please respect the time of the host who takes care of the cats and the management of the inn, as well as the space of other guests who wish to stay quietly.

I won’t post on social media anything I’ve heard about the cat’s health or past unless the inn has made it public. Respecting cats also means respecting the people and places that support their lives.

Summary

We cannot guarantee whether the resident cat will like you or not. However, all guests can do the following: not to chase, not to touch or give anything to animals without permission, not to rush to take photos, and to protect escape routes and rest areas.

Rather than asking the cat to do something for you, make it a one-night stay where the cat can live normally. This is the etiquette of a cat inn that is kind to both cats and hosts. We introduce ways to support inns on an ongoing basis in 7 ways to support cat inns that go beyond just staying overnight.

Reference materials

Note: This article summarizes general accommodation etiquette. Each cat’s personality, health condition, and accommodation facilities are different. Please be sure to give priority to the inn’s information on-site.

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