How Are Peak Rates Applied and Does My Cat Receive Care & Attention on Holidays?

How Are Peak Rates Applied and Does My Cat Receive Care & Attention on Holidays?

How Are Peak Rates Applied and Does My Cat Receive Care & Attention on Holidays?

Absolutely.

Cats in the City provides care every day of the year, including holidays. While our offices may be closed to the public on certain dates, cats staying with us continue to receive the attention, feeding, medication support, cleaning, observation, enrichment, and care they need.

Your cat does not experience a “holiday” from care simply because it is a holiday on the calendar.

How Peak Dates Affect Boarding

Because demand for boarding increases significantly around major holidays and travel periods, special reservation policies apply during designated Peak Dates.

If your reservation includes any listed Peak or Holiday Date:

  • A non-refundable deposit equal to 75% of estimated boarding fees is required at the time of reservation acceptance.
  • The minimum boarding fee increases from three days to five days at the reserved room rate.
  • A $75 Peak Fee applies per room.
  • Peak and holiday boarding rates increase by 10% per cat.

These policies help us maintain staffing, reserve housing capacity, and continue providing individualized care during our busiest periods.

Why Do Peak Fees Exist?

Holiday reservations often book months in advance and represent some of the most limited boarding availability of the year.

When a room is reserved during a peak period, that space cannot be offered to another family. Peak fees help offset the additional staffing, scheduling, and operational demands required to provide consistent care during these high-demand travel periods.

Public Closures vs. Cat Care

The following dates are generally closed to public drop-off and pick-up services. However, cats remain fully cared for on-site.

Public closures may include:

  • Spring Break Week
  • Easter Sunday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year’s Eve
  • New Year’s Day

Even when our lobby is closed, our team continues caring for boarding guests throughout the day.

Minimum Boarding Fees

Non-Peak Reservations

The minimum boarding fee is equal to three days of boarding at the reserved room rate.

Peak & Holiday Reservations

The minimum boarding fee is equal to:

  • Five days of boarding at the reserved room rate
  • Plus the applicable $75 Peak Fee per room

This minimum applies even if the actual stay is shorter.

Peak & Holiday Dates

Peak and holiday dates are established annually and may include extended peak windows surrounding major holidays.

Spring Break is defined as the first Saturday of Portland Public Schools Spring Break week.

Please refer to our current Peak & Holiday Calendar for specific dates and reservation requirements.

Questions?

If your reservation falls near a holiday or peak travel period, our team is happy to provide a detailed estimate before booking. We encourage families to reserve early, as holiday availability is often limited.

The most important thing to know is this:

While travel plans may change around the holidays, your cat’s care does not.


Holiday boarding periods often involve increased demand, special reservation requirements, and limited availability. These resources explain how peak-period boarding works and what families can expect when traveling during busy seasons.



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