Fear Free · Anxious cats welcomeFear Free Cat Boarding in Singapore
For the cat who hides, the cat who hates the carrier, and the pawrent who dreads leaving them. We run entirely on Fear Free principles, led by a Fear Free Certified Professional, so your cat is met with patience, never pressure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.0 on Google
·
More than 100+ real reviews
·
Fear Free trained
·
As featured on CNA, Expat Living & Harper's Bazaar
·
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5.0 on Google · More than 100+ real reviews · Fear Free trained · As featured on CNA, Expat Living & Harper's Bazaar ·
The definitionWhat is Fear Free, and what does it mean for cat boarding?
Fear Free is a professional certification that trains veterinary and animal-care providers to reduce fear, anxiety and stress in animals, through gentle, low-stress handling and calmer environments. It is earned by individual people and veterinary practices, not by buildings, so a facility cannot be "Fear Free certified" as a whole.
That distinction matters, because plenty of places use "stress free" as a slogan without anyone on site who is actually trained in it. At Shangri-Paw the certification is real and it is ours: our founder Kerstin completed her Fear Free certification alongside training in animal behaviour and vet nursing, and every team member is trained to work the same way. So when we say Fear Free, we mean a method we practise every day, not a marketing line.
And while Fear Free matters most for shy, anxious or medical cats, we believe it should be the standard for handling every animal, not the exception. A calm first experience, at the vet, the groomer, in the carrier or here with us, sets the tone for every one that follows.
How it worksHow Fear Free boarding reduces your cat's stress
We remove the things that frighten cats, and add the things that settle them.
No cages, no pressure
We never make a cat come out or be petted. For a shy cat, we sit quietly and let them take in our scent, with zero pressure.
We get to know each cat first
Over the first hours and days we get to know your cat, then tailor our approach to them rather than the other way round.
Calming support
Calming music in the hotel, and Feliway or pheromone litter for cats who are especially anxious.
A private room, never shared
No dogs, no barking, no other cats in their space. Cat-only, always.
Familiar everything
Your cat's own food, bedding, toys and routine, kept as close to home as we can.
Constant reassurance
In the settling-in period we update you often, including how much your cat eats and how relaxed they are.
Lower stress is not just kinder. It supports appetite, sleep and immunity, which matters most for anxious, senior and medical cats.
We watch closelyHow we know if a cat is stressed, and how we respond
Cats hide stress well, so we watch for it closely. Signs of a stressed cat include hiding constantly, not eating or drinking, over-grooming, changes in litter habits, and either freezing or lashing out when handled.
Because Kerstin is in every cat's WhatsApp group and we log appetite, litter and behaviour daily, we catch these early rather than missing them. If a cat is struggling, we slow right down, add calming support, adjust the room, and talk it through with you.
Coming home. It is normal for a cat to hide or be quiet for a day or two after any stay, anywhere. We keep stress low throughout, so most of our guests settle back quickly.
The training behind itReal training, not just good intentions
Fear Free care only works if the people delivering it are trained. Our founder Kerstin holds a Fear Free Certified Professional qualification and training in animal behaviour and vet nursing, built on years of hands-on clinical, rescue and fostering experience. Every team member is trained to handle cats the Fear Free way.
Fear Free Certified Professional
Animal behaviour training
Animal Studies Certificate 3 (vet nursing)
why fear free mattersEspecially for anxious and first-time cats
This is for you if your cat is shy, easily startled, hates the carrier, or has never boarded before, and the thought of leaving them feels impossible. It is also for senior and medical cats, for whom keeping stress low is part of keeping them well. A free tour is the best place to start, so you can see the calm for yourself.
"We recently put our extremely anxious cat in for a couple of weeks over Christmas, and when it came time to pick him up, I honestly think he didn't want to leave."
- Guy, cat dad to Rex
Good to knowFrequently Asked Questions about Fear Free
-
For cat boarding, Fear Free means your cat is handled gently and never forced, kept in a private low-stress room, and supported with calming aids like pheromones and quiet music. It comes from a professional certification that our founder Kerstin holds as a Fear Free Certified Professional, and the whole hotel is run on Fear Free principles.
-
By removing the usual triggers and adding calm. Cats stay in private rooms with no dogs, no barking and no other cats in their space, they are handled slowly and never forced, and we use familiar food, familiar scent, calming music and pheromones where they help. Lower stress supports appetite, sleep and immunity.
-
Fear Free certification is held by individuals and veterinary practices, not by boarding facilities as a category. Our founder Kerstin holds Fear Free Certified Professional status, and the whole hotel is run on Fear Free principles, so every cat is handled the Fear Free way.
-
Signs of a stressed cat include constant hiding, not eating or drinking, over-grooming, changes in litter habits, and freezing or lashing out when handled. A good facility watches for these, tells you honestly, and adjusts. At Shangri-Paw we log appetite, litter and behaviour daily and flag anything off quickly.
-
It is normal for a cat to hide or be quiet for a day or two after any stay, anywhere. Because we keep stress low throughout, most of our guests settle back home quickly.
-
Yes, when they help. We play calming music in the hotel and add Feliway or pheromone litter for cats who are especially anxious, alongside gentle, zero-pressure handling.
See it for yourselfCome and feel the calm atmosphere
The best proof of Fear Free care is to stand in the hotel and see how relaxed the cats are.
Book a free private tour, meet Kerstin, and see it for your own cat.