Best Cat-Friendly Hotels: 6 Chains That Cater to Felines

You’ve booked the flight and the rental car, and you even found a property that allows pets — but is it a hotel chain that allows cats? Therein lies a tricky question that many cat parents struggle to answer. With most pet-friendly accommodations translating to “dog friendly,” cats are sometimes left out of the equation, which can be frustrating for those who want to travel with their furry feline.

Don’t worry! We’ve got you (and your cat) covered. While it’s true that regulations surrounding pet guests do vary by location, there are some hotel chains whose pet policy is overarchingly clear: your pets — including those that meow — are welcome. 

In order to narrow these options down for you, we’ll be highlighting hotel chains around the country (and the world) that allow cats, along with many that waive fees and offer amenities to make you and your fur baby feel at home while away from home.

Cat Friendly Hotels: Do They Exist?

Not all pet-friendly hotels are created equal, which means that cat owners have to pay a bit more attention about exactly which pets are welcome and what that means for your accompanying floof. There’s a hole in the market for cat-friendly hotels that cater directly to felines and the people who love them, whereas dog owners are way more likely to find hotel perks for their pets like complimentary treats, chew toys, and nearby walking trails.

However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any hotel chains that will welcome your fur ball. On the contrary, many of the major hotel brands (both luxury and budget ends of the accommodation spectrum) do allow cats. We’ve found more than half a dozen hotel options that are cat friendly, and even some without an additional fee. 

But if you’re questioning a particular location, always check the fine print. You can search online for the property name plus “pet friendly,” or even better, “cat friendly,” and when in doubt, it’s always best to call and speak to someone on site about the specific needs of you and your pet.

7 Best Cat Friendly Hotel Chains 

Kimpton Hotels

With one of the best pet policies in the biz, all Kimpton locations welcome feline guests (plural) with no additional fees, deposits, or breed restrictions. As it says on their website, “If your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them in.” (If only the rest of vacation planning could be this easy, right?) 

Operating pet-friendly hotels for more than 40 years, the Kimpton brand – under IHG Hotels & Resorts – offers a variety of amenities for your fur baby, including bowls, mats, loaner beds, and custom door hangers to alert staff of your cat, as well as a list of local groomers, pet-sitters and pet boutiques (if you’re staying at a location within the U.S.). In addition to this arms-wide-open policy, select Kimpton properties embrace your pet as part of the party: nightly wine receptions are welcoming to pets, including any particularly extroverted kitties in a carrier. 

With 61 locations (and growing) nationwide, plus a dozen-and-a-half locations internationally, chances are there’s a stylish and cat-friendly Kimpton close to where you’re headed. Expect to pay on average between $250 and $300 per night at a Kimpton property.

Loews Hotels

There’s nothing like a good scratch behind the ears, though Loews’ policy on bringing cats is a close second. “Skip the cat-sitter or dog kennel and bring your pets along for the ride,” says the hotel brand’s website. And they really mean it, providing first-class amenities for your animals that include a gourmet room service menu and a ton of creature comforts on demand, including bedding, litter boxes and litter, mats, and bowls. You can even request a scratching post so your cat can unleash her inner angst (how cat-friendly is that?), and “Pet in Room” signs let everyone know to expect a cuddly (or maybe not-so-cuddly) occupant.

Loews Hotels are in a number of locations across the U.S. such as New Orleans, Hollywood, Chicago, and Miami Beach. Prices depend on location, but expect about $250 to $300 per night. You should definitely call ahead to make sure you book a pet-specific room, which comes at no extra charge.

Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Best Western boasts 1,600 pet-friendly properties throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. However, the allowance of cat companions is still at the discretion of each individual location, so be sure to check before booking. The brand recommends calling ahead to verify that your kitty is in fact welcome to tag along and that you will be provided with a pet-friendly room. Once that’s confirmed, a maximum fee of $30 per room is charged per day; if you’re staying for a full week, the fee maxes out at $150 per room. Each pet-friendly reservation requires a deposit of $150, which is refunded at the end of your stay (unless your four-legged roommate is naughty and damages the room). 

Popular pet-friendly Best Western locations include San Diego, Seattle, Orlando, and Charleston. Select properties will even welcome you and your kitty with a new blanket and treats. Rates vary, but our search resulted in prices around $170 to $200 per night, before fees.

Comfort Inn & Suites

Part of the Choice Hotels portfolio, Comfort Inns and Comfort Suites welcome up to two pets per room, cats included, at certain locations. While pet policies do vary by location, and we do recommend calling ahead to check with the specific hotel you’re looking to book, the brand touts its wish to make every guest comfortable — including those with four legs. When using the Choice Hotels site, be sure to select the “pet friendly” filter, where pet parents can also search amenities like pools, free breakfast and complimentary Wi-Fi. There is an additional fee that applies per pet, though this varies by location. 

The Comfort hotel brand has been undergoing an extensive refresh, which includes room upgrades, better internet, and modern fitness centers. With more than 2,000 Comfort Inns worldwide, it’s a convenient and cost-effective option; most rooms we found averaged $150 per night (before pet fees).

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Does your fur baby enjoy living in the lap of luxury? (As in, you are staying at a luxurious resort and they are on your lap!) The Four Seasons is a brand known for opulence, and when it comes to your pet, that includes welcome amenities like use of a plush bed or food bowls, a branded bandana and an in-room dining menu customized for four-legged guests. Pets are typically asked not to be left unattended in your hotel room – including cats – but with advanced notice, in-room pet-sitting is available through the property’s concierge. 

From Austin to Anguilla, Four Seasons has locations globally and is synonymous with five-star service. (Austin is actually one of the brand’s more dog-friendly properties with off-leash areas, so be wary if your kitty is not a dog lover.) Guest rooms are priced in the high hundreds per night, with suites that are priced far into four figures a day.

Motel 6

Motel 6 is colloquially known for leaving the light on, but they also want to be known for welcoming you along with your beloved pet. Most of the brand’s 1,420 locations allow up to two cats for no additional charge. However, Studio 6 variations of the hotel require a $10 per day pet fee up to a maximum of $75 per stay. Motel 6 has even curated a soothing digital playlist to put on for your pet while you relax in the room, and according to their site, they consider Santa Monica, Santa Fe, and Rockville, Maryland, the top three road trips to take with your furry friend. 

Wherever you might find yourself – and your cat – Motel 6 is a very budget-friendly brand with stays starting from $99 per night (sometimes even less).

Tips for Staying in a Hotel With Your Cat

When it comes to staying in a hotel with your cat, there are a few things you can do to make the experience a little easier on everyone.

Kitty-proof the room. Just as you would babyproof any new space to make sure there’s nothing harmful within reach, approach each hotel room with a kitty-proofing plan. Scope out hiding places your cat might find attractive and make sure none are locations that your pet could get stuck or a space that would be hard to lure them from. Is your fur baby a habitual wire chewer? Nerves might bring those bad habits to the surface, so tuck away any potentially harmful items like cords, as well as plants or flowers that might have been well-meaning but could be poisonous to your pet.

Create a comfy space. Once you identify any trouble spots, try to make the room as comfortable and familiar as possible: set up their crate or a trusted travel bed, taking extra care to include bedding with a familiar scent; sprinkle the room with some of their favorite toys or comfort items; and make sure their portable litter box and food and water dishes are visible to them and easily accessible. (Cats are smart, we know, but it’s best to physically show them where these important things are.)

Be proactive. Let your cat sniff out her new environment, but pay extra vigilance to any doors or windows to the outside — especially if she’s a known escape artist. In addition to keeping the Do Not Disturb sign on the door, notify the front desk or the housekeeping department directly so they’re aware that there is a cat in the room and to not accidentally let them out. Plus, unexpected visitors could make your traveling pet even more uneasy in their new space.Be prepared for stress. If you suspect that there will be an unusual amount of anxiety about the new environment, homeopathic remedies can help. Pheromones aimed to relax your cat are sold over the counter as a spray or on a collar. Other botanical elixirs include catnip seed oil or CBD. Just make sure your aromatherapy doesn’t include a diffuser of certain essential oils, which are great for human relaxation but could be toxic to felines. And it’s always a good idea to test out any new products or medications at home prior to traveling to monitor for adverse effects.