Tradewinds Cat Cabanas - cats have fun here!
January 6th, 2010 by LeslieWhen Sandy Van's tenant moved out of her two-bedroom Waianae farmhouse in October, Van thought about placing a "for rent" ad in the paper, while anticipating a long-term vacancy because of today's economic climate.
Then she remembered that a veterinarian suggested she open a cattery, which was sorely needed on the Waianae-side. She already had a facility for boarding dogs called Tradewinds Pet Suites, which opened in 2008.
"Necessity truly is the mother of invention," says Van. "My dog kennel wasn’t designed for cats, so I just didn’t have the facilities to do it right. I kept thinking about it, but couldn’t figure out quite how to make it work. Then when my tenants moved out, it suddenly occurred to me that it would be a perfect environment for cats."
Now, Van is ready to accept a new kind of tenant: cats.
Each room has split and single level condos, as well as a playroom to keep kitty occupied. (Photo courtesy Sandy Van)
The renovated farmhouse is the cat's meow! It's elevated with large windows, overlooking mango trees. Cats can birdwatch, snooze or daydream all day long from the high vantage point. Each room has its own air conditioning system to keep the furry tenants comfortable. No chance of boredom here. Cats have fun jumping and climbing on the newly painted six- foot high ladders and nesting in the plush carpet towers. There are scratching posts all over to keep kitty's claws sharp. Kitty music is heard in each room and cat-themed DVDS such as "Milo & Otis" and "Tom & Jerry" play on the television.
Boots, a Hawaiian Humane Society adoptee, enjoys looking out of the window from his high perch. (Photo courtesy Sandy Van)
Boarders have their choice of kennels: either a single-level condo or a split-level two-storied one. Each condo comes with its own litter pan and bed. Split-level condos have a window view. Right now, Tradewinds Cat Cabanas can accommodate up to eight cats and they are working to accommodate more.
The experienced staff love caring for their boarders. Van has cared for many types of animals from a very young age. She grew up on a wheat and cattle ranch in Oregon. There's also a certified veterinary technician on staff as well as Van's own family. Each person at Tradewinds is cross-trained to care for dogs, cats and the horses there.
Rates range from $15.95 per day for a single-level condo and $19.95 for a split-level. Discounts for long term stays and for the military are available.
Tours of the facilility are encouraged. Pet parents are welcome.
For information, please call 696-4900 or visit: www.tradewindsqh.com/cats
Tags: cattery, sandy van, tradewinds kennels
January 6th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
At those prices, I wouldn't mind living there. The only problem may be that the L box is too small.
January 6th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
It's a great option for people who need a place for their cats. Is food covered in the cost and do they get let out of the "condo" to play?
January 6th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Although we can provide meals for our guests, the prices shown are our "brown bag" rates. We actually encourage pet parents to utilize this option for two reasons:
1. Many cats -- dogs too -- resist changes in their diet, so we prefer to feed them the same foods here that they eat at home. They like it better, and they often have less gastric distress than if they are introduced to new foods.
2. By offering the "brown bag" option, we're able to keep our rates lower, thereby saving our pet parents money.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Yes. Our guests definitely have playtime outside of the cat condo, as well as interaction with our Cabana staff. However, for each guest's safety, we only allow cats from the same Ohana out of their condos at the same time. We also offer a "cageless" Suite option where guests are allowed free run of their play area and cat condos 24/7. Again, for our guests' safety, this option is only available to cats who are from the same family and are accustomed to interacting with each other.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Brown bag makes sense to me. Everyone knows cats are picky eaters. I have three cats so I would guess a suite would be best for them so they could be all together. Great service. I'll call when I'm going on vacation and need a sitter. Aloha
January 6th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Great! We'll ook forward to meeting your cats -- and you too, of course!
January 6th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Do you provide quarantine service for cats entering Hawaii? This looks like a much "friendlier" place than the regular facilities.
January 6th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
i'd stay here just for the air conditioning.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Unfortunately, no, we aren't able to provide quarantine services for the state. It's a good question, though, and I'll look into seeing if it's possible. As far as I know, only veterinarians on Oahu and the state's quarantine station are allowed to provide this service.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I can testify to the good care my horse received while boarding there! I would definately leave my two dogs and 1 cat in their expert care.