We all look forward to the prospect of a nice long vacation but, for a cat owner, wondering what to do with your kitty while you’re away can be daunting? Leave her at home with heaps of dried food and an automatic watering bowl? Or maybe have a neighbor call in now and again to check up on your furry feline?
Some, however, choose to board their beloved kitties at The Smitten Kitten, a cat resort located on County Line Road in Springhill. Owned and operated by Susan Barr, Smitten Kitten is more like an up-market hotel than just a place to stash your pet while away on vacation or business. Barr, who is originally from New Jersey, said her raison d’etre is to create “a much fun, friendly and safe environment” for her feline guests.
An animal lover for all her life, Barr is a graduate of the New York School of Dog Grooming (1982), and worked as a veterinary technician for the North Shore Animal League in Long Island. She also holds a Certified Pet Care Technician (CPCT) certification from the Pet Care Services Association and membership in the American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA), the National Cat Groomers Institute of America, and the Professional Cat Groomers Association of America.
She first offered her grooming and boarding services from a location on US19. “But I wanted to expand and spent a long time looking for the right property which I finally found in 2003 — and that’s when I set up here on County Line Road,” said Barr.
Barr plowed her savings into buying the home on several acres and creating a top-notch, home-away-from-home for cats. Barr also lives on the property and takes great pride in the fact that she offers one of the most luxurious cat boarding services in the Tampa Bay area.
The reception area at The Smitten Kitten is spotless and new guests are instantly transfixed with dozens of golden finches fluttering and chirping in their very large corner cage. In the opposite corner stands a fish tank filled with “Glofish” – fluorescent fish that glow brilliantly in the dark.
The Smitten Kitten offers both luxury suites and kitty condos for her guests where they can enjoy 6 levels in which to snooze and play. The condos are spacious and measure 8’ x 2’ x 2’ and outfitted with a private litter box, dining area, toys, a soft comfy bed and a flat panel screen that showing continuous images of swimming fish.
But the luxurious suites measure 8’ x 3’ x 6’ – complete with carpeting, toys, a climbing tower and a window view over the property. There’s also a separate “Pet & Play” room where Barr allocates time each day to play individually with her guests.
Prices are $16 a night for the kitty condos and $25 per night for a luxury suite. An additional cat is $10 if they share.
“I will give my guests all the love and attention it needs in a safe, comfortable, relaxed atmosphere so owners can have peace of mind while they’re away,” said Barr. “I also serve any special food they require,” she said.
Each condo and suite is cleaned daily and litter trays replenished.
Barr said that cats are very sensitive about changes in their environment, so she spends time beforehand with the “parents” to learn as much as possible about each cat’s home routine and diet,” she said.
“They can get frustrated and frightened by a new environment so I want to make them as comfortable as possible,” she said. “I even grow my own catnip which they love.”
Guests at the resort currently number about 15 felines. Tigger, a beautiful, cream, long-haired Persian is making quite a racket in his condo. He wants out to play. Barr opens his condo door and he instantly starts prowling around the room stopping at each separate condo to inspect the other guests.
Barr has also boarded celebrity cat “Cassie,” star of the children’s book The Cat and the Crow. Cassie, owned by Wallace Collito of Spring Hill, befriended a crow called Moses, and was featured in a National Geographic segment on “Unlikely Animal Friends.” She was also featured on Animal Planet and the videotaped antics of the pair have drawn more than 5 million views alone on YouTube.
Tigger is put back in his condo and Barr said “it’s time to feed my “other” guests.”
The Smitten Kitten property is also home to a menagerie of curly-feathered chickens called Frizzles, 3 goats, an emu, Tommy the turkey, an alpaca and a donkey. “I also have “Yippee,” my pet Prairie Dog and “Rocky” my Blue and Gold Macaw,” she said.
With that, Barr begins the end-of-the-day routine for her guests. She empties and replenishes the litter trays and makes sure each cat has water to drink. She says goodnight to each cat individually and then dims the lights, turns on some soft music and begins a 15-minute laser show for them to enjoy.
Yes, this place is definitely the cat’s whiskers.
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The Smitten Kitten Cat Resort & Spa is located at 13335 County Line Road, Spring Hill, FL. 34609
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Phone :
352-799-0217
Email :
susan@smitkit.com