Cat Therapists & Boarding Bedtime Stories: Yelp's Most Popular Extravagant Pet Services

Yelp has just released a roundup of the most extravagant pet services that are on the rise.¹ The company compared pet-related searches from 2021-22 with searches from 2024-25, and the results were pretty staggering. The primary takeaway? There are a whole lot of ways to spoil your furry friends! From cat therapists to hotel-style boarding (complete with room service and bedtime stories), these are the most luxurious ways cat owners are currently splashing out.

Cat Spas

Gone are the days of simple cat grooming. Modern pet owners are in the market for elaborate cat spas, featuring services like aromatherapy, facial scrubs, acupuncture, massages, and even crystal healing.

For instance, at Southern California’s Pets Fifth Avenue, dogs and cats can enjoy “pawdicures,” exfoliating butter washes, and relaxing massages.

Pet Communicators

One of the most interesting surging areas is pet communication. According to Yelp’s data, searches for services like animal psychics and pet mediums are up 114%. Searches for cat therapists in particular are up 25% (perhaps not surprising given that therapy for humans has been trending upward for decades). The concept of cat therapy isn’t exactly new – a woman named Carole Wilbourne was dubbed the “Kitty Freud” back in 1977 – but it certainly seems to be entering the mainstream.

Cat psychics and therapists might help humans learn to communicate better with their furry family members, and they may be able to reduce behavior-related euthanasia and rehoming.

Cat Hotels

Forget the kennel! Modern cat hotels are providing luxury services that rival human hotels. For example, the Kitty Chateau in San Francisco, which bills itself as a “feline-only luxury bed and breakfast,” offers heated granite shelves, pheromone diffusers, personal TVs, and a room service menu that includes “catch of the day” (low-mercury fish), seared jumbo scallops, and sardines in water, as well as optional add-ons like cuddle time, energetic playtime, and even vet housecalls.

Other pet hotels offer bedtime stories (described by the Bay Area's The Pawington as “Have a soothing bedtime story read to your cat in their private boarding suite”) or turn down service (described by Chicago’s Pawsitively Heaven Pet Resort as an “in-room tuck-in service with lots of good night kisses”).

Or consider New York’s Rock the Cat Spa. With luxuries like daily linen changes, crystal water bowls (filtered, of course), soothing classical music, and “purrdown” and “cattendant” butler services, why would your cat ever want to come home?

Other Top Services

According to Yelp, searches for pet portrait services climbed 115%, while custom catios went up 41%. Pet clothing is up 93% (though that may be a better idea for dogs), and pet hospice care is up 45%, reflecting an understandable desire to provide the best possible care at the end of life.

Time to Treat Your Cat?

Have you tried any of these high-end cat services, or are you feeling inspired to check out your local offerings? With so many fun ways to treat your cat, you can hardly go wrong. We would love to hear about your experience in the comments below!

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