Demand for dog hotels is on the rise: "I'm already booked until Easter."

PalmThere are more pets in the Balearic Islands than there are residents of Menorca and Ibiza. Both islands have a combined total of nearly 270,000 residents. On June 25, there were 310,274 dogs and 60,330 cats registered in the archipelago, according to data from the Balearic Islands Pet Identification Registry. In a context where the animal population continues to grow, so have services, such as health insurance to cover veterinary expenses. Another example is kennels, spaces where owners can leave their pets when traveling or hospitalized.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment, in Mallorca (figures for other islands are not given) there are 21 centers dedicated to this activity, each of which are zoos, each with its own way of operating: with cages, open air, with more or fewer animals. In addition, there are all the people who offer to foster dogs and cats in their homes through various platforms. Although this isn't always the case, they should have a zoological core that guarantees that the space meets certain conditions for the care and breeding of animals.

Demand for daycare has increased significantly, notes the owner of a center located near Pina. It doesn't have cages, and animals can roam freely. This model has expanded. "We're saturated. I don't want any more publicity," he says. "I already have reservations until next Easter," he specifies. 70% of the clientele he serves is Spanish, "but not from Mallorca," he clarifies. He means that they are people who have come to work, and therefore don't usually have family ties that would allow them, for example, to leave their dog with someone close. Some animals stay at the daycare for two or three days, but others stay for 20. Despite the increase in demand, since it opened eight years ago, the center has only raised the price by two euros, but he doesn't say how much it charges.

Son Batlet is a cat and dog boarding facility that has also noticed the increase in demand, but in this case from clients from Mallorca. It opened 17 years ago and has space for 40 dogs and 20 cats. However, capacity can be increased if, for example, the same owner admits two animals, who can stay together. Each kennel measures nine square meters, including the covered area and the patio. The service charges €19 per day, which includes kennel rental, daily cleaning, feeding with dry food twice a day, and daily controlled outings.

The center's owner and veterinarian, Eva Borràs, says that what has increased "a lot" in the last 10 years is the market for cats. "Since we don't have to handle them as much, everything is different. A cat needs a facility where it can move vertically and a space to hide. If it hides when I come in, it's clearly telling me it doesn't want anything to do with me, and I respect that," she explains. Most of the cats come out when no one is looking. Son Batlet is a farm in the middle of the countryside, in Sencelles. Therefore, the kennels and mushrooms are exposed to the elements. In summer, when the heat is scorching in central Mallorca, water is poured on the ground to cool it down. Apart from this, the enclosure is designed to allow air circulation. It's not air-conditioned. If it's hot, they pass through.

It's not always advisable.

Although dog and cat kennels have increased in number, they are not suitable for all animals. Veterinarian and behavioral medicine specialist Tomàs Camps assures that in the case of felines, it is "much better" that they do not go to any kennel. "It is advisable to find someone who will visit their home. They are very territorial, individualistic animals, and putting them together with other cats can cause serious behavioral imbalances," he assures. In the case of dogs, it all depends on the animal. They are generally family-oriented, social, and always want to be in groups, whether with people or animals. "When there is a sudden change, they tend to become anxious because it is a new area, with people they don't know, and they receive different treatment than at home," explains the veterinarian. "It is best to allow them to adapt and take the dog there for a couple of hours a few weeks before the separation, then for a day..." he points out.

Camps assures that in the case of centers where dogs live in a home with other people and animals, things are different. "They form a small group and are better off than being locked up. There are animals that are very sociable and when you let them out, they have a good time, like a child on a summer camp. They're with other dogs and they play," she explains. On the other hand, there are animals with problems like separation anxiety. "You can manage the problem throughout the year and have it partially resolved. Suddenly, you leave them in daycare, and from that moment on, they may never want to be alone again," she explains.

Some kennels are opening and others have closed. This is the case of Arca de Tia Vivi, which ceased operations a year and a half ago. "We've been operating for 23 years, but now they want us to lock the animals in cages, and I refuse. It's a shame because every year we saved between 130 and 140 dogs from Son Reus, which we collected and then found a place for them to live," explains the owner, who hopes to reopen. "What happens is that there are centers without a zoological core," Camps clarifies. While animals can be kept in common areas, cages must be there to handle certain eventualities. "For example, if a dog has diarrhea, it must be kept separate for safety and to avoid harming the rest," he argues.