Entitled, Purr-fect Places to Stay: Bed & Breakfasts, Country Inns, and Hotels with Resident Cats, this directory is believed to be the first ever to focus exclusively on lodging properties in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom with resident cats.
This book is divided into geographic regions of the United States (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, and West), Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within each section are those bed & breakfasts, country inns, and hotels located in the states in those regions. At least two pages is devoted to each property, including a colorful and touching vignette about each resident cat; detailed description of the b & b, inn, or hotel pointing out what makes it unique, as well as nearby attractions, activities, and recreational activities; and a separate section containing contact information (address, telephone number, FAX number, e-mail address, web site), room descriptions, rates, and amenities.
Hall said the impetus for the book came from her own travel experiences.
"I met my first 'resident cat' while vacationing at a resort in Florida," Hall recalled. "Petting her, if only for a few minutes, really helped fill the void of leaving my cat at home while I was away."
After meeting resident cats at other lodging properties during her travels, Hall knew a market niche existed for a directory that would focus exclusively on bed & breakfasts, country inns, and hotels with resident cats.
"Having observed firsthand the interaction between guests and resident cats, I knew there were other leisure and business traelers who would prefer to stay at a property where they can pet, talk to, and occasionally cuddle someone else's feline in order to help reduce the withdrawal pangs and fill the void of leaving their own cat companion when traveling," Hall said.
With 59 million cats as pets in the United States, this directory is expected to be a helpful and sought-after resource for traveling cat-lovers. Spending time at a property with a resident cat also is a refreshing change of pace for cat fanciers everywhere who, for whatever reason, can't have or don't want their own pet, but would love to spend some quality time with a cat when they're away from home. It also makes the "purr-fect" gift.
Resident cats are a win-win-win for the lodging properties, their guests, and of course, the cats. Bed & breakfasts, country inns, and hotels with resident cats seem cozier and more home-like, which can be a welcome change for travelers who spend several nights away from home and their loved ones.
And these cats, many of which were former strays or shelter cats, receive the attention and affection of property owners and employees, not to mention the often unsolicited, but not unwanted, belly, chin and head rubs from guests.
