Kitty Charm School

Mill Valley, United States

4.8

20 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 415-389-6369
Website:
www.kittycharmschool.com
Address:
369 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA, 94941
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
2.6 miBridgeway & Ebbtide Ave
2.8 miBridgeway & Coloma St
2.9 miBridgeway & Harbor Dr
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Today

Today –
Local time (Mill Valley) 7:15 AM Friday, July 4, 2025

Business hours

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Description

Specialties

Kitty Charm School is a deluxe Cage-​Free Cat Hotel where every single Kitty (or family of Kitties) gets their own private room, just like a human hotel. Even better than our roomy-​rooms is that we offer loads of love. We have Kitty Worshippers who’s only job is to make kitties comfortable, be it playtime fun, or be it cuddling up by the fire on a real human bed, with a real warm loving human. Rates start at just $ 22 for a Junior Suite.

Let the Yelpers tell you themselves. KCS has the highest score of any animal care facility in the USA. More than sixty 5 Star Reviews.

At KCS, kitties ALWAYS come first. While we welcome human drop ins ‘as we are available’, it’s best to make an appointment so we may plan to give you our undivided attention. Call 415−389-MEOW (6369) or email meow@​kittycharmschool.​com to make an appointment. We host humans Mon — Sat from 9a-​12p & from 2p-​5p. We care for kitties 356 days a year from Sunrise to Sundown, these are just the hours we care for humans :)

History

Established in 2005.

Kitty Charm School earned its name organically. For years prior to opening our cat hotel, we fostered animals in our home. We became known among rescue organizations for our ability to transform the most ‘unadoptable’ cats into the world’s biggest charmers. Someone teasingly asked «what are you running over there, some kind of kitty charm school?!» and the name stuck.

Fast forward to today (2011) ~ we provide a clean, loving, playful home away from home for your kitties. We know how scary it is to leave your family members with someone else… we did it once ourselves and really regretted it. That’s why we started our own facility, we knew it could be done so much better. And we know how important peace of mind is. That’s why we joyously send FREE Kitty-​Mail that includes photos and videos of your kitties having fun, and receiving love.

Meet the Business Owner

Sarah H.

Business Owner

Kitty Charm School’s was started by animal lover Sarah Haynes. After loosing her beloved 17 y/​o kitty while under a well intended cat sitters care, Sarah began looking at other kitty-​sitting /​boarding options. But none of the facilities she saw measured up to her expectations. After doing a lot of ‘cattery’ research all around the world, she dreamed up all the kitty comforts she could think of, then turned them into a reality.

With private bedrooms, real beds, fireplaces, Kitty Worshipers and so much more, Kitty Charm School truly is heaven on earth for kitties.

We invite you to come visit our facility, but because kitties must always come first, we ask that you please try and make an appointment so we can give you our undivided attention.

* KCS does not mix kitties (unless they came together), playroom time is with humans only!

Thanks.

Kitty Charm School also recommends

Mill Valley Mobile Vet

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reviews

Veterinarians

Sarah H. says,

«KCS loves Mill Valley Mobile Vet!»

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20 reviews of Kitty Charm School

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Novato, CA
I couldn’t have had a better experience! The staff at KCS really cares and it shows. The facility is very clean. It is very impressive for a boarding facility. I loved the Kitty mail that I received over Christmas (there were many over 8 days). I will be back should we leave for the holidays again! Thanks KCS! I would give you more than 5 stars if it was possible.
Place rating: 5
Corte Madera, CA
Okay, so I have a special needs kitty, meaning he only likes 2 humans — me and sometimes my husband. Other than that and you’ll visit me at my house and you would never even know I had a cat, never mind that even though he doesn’t know you he hates you. So, needless to say when we go out of town its none of that have the neighbor feed the cat business, he goes straight to KItty Charm School to be coddled while he attempts to hide from them all. Seriously — they put nasty stinky cat-​food on their fingers and hand feed him so he’ll eat, they find him in whatever hole he’s hiding and cuddle him, and by the end of a one week stay he might actually be coming out to say hello to them. I love kitty mail, because it starts the week with him scowling from his hole and ends with him flirting with them and wandering around his queen sized room.
I love Kitty Charm School, this place is so AWESOME, I have no idea what I would have done if I hadn’t found them! Thank you Sarah and company for giving me a place for my very neurotic but well loved kitty.
xxooo
Cody’s Mom
Place rating: 5
El Sobrante, CA
This review has been a long time coming. This could be a long review but KCS is well deserving of the praise.
After thoroughly researching boarding facilities in the Bay Area, I landed on KCS and decided this was the best place for my kitties while I was away on vacation for 2 weeks. I have a two cats one that does pretty well with change and one that gets very grumpy about change and unfamiliar places.
First of all, the booking and setting up of the reservation could not have been smoother. Their website gives you great advice as to what to bring with you when you drop off your cats for boarding. They were also quite flexible and accommodating when 2 days before I left on my trip one of my kitties became sick and needed to be boarded at the vets for the first week.
Also, I loved all the questions they asked about the cats likes and dislikes. Even during the check in process they asked really great questions in order to get a sense of the cats personality and routine.
Third of all, kitty mail is AMAZING. I enjoyed the fact that while I was half way around the world I could get regular visual updates on how the cats were doing, Which gave me great comfort.
Finally, from what I hear the check out process was also very smooth. Again they were very accommodating when I asked if they could be picked up by a family member a day early because my flight had been delayed.
I cannot say enough good things about KCS. They went above and beyond to make sure my cats (as I am sure they do with all their clients) were safe and were as comfortable in their environment as they could possibly make them. Their facilities are awesome and the play rooms they have for the cats are adorable.
I think the only thing that could make this place better would be if they had someone on the premises overnight just in case a cat needs meds or if something were to happen to a cat during the night. However, this is very minor and not having one does not by any means detract from how great this place is. I also give them big kudos and a very big thank you for being patient/​understanding while making progress with my cat who can be very grumpy in new places.
I would not hesitate to board with KCS again.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Kitty Charm is another reason why I love living in Mill Valley. Sara loves the cats dearly and will take the time to talk to you about whatever concern you may have for your pet. Kitty Charm took care of my cat, Bella, who had a neurological disease which caused her to fall over. Bella was lovingly cared for by the staff for over a month while we were out of town. They still send me emails about her even though she passed away two years ago. We have recently adopted a new kitten and they have done a wonderful job caring for her while we travel too. I never have to worry about my cats because of them. Thank you, Kitty Charm!!!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
We had a great first time experience with Kitty Charm School. We’d never boarded our kitty before and we were pretty worried about her being in a confined space, but with all of the focused care, kitty worshipping and play time, she seems to have done well. The loving attention the staff provides is so wonderful and Kitty Mail is the best! We were missing our little one so much and it made the missing a little easier seeing her sweet face, getting an update on how she was doing and seeing her interact with people. Thank you Kitty Charm School. We’ll be back!
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Blonde lady nice as people who actually tend to the cats. They hustle.
Owner weird. Puts on smiles, but when doors are closed you could hear her yelling all the way from the sidewalk.
Pretty scary.
I don’t want my cats in that environment after my first use.
High staff turnover so there must be something wrong. Is there anybody watching the cats in the shop at night? Dog kennels do.
I came there and placed my cats there upon recommendation. Upon hearing the complaints from a nearby neighbor, I observed more closely.
It is a bizarre place. I question everything. Safety, water usage? A sink fore all use? DROUGHT.
Shoddy construction.
Prices are steep and home calls are over the roof.
Weird…very strange owner.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Seriously. This place deserves ten stars.
Reasons I love KCS:
· Everyone there is so nice.
·The check-​in and check-​out procedure is prompt and to the point. And to add to that, they never forget or leave out a detail I mumble out on my way out the door to catch my flight.
·KITTY MAIL IS THE BEST INVENTION SINCE SLICED BREAD. MAYBE EVEN BETTER. Seriously, seeing a video of how Mr. Leopold is dealing with being away from home is the best reassurance a parent could ask for. And it’s apparent that the kitty worshippers love animals and enjoy their job.
· They are prompt with returning emails and phone calls. This lady knows how to run a business!
· They foster homeless kitties and cats that are in kill shelters. I’ve seriously seen some sweet kitties that managed to escape death row by KCS. These people have morals!
·A clean environment. They always check incoming kitties for fleas and Sir Leopold has always come home in a healthy and happy condition.
In closing– I drive at least an hour each way to bring my cat to KCS and I’d go even further if I had to. Your cat will come home happy and well looked after. I would recommend KCS to anyone. Seriously don’t go anywhere else… you’re wasting your time. They’re PURRRRRRFECT!
Place rating: 5
Mill Valley, CA
Wow! As a dedicated cat mommy, this place is a dream come true! We board our three kitties here for both short and long trips. They are very well taken care of AND they share photos and videos with you via email, while you are gone. Love the kitty caregivers, who are truly dedicated to this purfect clients. Impressed with their work with rescues, willingness to take them in and help them find homes! Hanna, Ellie and Mico love their stays at the charm school
Place rating: 5
Corte Madera, CA
This place is awesome. My son and his girlfriend were going to be away and had to find a place to board their new kitten for the first time. They found Kitty Charm School in Mill Valley. What a great find. I went over to check in while they were gone, just to be sure all was well. She could not have been happier or in better hands. The place is clean and spacious. All the cats seemed happy and well cared for. No cages. Each cat has a great glass fronted room — cat siblings can stay in a single room. The room had a hammock which Bella loves. I will definitely use this place for my Kitty next time I need to go out of town. Highly recommended.
Place rating: 5
Mill Valley, CA
Our cat had never been boarded until we brought him to Kitty Charm School during a recent move — and he came home very happy! The KCS team gave him lots of love and attention, and also took care of his meds. They sent us daily videos of him playing and being brushed (which he loves), giving us one less thing to worry about during our move. We’ll be going on a trip soon, and feel very fortunate that we’ll have Kitty Charm School to take care of our cat!
Place rating: 5
Mill Valley, CA
Basically the best thing you can do for your kitties if you need to board them. Kitty Mail is actually incredibly comforting, we used KCS during our move to Mill Valley and knowing that the KCS team was taking such sweet care of my cats was one thing less I worried about. They are definitely a 5 Star service full of the kind of crazy ladies that you really want watching over your fur-​pals.
Place rating: 5
Greenbrae, CA
Kitty Charm School is awsome. They have helped us several times and our kitties have had a good time. The staff is sweet, they get back fast on your requests and it is wonderful for all the family members to receive the videos. I am thankful to have found such a nice place for our kitties to be whenever we are on vacation.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I adopted a really scared cat and it took him almost a year to acclimate to me and my home. He is scared of everything and everyone but me, so I decided that I could not leave him in a place that would keep him in a cage for the two weeks I was traveling. I live in Oakland and looked all over the east bay for something I felt comfortable with, to no avail.
I came across KCS and after reading the reviews I decided that was my best option as they had suites not cages. I found myself in love with a cat that I had never wanted and came to me superstitiously, so here I was being «that person» and making sure he was well cared for.
Driving him to Mill Valley and not having the flexibility of time was painful. That said, once I was gone I started to get the Kitty mails; Kat was not having bowel movements and was not eating, he was that stressed. However, they were monitoring his weight, took the time to hand feed him baby food, and were monitoring his litter box. I was impressed that they;
1) let me know
2) took action
By the time I got back he had lost some weight and looked really pathetic but he had been well cared for and monitored. During this time he was starting to improve. It is a testament that my neurotic cat had gotten excellent care and was starting to come around. I really appreciated that. This has nothing to do with KCS but everything to do with a cat that has issues and is difficult to care for. Can you imagine what his state would have been if I had left him in a kennel where he was in a cage for two weeks? KCS was really on top of his well being and would have probably taken him to get medical care if necessary (at my expense of course). That really gave me peace of mind.
Thank you KCS for caring for my neurotic Kat.
Place rating: 5
Novato, CA
I LOVE Kitty Charm School! The best thing is they send you text videos of your kitties while you’re away, so you don’t have to worry! It’s the first Kitty Boarding that I know of in Marin County that are NOT using cages. Instead, they have «suites» which are quite roomy, including stairs up to the skybox to watch other kitties! The pricing is quite comparable. When I’m away, I’m cool with knowing they’re staying with this staff and owner that love kitties as much as I do!
Place rating: 5
San Rafael, CA
Went to go on a tour of KCS because we were headed on a three week vacation and thought our little cat Kona should be boarded because he was causing trouble for out older cat. Met with Nancy and thought it was a awesome place, and all the reviews were great, but than we decided a different route, only to end up having to put our older cat down suddenly and so we didn’t want Kona all of a sudden to be all by himself for three weeks (even though we had people coming in to take care of him) I scheduled KCS did all the paperwork via email and a week later we were settling Kona in.
They send a email with everything to bring and Sarah really goes over everything so well, I really appreciated it. So we settled Kona in and got Kitty mail that night from him and he was doing great. We got so much kitty mail that at one point they asked if we were getting sick of it, LOL!
While Kona was there he celebrated him Birthday and so we sent him a video which they played for him and video him watching it, super cute!
We popped in today just to say thank you, my parents actually picked up our Kona Bear for us so we never got to say a formal thank you, so we did today and Sarah and Nancy were so sweet.
We appreciate all the kitty worshipers who fell in love with our konabear, thank you!
Place rating: 5
Danville, CA
I live in the East Bay and there’s simply nothing like KCS anywhere! After searching and touring many boarding options and being left either disgusted by conditions or disappointed by small confining spaces, with NO program or intention of stimulation for my kitties — — I stumbled upon KCS. Sarah and her team of kitty worshipers are simply amazing — they have tremendous love for what they do and it shows in every update/​progress video and email that was delivered.
My 3 cats were boarded for several weeks and whenever I visited, they were just as happy as could be. They really had a great time and Sarah was super innovative with inventing a kitty brush scratching contraption for one of my cats who has a fetish for being brushed!
The most important thing to share is that my babies were safe, extremely well cared for (everything was CLEAN) they were incredibly loved by the team and had absolutely no transfer/​behavior acting out issues going in or out. I think that says a lot!!!
Sarah — maybe you’ll expand in the East Bay? One can only dream!
Place rating: 5
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
Finding Sarah and Kitty Charm School has changed our life! This place is fantastic!!!
Like a lot of other reviewers, we didn’t know what to do with our cat when we went out of town. We have always been extremely concerned about the well-​being of our animals. We tried a few house-​sitters and ended up with an inconsistent mix of good people and some totally crazy off-​the-​wall people. (truly hard to know up front what you’re getting).
We were told years ago that cat’s prefer to stay at home. That’s why we were hesitant to board our cat. So with great hesitation, we tried Kitty Charm School. Bottom line and much to our surprise, our cat was 100% happy there! Sarah is totally in tune with what cats want and need. .. and provides it perfectly. She really cares about each and every animal that stays at her facility and makes the experience a fun thing for them.
When we took our cat home a few days ago, he asked us if we could go out of town again SOON. .. so he could go back to Sarah (and Nancy) and hang out at Kittly Charm School.
Anyway, Kittly Charm School is THE BEST!!! Sarah takes the angst away from planning «what to do with the cat» when you have to go out of town.
BTW — if you read some of my other Unilocal reviews (especially regarding pet sitters) you’ll see that unqualified praise is a VERY scarce commodity from me.
Place rating: 5
Richmond, CA
After a flood in my home, I needed to find a place to stash the kitties while repairs were done. I looked all over the Bay Area for someone I felt I could trust with my kitties, and thank goodness, found Kitty Charm School. The reviews were reassuring, so we booked two suites for the kitties, and I could not be happier with their housing and care while at «Kitty Camp».
Great pains are taken to assure that the kitties are comfortable and safe! The condos are clean and bright and have little shelves for leaping around on, making the space more interesting, as well as providing a way to stretch those little legs all day long. You bring your kitties’ food along with them, and give information about how much and when your furballs are used to eating. We were also able to bring their toy, blankets, scratching post, everything they’re used to having at home.
Sarah is a gem! All the people we met at KCS were truly focused on the kitties and their care and comfort, so Sarah certainly has an eye for finding people who are ready to make your kitties comfy, as well as to communicate with you when you need information or reassurance. One of my kitties is very very shy, and within a couple of days was letting Sarah scratch her belly and play with her… amazing! Another one is also somewhat skittish, and he was allowed to live in his carrier inside his condo, where he felt safe. The friendly, obstreperous ones were given all the loves and petting and playing they wanted. I visited them several times during the repair period and they were always happy and comfy, clean and fed and watered just as I would have wished.
Knowing my kitties were in good hands made the entire unsettling event in my home so much easier to handle. On top of that, KCS was the most cost effective place to leave the kitties, and I did my research all over the Bay Area! And then… there’s Kitty Mail! KCS sends text messages with video of your kitties attached, so you can see how they’re doing, and also, see what a marvelous job of playing with and taking care of your kitties they are doing. One of my guys had his birthday while at KCS, and I received Kitty Mail with him being sung the Happy Birthday song, and served his birthday dinner.
I know this is a really long review… but I can’t say enough good things about Kitty Charm School. If you need to board your kitties, call KCS. You will not be disappointed.
Place rating: 5
San Anselmo, CA
MEOWRIFFIC!
Yes, I thought what a total snob I must be to place my kitties here. UGH!
First impression, great except I talk alot and am energetic and and and and I drove Sarah up a cat tree, but hey, she is a cat lady, maybe not a people lady. BUT, later on, I realize, if you love cats, I mean really really really love cats, she will love you. AND believe me, she will love love love your cats. I would trust her with any animal actually. She has a love for all animals and understands the importance they have in our lives.
Her boarding facility is so fantastic. The cats acted like they were visiting an old friend and had a grand time. It was comforting and homey feeling and just great with some big windows for kitties to look out of and some toys to play with and shelves and trees to climb and it is so safe and nice.
2 paws up for this place
Place rating: 5
West Seattle, Seattle, WA
Kitty Charm School seemed too good to be true when I found it through a Google search. I read through the website with near disbelief, as I discovered the genuine compassion that underlies the ethics and protocols of ‘boarding’ our felines at KCS. Sarah’s devotion and vision are unparalleled in the Bay Area realm of boarding!
I was a 14 year staunch veteran of the painstaking process of finding a cat-​sitter for my two former male cats. The time it took to explain how to step into my shoes and live in my flat and trust that the sitter would really and truly stay overnight and play with my boys, and not have friends over or get drunk or leave doors open was overwhelming and usually totally overshadowed the excitement of whatever trip i was planning to take to get a vacation in.
After maybe 5 cat-​sits during my boys’ 14 year lives, I simply stopped going away for more than one night, when i could depend on a cat owning neighbor to drop in and give a feeding or two during a 12 hours period. My two boys passed this summer and i now have two female kittens of 5 and 9 months.
When i needed to be at my fiancé’s side during the aftermath of his father’s death in north Seattle, Sarah and KCS gave me the freedom to be away for 5 days and not worry about my home AND my cats. «Facetime» live video feed of our cats was such a kick and completely reassuring in terms of how my two she-​cats were getting along just fine and were active and clearly ‘loved up’.
The facility is bright, cheerful, spotless, and Sarah has the whole caretaking process dialed in and her protocols and precautions may strike you as over-​meticulous BUT they are essential to what makes this haven so unique and special.
Sarah is unique and special herself and so are her staff. They’ll go the extra ‘mile’ for you if there’s a glitch in your itinerary if they can. The care that Peggy Su and Shree received was truly personalized and Sarah is a forthright, clear communicator and moreover, a ‘catvocate’ worthy of ninja status!
One of the marvelous side benefits of having boarded the girls there for the 5 days is that KCS’s schedule ‘broke’ the pattern the girls had of playing late into the night here at my flat and keeping me up til 3am or later! They came back from Charm School and were able to bed down on my schedule, between 11.30pm-1am. Their time with Sarah and her staff really did ‘refine’ their behavior in subtle and obvious ways.
I hope that when Kirt and I I need to avail ourselves of KCS’s resources again that accommodation for Shree and Peggy will be available! May KCS continue to thrive and foster all fur babies who need a home away from home well into the future!
Viva la difference!