Boarding Kennels Boarding Catteries Small Animal Boarding in: Select Location ------- England -------- BedfordshireBerkshireBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireClevelandCornwallCounty DurhamCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetEast SussexEast YorkshireEssexGloucestershireGreater ManchesterHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireIsle of WightKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonMerseysideNorfolkNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshireRutlandShropshireSomersetSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTyne and WearWarwickshireWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershire ------- Northern Ireland -------- AntrimArdsArmaghBallymenaBallymoneyBanbridgeBelfastCarrickfergusCastlereaghColeraineCookstownCraigavonDerryDownDungannon and South TyroneFermanaghLarneLimavadyLisburnMagherafeltMoyleNewry and MourneNewtownabbeyNorth DownOmaghStrabane ------- Scotland -------- AberdeenshireAngusArgyllshireAyrshireBanffshireBerwickshireButeCaithnessClackmannanshireDumbartonshireDumfriesshireFifeshireInverness-shireKincardineKinrossKirkcudbrightshireLanarkshireLothian EastLothian WestMidlothianMorayshireOrkney IslandsPeeblesshirePerthshireRenfrewshireRoss and CromartyRoxburghshireSelkirkshireStirlingshireSutherlandshireWigtownshire ------- Wales -------- Blaenau GwentBridgendCaerphillyCardiffCarmarthenshireCeredigionConwyDenbighshireFlintshireGwyneddIsle of AngleseyMerthyr TydfilMonmouthshireNeath Port TalbotNewportPembrokeshirePowysRhondda Cynon TaffSwanseaTorfaenVale of GlamorganWrexham

Choosing a Boarding Cattery

Finding suitable holiday care for your cat when you are away is an important part of holiday planning. The best catteries are often booked up months in advance, particularly for popular holiday periods, so do not leave it until the last minute to start looking.

It is important you take the time to find the right boarding service for your cat’s needs. Where possible, contact at least two or three catteries in your area and ask questions about the service they offer. Once you have narrowed down your selection, visit the best candidate(s) to see the boarding facilities in person. It is important you visit the cattery before you go on holiday. You do not want to turn up the day before you are due to leave, find the facilities are not what you were expecting and have no where to board your cat while you are away.

All catteries must be licenced by their local authority and should have a current certificate on display to prove this. They may also be members of a professional body that sets further standards such as the Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB). A FAB approved cattery will have been inspected by FAB against their Standard for Construction & Management of Boarding Catteries.

When visiting the cattery look at the places your cat will be sleeping, playing and exercising in. Each pen should have a sleeping area and an exercise run. A cosy bed, scratching post and toys are also essential comforts for most cats.

In general the cattery should be clean, tidy, light and well ventilated. A properly ventilated and cleaned boarding facility should not have any bad smells. The pens should be secure, well built and well maintained.

To minimise the risk of spreading infections, the cattery should be designed so that cats from different households cannot come into contact with each other. Pens that are next to each other should have a 'sneeze barrier' between them. The cattery should have a double door system. This means that if your cat escapes out of the individual pen door when it is opened it is still contained (usually in a corridor) by a second door.

Quick Cattery Check List

A good cattery will answer yes to the following questions:

• Are the staff friendly, caring and experienced?
• Is the accommodation secure and in good repair?
• Is there adequate ventilation, light and heating?
• Do they insist cats are vaccinated?
• Are you asked for written details about your cat and its needs?
• Do they have a vet on call 24/7?
• Can they accommodate the dates you require?
• Can they cope with any special diet, medical or grooming requirements?
• If relevant, are other types of pets kept out of sight/hearing (to minimise stress)?
• Do they have a licence?

If you are not satisfied with the boarding cattery you visit then go back to your list and visit another one. You should not leave your cat at a boarding facility unless you 100% comfortable with what you have seen and the information you are given.

Booking

When you book, the cattery should take a written record of your contact details, your regular vets contact details, someone to contact in an emergency if you are unreachable and your cat’s needs including any special diet or medical conditions.

The boarding cattery should insist that all cats are vaccinated before being boarded. You will need a certificate from your vet showing your cat's vaccinations are up to date. Do not forget to take it with you! If you do not show your certificate, your pet will not be allowed to stay. Click here for more information on vaccination requirements. Keep in mind if you are not asked for proof of vaccination then other clients may not have been either.

Check with the boarding staff what other items you will need to provide. These may include your cats favourite toys, treats or bedding. Familiar bedding can help your pet feel more at home. If your pet requires a special diet or has any medical conditions discuss this with the boarding staff before booking to ensure your pets needs can be accommodated.

Contact | Advertise | Resources