How to choose the right boarding cattery

Boarding catteries vary in construction from the basic wooden cabins to the more modern UPVC penthouse units with under floor heating, televisions, webcams etc.

Whilst it is re-assuring to see a modern building facility, the care behind the scenes is more critical. It is extremely important that you feel confident that the staff managing the cattery enjoy being with the cats. It is crucial that they are well trained, caring and capable and most importantly that they have adequate time to dedicate to the cats in their care.

For your peace of mind and to be sure your cat is going to receive a high standard of care, we suggest that you visit the cattery before making a booking. The quality of accommodation and degree of care varies considerably and there is no way of truly assessing the type of accommodation without paying a visit.

Visiting will give you the opportunity of meeting the cattery owners or hands on staff and finding out more about how the cattery is managed. Most well run catteries won't be too strict on what times you can visit and this can often be a sign of a cattery business that has nothing to hide - as opposed to one that insists you only visit by appointment.

Quality establishments book up quickly so you will need to make your booking in advance. Some catteries have dog boarding kennels attached to them – the noise of dogs barking can be very stressful for cats – particularly if they are confined. Animal welfare organizations recommend that catteries not attached to kennels are preferable.

Boarding Catteries must be licensed by the local Council Environmental Health department and the license must be on public display. The licensing involves an annual inspection for which they must meet the minimum criteria set by the council’s guidelines ensuring they are fit to care for cats. A list of licensed catteries is available from your local Council but they will not be able to make any recommendations for particular catteries.

Vaccinations need to be boosted on an annual basis - most catteries will require this to be done at least a week before your cat stays in a boarding facility.A catteries license requires them to see up to date vaccination cards for all cats boarded at their facility. Bear this in mind before booking your holiday as there are several vaccinations and they take up to six weeks to take effect.

Confinement can be stressful for an animal and may lead to behavioural problems or stress related illnesses. A boarding cattery environment is very different to your home and factors such as; unfamiliar smells, lack of human contact and a change of routine/lack of exercise and stimulation could potentially mean a stressful experience for your cat.

Animal welfare organizations recommend that all boarding establishments do everything possible to minimise stress. Choose a cattery with a relaxed environment where they put emphasis on stress reduction and makes a real attempt to ensure the cats are well stimulated.

What else should you look for when choosing a boarding cattery?

• The cats shouldn’t look stressed or be hiding. They should show an interest in visitors or staff.
• The cat cabins should have decent sized runs. This is crucial as without a separate run area, your cat will not be able to exercise and this will lead to stress and possibly illness.
• The cattery should have good ventilation and ideally be outdoors as this ensures a good airflow and reduces the risk of cross infection from other cats.
• The cabins should be well insulated, they should be warm and dry with individual heaters in the winter.
• There should be security corridors throughout the cattery to prevent escape. Litter trays should be clean with fresh litter. There should be clean water available at all times and any left over food should be removed from the cabin.
• The cabins should not face each other or if they do, there should be a solid barrier to minimise the spread of air borne infections such as cat flu.
• Ideally each cabin should have a good view as this will provide a distraction from confinement. Toys, scratch posts and ladders should be in the cabin to provide stimulation.
• Ask if cats are regularly groomed or if you will need to book this for your cat as this will ensure he receives extra attention.
• Each cat should have his own cabin and only cats from same household should be allowed to share accommodation. If you are boarding more than one cat, and they get on well, ask if they can share a cabin as this will ensure they have company and help them feel more at home.
• Ask which veterinary practice the cattery uses and make sure that your cat is fully insured.
• It is a good idea to leave contact details for someone who you trust to make decisions about your cat on your behalf should you not be contactable in an emergency. Alternatively, let your vet know that you are boarding your cat and inform them of how far your wish treatments to go should your animal become ill.
• Ask if the cattery is prepared to use the brand of food your cat usually eats as this will help him feel more settled and should mean that he is less likely to have diarrhea. If your cat is on a prescription diet ensure that there is a supply available or take the food along with you.
• Ask if you can take along his favourite toys and bedding (unwashed as this will remind him of home).
• A well run cattery should request lots of information about your cat including diet, grooming needs, medical history, age, name, any special likes etc. Ensure that all important information about your cat - regarding medication, diet, age etc is displayed clearly on a card on your cat's cabin.
• It is important that your cat is micro-chipped and easily identifiable – you could consider purchasing a collar with your pet’s details permanently personalised on it.

The Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) is a charity dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of cats through improved feline knowledge, to help us all care better for cats. They run a Cattery of the Year competition - a good place from which to choose your boarding cattery -Or take a look at a list of catteries that have been inspected by FAB and comply with their standards for management and design of boarding catteries. FAB have very high standards and the catteries listed on their site comply with excellent standards of care and accommodation. the site is easy to navigate and allows you select catteries in your area.

Click here for a list of Boarding catteries,

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