How to choose a good cattery; the questions you should ask!

Choosing the right cattery for your cat is crucial to ensuring their comfort, safety, and well-being while you’re away. A good cattery should provide a clean, secure, safe and enriching environment where your cat can feel relaxed, safe, happy, healthy and cared for. Here are key factors to look for when choosing a cattery:

1. Cleanliness and Hygiene

    General Cleanliness: The cattery should look and smell clean, with no unpleasant odors. Check that the floors, bedding, and feeding areas are clean and well-maintained, ask what cleaning products are used then go home and have a google of them, make sure they’re for cattery use and kill viruses such as calicivirus. (we have a tiled floor so cleaning floors are great! No lino that gets ripped, chewed and that wee soaks into and no nasty painted concrete floors and we also use anigene daily for cleaning and F10 for cleaning in between guests)

    Litter Box Hygiene: Litter boxes should be scooped regularly and cleaned thoroughly between stays. Ask how often they clean litter boxes and replace the litter. (our litter boxes are emptied every morning even if its just 1 wee in there, and poop is scooped in the afternoon then again in the evening)

    Waste Management: Ensure the cattery has proper waste disposal practices to prevent odors and maintain sanitary conditions, business waste should not be going into household council bins!. (were very proud winners of the Echo environment awards -Zero waste category! Please visit our awards page for further info)

    2. Safety and Security

    Secure Enclosures: Cats should be housed in individual, secure enclosures. Doors and windows should be cat-proof, preventing escapes. Wire mesh MUST be 16 gauge thickness with NO RUST! (we even have hooks on the door enclosures preventing cats from opening doors themselves!)

    Safe Environment: Look for hazards like sharp objects, or loose items that could harm your cat. The cattery should also be free of toxic plants or dangerous chemicals. (all the edges of each of our shelves and platforms are rounded so that cats cant knock or scratch themselves -no sharp pointy edges here!)

    Safety porch: catteries should have a safety porch / man trap, meaning that if someone is in the cattery and a cat accidently darts past them and someone else is entering into the cattery the cat cant just run straight out of the door. (we have safety porches at every entrance, the second door into the cattery corridor cant be opening until the first door to the outside is locked)

    Vaccination Policies: A reputable /licensed/ legal operating cattery will require all cats to be up-to-date on their vaccinations to protect against infectious diseases. Ask for details on their vaccination requirements, especially for diseases like feline enteritis and cat flu! The cattery must put the health of the cats in the cattery as the first priority to prevent air bourne viruses from spreading.

    Flea treatment policy: a reputable cattery will ask for proof that a good flea treatment has been applied and the cat is protected against catching fleas whilst on holiday (in our experience cats can still catch and spread fleas if they have a pet shop brand flea treatment on! Therefore pets country manor policy is that we will ONLY accept a vet prescribed flea treatment when your cat stays with us. -for the rest of the year its your choice whether you apply a flea treatment and your choice which flea treatment to use but for when your cat stays with us they MUST have a prescription flea treatment on from the vets!)

    3. Staff and Experience

    24/7 Supervision: for 5 star rated catteries, staff should be on-site or nearby around the clock, especially for emergencies. Make sure there is always someone available to monitor the cats and handle issues. (we live here, the cattery is in our back garden)

    Qualified, experienced and Caring Staff: The cattery staff should be knowledgeable about cat care, including feeding, grooming, and administering medications. They should be calm, gentle, and willing to spend time with the cats, and be experienced in dealing with lots of different cat personalities

    4. Accommodation and Space

    Size of Enclosures: Check the size of the cat’s individual accommodation. It should be large enough for your cat to move around, stretch, and have separate spaces for eating, sleeping, and using the litter box. (our standard rooms are whopping 40 sq ft with an additional 25 sq ft of climbing wall and sunbathing platforms, we have family suites and can also increase room sizes upto 400 sq ft)

    Private Spaces no communal: no cattery should let cats out of their rooms. Sadly if the licensing authority have measured cattery rooms and they are deemed too small and don’t meet the minimum size standards then the cattery is still allowed to operate under a lower star rating and the criteria is that they need to let the cat out of their room once a day for exercise, then pop the cat back into the undersized room and let the next cat out. A Good cattery will not be allowed to do this because they will have large enough rooms for the cat to be able to exercise and play in the room 24/7. Therefore minimising risk of contracting diseases from sharing a communal area (these communal areas should not be used for different cats at the same time and need to be cleaned/mopped between letting each cat out)

    Ventilation and Temperature Control: The cattery should be well-ventilated, with proper temperature control to keep your cat comfortable in all weather conditions. Look for proper heating in the winter and cooling systems in the summer. (all our corridor windows open to allow for plenty of ventilation, we have ambient thermostatically controlled radiators in each bedroom maintaining the entire bedroom room temperature (no heat lamps or heat pads which only heat whats underneath/on top of them!) and in the summer we fit our secondary roofing to the cattery which lowers the temperature in the cattery by 10 -15 degrees keeping it nice and cool especially the cold tiles for cats to lie on)

    5. Feeding and Nutrition

    Diet Accommodation: Ask how the cattery handles feeding. They should be able to accommodate your cat’s specific dietary needs, whether that includes special food, a feeding schedule, or any allergies. (we feed cats the exact food, the exact quantity at the times you have specified on the menu section of the booking form, so we can keep cats in the same feeding routine as they’re used to at home)

    Fresh Water and Clean Bowls: Fresh water should always be available, and food and water bowls should be cleaned regularly. (all our bowls are popped into a big cleaning bin each morning on our trolley and new food bowls are given from the trolley each morning. Once weve finished with doing the morning feeds, the soapy water bin full of bowls is wheeled to the kitchen where each bowl is washed individually with anigene, left to dry and placed back on the cleaning trolley ready to hand out the next morning) so each cat gets a fresh clean bowl each morning.

    6. Medical Care and Emergency Procedures

    Access to Veterinary Care: Ask about the cattery’s arrangements for medical emergencies. A good cattery will have a relationship with a local vet and a clear plan for dealing with health issues. If your cat has medical needs, check if staff are trained to administer medication and handle conditions like diabetes or kidney disease. (we’ll always try and take your cat to your own vets so that your vet has all your cats medical history, however if your vets is closed or too far away our own vet will be used. We are trained and experienced in administering all types of medication from insulin injections, pills, asthma pumps, to feeding via a tube)

    Health Monitoring: Ensure that the cattery staff is observant and able to detect signs of illness, stress, or injury. Ask how often they check on the cats and what they do if a cat shows signs of distress or illness. (cats are first checked in the morning from 5:00am during morning feeding/cleaning, then played/fussed with constantly by both Craig/Vicky throughout the entire day, evening feeds are carried out between 4:00-7:00pm, then between 9:30-10:30pm we conduct bedtime checks. Plus we live here so theres always someone onsite and in the past we’ve had to administer medication every hour round the clock)

    Emergency Protocols: Make sure the cattery has clear emergency procedures in place, including contacting you or your vet if needed. (you will always be contacted by us immediately if we have a problem, question or concern, if we cant get through to you we will contact your emergency contact, and if we still cant get through and feel your cat cant wait to visit the vet we will take your cat to your vets and keep you updated constantly. Your cat carrier is kept inside your cats room so its always very quickly to hand should we need to transport your cat)

    7. Social Interaction and Stimulation

    Outdoor/indoor Access: Some catteries offer outdoor enclosures where cats can safely enjoy fresh air and sunshine. If your cat enjoys time outside, look for a cattery that has a secure, cat-proof outdoor space. (our entire cat hotel is under cover but we can remove all the window in the corridor so the playrooms become semi outdoors but still undercover so cats stay dry -a bit like an outdoor undercover catio)

    Cat-Friendly Environment: The cattery should provide enrichment and stimulation for your cat. This can include scratching posts, toys, and places to climb or hide. A lack of stimulation can lead to boredom or stress. (we provide a 4 tier ceiling height climbing frame, with scratch posts, toys, bird watching and sunbathing platforms and even daily interactive ipad and bubble play sessions)

    Interaction with Staff: Some cats need human interaction, while others prefer to be left alone. Ask about the level of interaction the staff provides, and ensure they will cater to your cat’s specific social needs. (each cat is different and an individual, a lot of cats enjoy a fuss and head rubs, or being brushed, or played with chasing after the feather on a stick toy, whilst others can be very shy or nervous so just sitting in their room talking out loud whilst I’m uploading social media pictures can help them get used to us. We have our own 2 feral cats who live in the house with us but weve never been able to stroke in the 11 years weve had them for so were used to extremely shy and even feral cats)

    8. Comfort and Enrichment

    Comfortable Bedding: Each enclosure should have clean, comfortable bedding where your cat can rest. Ask if you can bring your cat’s own bed or blanket to help them feel more at home. (we provide beds in the bedroom and playroom and even a hammock bed but we always recommend bringing your own beds/blankets and an item of clothing so your cat has familiar scents and things to help them settle in)

    Hiding Places: Cats often feel safer with places to hide, especially in a new environment. Ensure the enclosures have cozy, enclosed areas where your cat can retreat and feel secure.(our bedroom areas are fully enclosed and private)

    Playtime and Exercise: Ask if the cattery provides individual playtime or exercise sessions, especially if your cat is active. They should offer opportunities for your cat to stretch, climb, and engage in stimulating activities. (our rooms are so big that were able to fit in a ceiling height climbing wall for cats to jump up and down on and you can upgrade cats room sizes too so they lots of space to run around, cats that enjoy playing and chasing after toys are played with many times throughout the day)

    9. Licensing and Accreditation

    Accreditation and Reviews: Look for catteries that are members of reputable pet care organizations. Read online reviews or ask for references from other cat owners to get a sense of the cattery’s reputation. (we’re members of the pet care trust, pet industry federation, national register of kennels and catteries, plus so many others and have thousands of google, facebook, yell reviews)

    Licensing: Ensure the cattery is licensed and inspected by the relevant local authority, which ensures that they meet certain standards for hygiene, safety, and care. (we are five star council rated) everyone /business that offers cat boarding must legally be licensed! if you’re ever unsure contact their local authority environmental health officer to ask if they are licensed, sometimes this is also available to view on the councils website (we come under knowsley council)

    10. Trial Run or Visit

    Visit the Cattery: Before booking, arrange a visit to inspect the facilities in person. A reputable cattery should welcome you to tour the premises and observe how they operate. (we hold open days every month so please email us to book a place to come look around, take photos, videos, and we love it when people ask us lots of questions)

    Trial Stay: booking a trial stay for a week is a great idea but any less than this if its your cats first time may not be a great idea as it can take cats a few days to settle in and get used to a new environment so if you’d like to book a trial stay we recommend booking for at least 5 days. (we can look after your cat for any amount of time and have had cats come in the morning and go the same day in the afternoon whilst landlords inspect rented properties who aren’t meant to have pets etc, so any amount of time you need is no problem at all! But our advice is to give your cat a bit of time to get used to their new surroundings and get used to us looking after them so ideally at least 5 days is best for them)

    11. Individualized Care Options

    Special Needs Accommodation: If your cat has specific needs, such as medication, dietary requirements, or behavioral quirks, make sure the cattery can provide the necessary care and attention. (we look after special need cats such as what we call our wobbly cats so put out extra beds on the floors for them for when they fall over and block off the hole leading up to the top platform on the climbing wall, and for elderly and sphynx cats we can increase bedrooms temperatures, cats with FIV we spray an extra dose of F10 before arrival etc -just let us know your cats needs on the booking form so we can accomodate)

    Stress Reduction Measures: Ask if the cattery takes steps to help nervous or anxious cats feel more comfortable. (we use pet remedy as its ph neutral, meaning no cats are allergic to it unlike possible other pheromone diffusers) Some catteries use different pheromone diffusers which cats may be allergic to.

    Conclusion

    A good cattery should provide a clean, safe, and enriching environment for your cat, with caring and experienced staff, comfortable accommodations, and clear medical protocols. By visiting potential catteries, asking the right questions, and considering your cat’s specific needs, you’ll be able to choose a facility that ensures your cat has a positive experience while you’re away. Pets Country Manor are proud winners of the UK’s number 1 boarding establishment for cats! Book Your Cat’s Stay

    Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *