Cat Boarding or Cattery (UK) Telephone and Visit Checklist: So You Get the Best for Your Cat

Please try and ask most of these questions when you initially phone a cat boarding establishment or cattery. But if you get the gut feeling that the place is good and the owner is kind and caring then you might want to skip asking all these questions and simply arrange a visit. Or, if you don’t like the sound of the place, simply make your excuses and move on to the next cattery or cat boarding telephone number.

Here we go:

Note, if you have a breeding queen/stud then you need to tell the cattery because they might well refuse to take your cat. The best solution is to have friends or neighbours come in to feed them or make an arrangement with a cat sitting service.

Do they have cats of their own? (If they have kennels and pet dogs but no cats then you might worry that the cats have just been added to improve the bottom line.)

What are the opening hours? (Do they fit in with your commitments?)

A Final Thank You

You can, once you’re done, thank the cat boarding owner for answering all your questions and ask if you can go for a visit. Note whether they welcome you or whether they hesitate. If they welcome your visit make the arrangements and ASK FOR DIRECTIONS. Why? Because boarding establishments can often be off the beaten track.

The reason for asking all these questions is to filter out the cat boarding establishments that are not even worth a visit and to get a feel for the person running the boarding cattery. If the cattery owner is reluctant to spend time with you on the phone and appears to have little interest in cats, then find the person and place that does!

If you don’t feel the need to visit, because a friend you trust has used them for years and, you also like the sound of them, go ahead and make the arrangements. Now it’s the cattery owners turn to ask some questions! Please oblige them – they need to know all this to make sure they give your lovely Siamese cat a home from home while you’re away.

TIP: If you ask a friend or spouse to make the cat boarding booking, don’t forget they need to know the cat well! Why? Because the boarding cattery owner will be asking lots of questions about your cat like food preferences, age and temperament and it is not helpful for your cats wellbeing if the booking forms are inaccurate or have details missing.

TIP: Have the vaccination certificates to hand! They will ask you for the dates and which vaccinations your cats have had.

Typical questions from the cattery owner will include age, sex, colour, breed, special foods or favourite foods, allergies, medical problems, dates of last vaccination, your address and contact phone numbers, your holiday dates, what is included in the fees and what you can bring with you from home for your cats comfort.

I have assembled a visiting the cat boarding checklist as well so you will be quite the cattery expert when you visit the cattery.

Things to Notice and Check During your Cattery Visit (UK)

We’ve taken some of the mystery out of cat boarding search by preparing the following list of points you should look for when choosing the best cattery for your Siamese cat.

A few General Points first

Are you being made welcome? Do the owners ‘talk’ to the boarding cats and know them by name? Do they care about your cat and take the time to ask about any specific requirements?

Bottom line: do they love cats?

Do they come across as knowledgeable, competent and organised?

Is the cat hotel quiet and calm? Check on barking dogs if they have a kennels because this is bad news for most cats. Ask the owners if they have any cats of their own. If they don’t but have pet dogs instead, make sure they really love cats and that the cattery isn’t just an add-on to boost their bottom line.

Are the owners interested in showing you everything and answering your questions?

Do they have a license issued by the local authority and is it current?

Do they show cats? If they do, ask about the manning of the establishment when the owner is away on show days. Some breeders are very particular about infection risk from the cattery cats to their own breeding stock and this can unfortunately lead to a restriction of cuddles for the boarding cats.

Do they check vaccination certificates and turn away owners who can’t produce them or who provide lapsed documentation? This is important because it directly affects the future health of your cats. I would not put my cat at risk: I would go elsewhere if they were casual about vaccination requirements. Different countries have their own requirements but cat flu (Feline upper respiratory disease) and FIE (Feline infectious enteritis) vaccinations are required in the UK.

About the cat chalets and kitchen area.

When being shown around, does the place look reasonably tidy, well maintained and smell clean? Smaller point, but are fire extinguishers on view?

Do the cat chalets have grass runs? You cannot sterilise a grass run between cat visitors so even though they look nice your cat’s health is much more important.

Are the individual exercise runs under cover? You don’t want your cat forced into a cage-like enclosure for hours on end. Cats like to watch the world go by in their outside run, even in the rain.

Do the chalets have a physical gap between houses? The FAB (Feline Advisory Bureau) recommend 0.6m (2 feet) minimum. Failing that, a full-height solid barrier must be in place between chalets. This is to guarantee that infection cannot spread between boarders. It also removes the stress that your cat might feel with a strange cat too close for comfort.

Do the chalets have a safety corridor, and is that exterior door always kept shut? A safety corridor is a must because cats - especially the clever Siamese – will sometimes get out of their individual houses. But as long as they can be collected from the outer secure corridor, all is well. Some cats look forward to an ‘escape’ and strut along the corridor in front of the other caged inmates! This is perhaps a good time to ask the cattery owner about escapees. If you discover that they have lost cats from their cattery, now is the time to make your excuses and leave! However, do make sure it wasn’t the cat owners fault: some owners bring their cats in cardboard boxes or in their arms and accidents can happen before they reach the safety of the chalets!

TIP: Do not economise. Buy a good quality cat carrier with an ‘accident’ proof base. The plastic variety is better - it is escape-proof and easy to clean. If you are likely to fly with your cat, an airline-approved carrier would be best. You never know when you might need to use it and a cardboard or wicker box is simply not secure enough.

Have the individual chalets got the cat’s and owners’ names on display? This would signal a well-organised establishment.

Have the chalets got cat scratching posts? Are the dishes, water bowl and trays clean? Can the cats watch the comings and goings of daily cattery life?

Check up on the cat restaurant’s kitchens! Are they clean, separate from the chalet areas and is there a feeding list with each cat’s likes and dislikes and medical requirements? Notice that there is a fire extinguisher on the wall. Notice also that there are a selection of foods and out of shot another food store with all the tins of cat food.The food preparation worktop is easy to clean and being white quickly shows any area that needs to be cleaned.

Cat Welfare and Happiness

Do the cats have a warm, dry and private place to curl up? They did have a bed each but shared instead! Check the heating arrangements and when they are turned on, especially if your cat is used to central heating or elderly. If your cat is less mobile, will it be able to get up into the warm bed?

Does the cattery have a range of cat litter? Some cats will get stressed without their usual product. Can you bring your own product if they don’t have your cats usual litter?

Do they have a chair or stool for the cats to sit on within the outside run? Happy cats need to survey their territory and watch.

Do the cats look happy? Newly arrived boarders or naturally shy cats will probably sleep in their beds during the day but if they are ALL hiding in their beds it is not a good sign!

Will they groom or play with your cat or is this an extra?

Will they give vet-prescribed medicines and treatments? Cats always seem to go down with something just before the holidays and you need the treatment to continue while you are away. Don’t expect miracles if you cannot give your cat a pill it is unfair to expect the cattery owner to succeed. Have a word with your vet to research alternative treatments.

Cat food! Check whether the cattery has your cat’s usual brand and flavour. Make sure they have a system in place to guarantee your cat gets both the correct food and any medicines it needs. Leaving it to memory does not inspire confidence! If your cat is used to other food, could you supply it? A change in food can cause bowel problems and emotional stress.

Finally, if your visit has gone well, now is the time to do the paper work. Don’t forget to take the cattery contact details with you on holiday! Planes have been known to be delayed. And it isn’t fair on the cattery owner to miss a collection arrangement.

Before your visit

For your visit, be prepared with the following:

• Precise dates and collection and delivery times (within their opening hours.)
• The address, phone numbers and email where and when you can be contacted during your holiday. Failing that, details of a responsible person the cattery owner can contact in case of an emergency.
• The vaccination certificates, so they can be checked well before your holiday! Now is the time to see they are in order for your holiday dates.
• A list of health issues, allergies or temperament problems.
• The name and contact details of your usual vet

And finally - ask what you should bring from home. You can’t expect your cat to spend a week or more without it’s favourite blanket or toy, can you!

You can now rest easy that you have got the best holiday accommodation for your cat.

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