Cat in a Flat vs Cattery: What's the Price Difference?
What is Cat in a Flat?
Cat in a Flat is a UK-based platform connecting cat owners with cat sitters. Most listings on Cat in a Flat are for pet sitting — where the sitter visits your cat at home, typically once or twice a day — or in-home boarding, where the sitter stays in the owner's home overnight.
A minority of Cat in a Flat listings offer cattery-style boarding — where the cat stays at the sitter's premises overnight. Only this subset is comparable to a licensed cattery.
The key difference: licensing
Licensed catteries hold an Animal Activity Licence (AAL) issued by their local authority under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018. The licence is inspected, star-rated, and publicly searchable.
Pet sitters who visit cats at home are not required to hold an AAL in most circumstances. This is not a criticism — it's a different regulatory category. But it means comparing "cattery vs Cat in a Flat" requires care about what you're actually comparing.
When each option may suit
| Factor | Licensed cattery | Cat in a Flat sitter |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory oversight | AAL licence, inspected | None required for home visits |
| Cat stays in familiar home | No | Yes (for home visits) |
| Vet access if emergency | Usually yes, protocol required | Varies by sitter |
| Multi-cat households | Family pens available at some | Usually no extra charge |
| Medication administration | Often available (fee may apply) | Varies by sitter |
Price methodology
When we have sufficient data, this page will show the observed price difference between direct cattery booking and Cat in a Flat listings that offer overnight cattery-style boarding (not home visits). We match on: same or nearby location, same service tier (single cat overnight), price observations within 14 days of each other.
We include platform fees in the Cat in a Flat figure and direct-booking prices in the cattery figure. We do not adjust for booking protection or platform guarantees — these have value, and the value judgment belongs to the customer.
Cat sitters near your area
If cattery supply is thin or your cat is happier at home, compare visiting sitters as a separate option. Visiting sitters are not the same regulated service as licensed catteries, so check insurance, reviews, and emergency cover before booking.
Cat in a Flat is a registered trademark. This page is independent and unaffiliated. Where we link to Cat in a Flat, links may be affiliate links marked with rel="sponsored". Affiliate disclosure.