Cat Sitting vs Cattery: Which Is Right for Your Cat?

What's the difference?

Cat sitting means a sitter visits your cat at your home, typically once or twice a day. Your cat stays in familiar surroundings, eats from their own bowls, and sleeps in their own bed. The sitter checks on them, feeds them, and spends time with them.

Cattery boarding means your cat stays at a licensed premises — a purpose-built cattery or home-boarding facility that holds an Animal Activity Licence from the local authority. The premises are inspected, star-rated, and regulated for hygiene and welfare.

Regulation

Licensed catteries are regulated under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 and are inspected by local authority officers. They must meet standards for pen size, heating, hygiene, disease prevention, and emergency vet access.

Pet sitters who visit cats at home are not required to hold this licence in most circumstances — visiting a cat at its own home is not a regulated activity under AAL. This is not a safety concern by itself; it is simply a different regulatory category with different requirements.

Which cats suit a cattery?

• Cats who are social or indifferent to new environments.
• Cats with medical needs that require monitoring — many catteries can administer medication.
• Multi-cat households where cats need to stay together (family pens).
• When you need certainty about the overnight environment and who is responsible for your cat's welfare.
• Longer stays where a daily visit may not be sufficient contact.

Which cats suit a cat sitter?

• Nervous, anxious, or highly territorial cats who find new environments stressful.
• Indoor-only cats used to a quiet, predictable home environment.
• Cats who are attached to home routines and find the smell of their environment calming.
• Short stays (1–2 nights) where disruption cost outweighs other factors.
• When you also need someone to water plants, collect post, or check the house.

Cost comparison

Cat sitting visits typically cost £10–20 per visit; twice-daily visits add up to £20–40/day. Cattery boarding typically costs £12–25/night for a standard pen (see our national price index). For multi-day stays, the difference narrows; for very short stays, home visits may cost less.

If you have multiple cats, cattery family pens typically charge £18–35/night for two cats together — often less than two separate cattery pens, and potentially competitive with twice-daily home visits.

Questions to ask a cattery

• Can I see the licence and star rating? (It should be visible on their register.)
• Do you have family pens for our two cats?
• Can you administer daily medication if needed?
• What's your emergency vet protocol?
• Do you allow a trial stay beforehand?

Questions to ask a cat sitter

• How many visits per day, and for how long?
• Are you insured for pet care?
• What happens if there's an emergency?
• Are you comfortable with medication?
• Have you worked with this type of cat before?