Cattery guides
Practical information about UK cattery boarding — from choosing a licensed cattery to preparing an anxious cat for their first stay.
Why Are There So Few Catteries in Central London?
Central London has very few licensed catteries because cat boarding needs space, planning tolerance, vehicle access, and separation from dense housing. Here is what that means for owners.
How Long Can You Leave a Cat at Home?
Most adult cats cope well for 24–48 hours alone with food, water, and enrichment. Longer absences usually need a cattery or carer. Here's how to decide.
What to Look for in a Cattery
A checklist for assessing cattery quality: licensing, pen size, ventilation, isolation policy, and the questions every owner should ask before booking.
How to Prepare Your Cat for Cattery
Practical steps to reduce cattery stress: vaccination timing, familiar scents, feeding notes, and what to pack for your cat's stay.
Questions to Ask a Cattery Before Booking
Twenty questions that reveal whether a cattery is genuinely well-run — covering licensing, health protocols, emergency procedures, and pricing.
What Do Cattery Prices Include?
A cattery's nightly rate usually covers accommodation and standard meals — but extras vary widely. Know what to check before you book.
How UK Catteries Are Licensed
UK cat boarding premises must hold an Animal Activity Licence from their local authority. Here's how the licensing system works, what it covers, and where it falls short.
Settling an Anxious Cat into Cattery
Practical strategies for cats that find boarding stressful — from preparation at home to what to ask the cattery to do differently.
Senior Cats and Cattery: What to Know
Older cats have specific needs in boarding: medication management, warmth, quieter environments, and closer health monitoring. A guide for owners of cats aged 10 and over.
Multiple Cats at a Cattery
Boarding two or more cats together: family pen options, pricing, bonded pairs versus cats that merely cohabit, and what to ask before booking.
Understanding Cattery Star Ratings
What the 1–5 star AAL rating system actually measures, what it doesn't, and how to interpret stars when choosing a cattery.
Can Kittens Stay in a Cattery?
Age requirements, vaccination timing, and what to look for in a cattery that boards kittens. Most catteries accept kittens from 12–16 weeks with a completed primary course.
How to Find a Licensed Cattery
A step-by-step guide to finding and verifying a licensed cattery near you — using our database, your council's register, and the questions to ask before booking.