How to Find a Licensed Cattery

Start with the licence register

Every cattery in England that boards cats commercially must be listed on its local authority's Animal Activity Licensing register. These registers are public — the 2018 Regulations require them to be accessible.

Use our town search to find licensed operators near you. We pull data directly from council registers and display the licence number, star rating, and licensing authority for each listed operator.

Check the licence is current

A licence can expire or be revoked. Our database shows the most recent data we have, but always verify current status with the issuing council before booking — particularly if the licence expiry date is within the next few months.

You can find the relevant council by searching for the operator's postcode on GOV.UK and navigating to their animal licensing service.

Cross-reference with industry directories

The ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) maintains a list of cattery operators that have voluntarily met their higher standards. Membership is a positive signal but not a substitute for checking the statutory licence.

Visit before you book

A site visit before the first booking is worth the time. It lets you see the pens, meet the staff, and form a view of the operation that no online listing can fully convey.

Use our list of questions to ask a cattery as a framework for the visit.

What to do if you can't find a local listing

If your local authority has not published its register digitally, you can submit a Freedom of Information request for the list of current AAL licence holders for cat boarding. Our licensing coverage page tracks which councils publish openly and which require FOI.

Frequently asked questions