How do I choose a cattery or kennels?

Since 2018 in England, boarding for cats and dogs and home boarding for dogs all require a licence from the local authority, with a star rating from one to five based on welfare standards and the operator's record. That is public information and it is the single most useful filter available, and very few people use it.

Step by step

1. Check the licence and the star rating.Ask to see the licence, which must be displayed, and check the council's public register. The rating covers minimum standards and higher standards and is a genuine differentiator. Equivalent licensing exists in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland under their own regimes.
2. Visit before booking, and look at the right things.Smell, noise, cleanliness of the units rather than the office, and the condition of the animals in residence. Are dogs able to see out and to get away from other dogs; are cats housed so they cannot see each other directly; is there anywhere quiet.
3. Check how cats are housed specifically.Cats need a pen with a sleeping area they can retreat to, height to climb, and visual separation from other cats. Full-height mesh between neighbouring cats is stressful. Ask how they manage a cat that will not settle.
4. Ask about exercise and enrichment for dogs.How many walks or exercise sessions, how long, individually or in groups, and how groups are matched. Ask what happens with a dog that does not get on with others.
5. Ask the medical questions.Whether they administer medication and at what frequency, which vet they use, what happens out of hours, and who authorises treatment if you cannot be reached. Get the arrangement in writing and leave a spending limit and an alternative contact.
6. Confirm the vaccination and treatment requirements.Most require core vaccinations to be current, and kennel cough vaccination for dogs with a minimum lead time before boarding. Check the deadline — it is commonly two to three weeks and it catches people out.
7. Ask about staffing overnight.Whether anyone is on site at night, how often animals are checked, and what the fire and emergency procedure is. Practices vary widely and it is a reasonable question.
8. Consider home boarding or a sitter for anxious animals.Licensed home boarding places a dog in a licensed household. For cats, staying in their own home with a visiting sitter is usually far less stressful than boarding, because cats bond to territory more than to people.
9. Send familiar things.The animal's own bed or a blanket that smells of home, its usual food, and written feeding instructions. Do not change the food at the same time as the environment.
10. Book absurdly early for peak periods.Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays fill months ahead, and the establishments that fill first are usually the ones worth having.

Questions people ask