How to choose the best cattery ahead of your 2024 travel plans
December 14, 2023
If you are planning a holiday in the New Year, Nurture has some top tips to help you find the perfect cattery. We know leaving your cat can be daunting, but with these questions, we will help you find your cat the most perfect holiday home in Somerset.
Download our Top Cat Travel Tips
The team at Nurture suggest that you work through these questions below to find out everything you need to know about prospective holiday care for your cat.
Cattery: medical requirements
Vaccinations and parasite treatment
Work out what the cattery will need from you when it comes to your cat being vaccinated and up-to-date with their flea, tick and worming treatment. If you are unsure as to when your cat had their most recent vaccinations, our team can help.
Contact us about your cat’s vaccination schedule
Your cat’s medical care
Enquire about the cattery’s process for dealing with a veterinary emergency and who their local vet is.
Cattery: services, security and facilities available
It’s always a good idea to visit prospective catteries before choosing one as you’ll only get a sense of certain aspects in person – Nurture’s team have listed some of these below.
Security measures
Ask about what security measures are in place to protect your cat. Check windows and doors to make sure they are escape-proof and ask about their fire safety measures.
Hygiene
Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the cattery. The sleeping areas, litter boxes, and common spaces should be clean and odour-free.
Specialised feeding
Discuss your cat’s dietary requirements before booking and make sure the cattery has the facilities to accommodate any particular needs your cat may have. If your cat has a specialised diet from Nurture and you are running low, give us a call on 01749 673239 or visit our website to re-order.
Noise and stress levels
You need to be sure that the noise levels in the cattery will not be too distressing for your cat. Enquire about what measures the cattery has in place to minimise the noise and stress levels for your cat. You may also be able to get a feel for this during a visit.
Accommodation options
Your chosen cattery may have various different accommodation options available – are they suitable for your cat?
Individual care
Ask whether the cattery offers cats individual playtime, care and fuss.
Concerned about getting your cat to the cattery? Take a look at our 21 tips for transporting your cat.
External research
Reputation and reviews
Our Wells team recommend paying attention to reviews and testimonials to understand what other cat owners have experienced with your chosen cattery before booking.
Booking policies and prices
Understand the cattery’s booking policies, the deposit, and payment terms available.
Licences and insurance
Check the cattery has the necessary licences to meet industry standards. The cattery will also need appropriate insurance so it would be worth asking about what cover they have in place.
How do you feel?
Communication is key
Ask the cattery how they will communicate with you and if you’re happy with this. Lots of catteries can offer daily pictures and updates so work out what you’re comfortable with.
Visiting
Plan to visit the cattery ahead of your cat’s booking to visibly assess the facilities, cleanliness, and mannerisms of the staff who will be caring for your pet.
Gut feeling
Using the points above will help you to develop some feelings towards the cattery. If you are unsure or have doubts about certain aspects listed above, keep searching.
The last thing you want whilst on holiday is to feel worried that your cat isn’t being cared for to the standards you expect. Remember, thorough research and early planning is key to choosing the right temporary home for your cat in Somerset. The team at Nurture will be able to suggest potential catteries in the local area. Contact us on 01749 673239 for more information.
Nurture is encouraging cat owners to download our cat travel tips, a handy checklist to use when taking and picking your cat up from their stay at the cattery, and in fact for any journey in the car your feline friend needs to take.