Running a Cattery
Discussion
So after another stressful/dull week working to make someone else rich I once again find myself not liking it at all
I started a thread about a lifestyle change yesterday and have been looking at Catterys
Does anyone have any experience of running one? I dont want or intend to make millions, but there are a good number for sale which I think could pay myself and the wife the wage we earn now, but we would be earning for ourselves, living in the country with some land, it sounds perfect
So whats the catch?
I started a thread about a lifestyle change yesterday and have been looking at Catterys
Does anyone have any experience of running one? I dont want or intend to make millions, but there are a good number for sale which I think could pay myself and the wife the wage we earn now, but we would be earning for ourselves, living in the country with some land, it sounds perfect
So whats the catch?
I have no personal experience but the wife and I have considered it previously.
I imagine the biggest downside would be seasonal occupancy, you might earn quite well at certain times of the year and almost nothing at others.
If you had a cattery with space for say 30 cats and averaged 15 cats per night occupancy over the year at £8 per night you'd be clearing £43,800 before expenses (cat food, litter, insurances, etc.) and taxes on earnings.
My figures are obviously plucked from the air and a complete guess but I reckon I'd need another job to make it worthwhile.
I imagine the biggest downside would be seasonal occupancy, you might earn quite well at certain times of the year and almost nothing at others.
If you had a cattery with space for say 30 cats and averaged 15 cats per night occupancy over the year at £8 per night you'd be clearing £43,800 before expenses (cat food, litter, insurances, etc.) and taxes on earnings.
My figures are obviously plucked from the air and a complete guess but I reckon I'd need another job to make it worthwhile.
Have only ever put our two cats in a cattery once, and only for two nights.
When we picked them up they were stil terrified, they hated it.
It was a well recommended decent cattery too.
Nowadays if we are only away for one night or two at a push we use an automated feeder.
Any longer we either get a cat feeder woman to come in or get a relative to do it.
Not always possible for all people I know.
Not entirely sure of the relativity to your question but.... erm well thats it.
When we picked them up they were stil terrified, they hated it.
It was a well recommended decent cattery too.
Nowadays if we are only away for one night or two at a push we use an automated feeder.
Any longer we either get a cat feeder woman to come in or get a relative to do it.
Not always possible for all people I know.
Not entirely sure of the relativity to your question but.... erm well thats it.
Mobile Chicane said:
Why are the catteries up for sale?
I think that the more cat servants understand about their masters' behaviour, the less inclined they are to put them in a cattery.
Cat-sitting all the way for me.
Some say retirement, others aren't so clearI think that the more cat servants understand about their masters' behaviour, the less inclined they are to put them in a cattery.
Cat-sitting all the way for me.
The thing is, if we were in the business I don't see why we couldn't offer both services
skahigh said:
I have no personal experience but the wife and I have considered it previously.
I imagine the biggest downside would be seasonal occupancy, you might earn quite well at certain times of the year and almost nothing at others.
If you had a cattery with space for say 30 cats and averaged 15 cats per night occupancy over the year at £8 per night you'd be clearing £43,800 before expenses (cat food, litter, insurances, etc.) and taxes on earnings.
My figures are obviously plucked from the air and a complete guess but I reckon I'd need another job to make it worthwhile.
Agree, now that would be tight but then if you take off things like commuting costs for 2 people etc it becomes closer to being achievableI imagine the biggest downside would be seasonal occupancy, you might earn quite well at certain times of the year and almost nothing at others.
If you had a cattery with space for say 30 cats and averaged 15 cats per night occupancy over the year at £8 per night you'd be clearing £43,800 before expenses (cat food, litter, insurances, etc.) and taxes on earnings.
My figures are obviously plucked from the air and a complete guess but I reckon I'd need another job to make it worthwhile.
The other part is that a lot of the places come with a number of acres that are currently unused, I think they could be put to work in some form.
A further thought I had was to buy a place that has Holiday Cottages attached, then make it into a Pet Friendly place, so people could holiday but have their cats in the cattery, dogs with them etc
Dan_1981 said:
Have only ever put our two cats in a cattery once, and only for two nights.
When we picked them up they were stil terrified, they hated it.
It was a well recommended decent cattery too.
Nowadays if we are only away for one night or two at a push we use an automated feeder.
Any longer we either get a cat feeder woman to come in or get a relative to do it.
Not always possible for all people I know.
Not entirely sure of the relativity to your question but.... erm well thats it.
It does seem that the sitters are a popular option these days, although we personally didn't have a great experience with oneWhen we picked them up they were stil terrified, they hated it.
It was a well recommended decent cattery too.
Nowadays if we are only away for one night or two at a push we use an automated feeder.
Any longer we either get a cat feeder woman to come in or get a relative to do it.
Not always possible for all people I know.
Not entirely sure of the relativity to your question but.... erm well thats it.
Its also been said there are catteries and there are catteries, we love cats so their welfare would be paramount, having looked at a few i think there are some things people could be doing to make both Cat and Servant happier that aren't hugely expensive
Mobile Chicane said:
Maybe there are some super hard nutter b
d ninja cats who'd relish the challenge, but I'd say that 99.99% wouldn't like it.
Why don't you buy a zoo instead and charge admission?
I was thinking more Cats that live with Dogs. There are many places that house both, although I do agree its not ideal.d ninja cats who'd relish the challenge, but I'd say that 99.99% wouldn't like it.Why don't you buy a zoo instead and charge admission?
At the moment I am just trying to get an idea on whether its a workable idea to run one and make a living or not
Certainly don't have dogs anywhere within barking distance. Inndeed, if you stick to cats only you can use it as a benefit.
You could also start with a slightly higher price but offer a discount if owners supply the food. You save money and Tiddles gets his favourite nosh. Same goes for blankets/beds etc. Cats do find catteries stressful; any home comforts will all help.
I think if you do it right and get good reviews, it would do well. People could then pay a premium for Tiddles to go to the best Cat Hotel in the area - another £2-3/night is nothing really but goes straight on your profit.
You could also start with a slightly higher price but offer a discount if owners supply the food. You save money and Tiddles gets his favourite nosh. Same goes for blankets/beds etc. Cats do find catteries stressful; any home comforts will all help.
I think if you do it right and get good reviews, it would do well. People could then pay a premium for Tiddles to go to the best Cat Hotel in the area - another £2-3/night is nothing really but goes straight on your profit.
Simpo Two said:
Certainly don't have dogs anywhere within barking distance. Inndeed, if you stick to cats only you can use it as a benefit.
You could also start with a slightly higher price but offer a discount if owners supply the food. You save money and Tiddles gets his favourite nosh. Same goes for blankets/beds etc. Cats do find catteries stressful; any home comforts will all help.
I think if you do it right and get good reviews, it would do well. People could then pay a premium for Tiddles to go to the best Cat Hotel in the area - another £2-3/night is nothing really but goes straight on your profit.
Some good ideas there, one of the ideas I had come up with was getting a bulk load of small blankets, then when people book they get sent a welcome pack with a blanket in, they can then use this at home until they come to us and bring it with them, the cat has a blanket that smells of home and is hopefully less stressedYou could also start with a slightly higher price but offer a discount if owners supply the food. You save money and Tiddles gets his favourite nosh. Same goes for blankets/beds etc. Cats do find catteries stressful; any home comforts will all help.
I think if you do it right and get good reviews, it would do well. People could then pay a premium for Tiddles to go to the best Cat Hotel in the area - another £2-3/night is nothing really but goes straight on your profit.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Nice idea but that would hit your bottom line hard. You would have to be sure it would promote enough extra business to be worthwhile.Personally, when my cat goes to the cattery she takes her own bed / towels that smell like home anyway. I don't expect a discount for providing these.
skahigh said:
Nice idea but that would hit your bottom line hard. You would have to be sure it would promote enough extra business to be worthwhile.
Personally, when my cat goes to the cattery she takes her own bed / towels that smell like home anyway. I don't expect a discount for providing these.
Yeah definitely, like I say its all just musings at the moment but the main thing seems to be Cats get stressed when staying in these places, so anything to mitigate that and keep them and the owners happy would ensure repeat customPersonally, when my cat goes to the cattery she takes her own bed / towels that smell like home anyway. I don't expect a discount for providing these.
Ah ok, good to know thanks
We've tried a few catteries. The first one we didnt go back to because all our cats stuff was really dirty when we picked her up after a week (e.g. carry cage which was left in with her). Second one seemed expensive (£10 per night) and seemed too much to be run as a business and not because they cared about cats well being. Current one we use is a lot further away near my parents house (15 miles) but worth it for the way they seem to treat the cats and the price (£7 per night).
So I'd say most important things:
- Cleanliness
- Space (decent outside space needed)
- Show you care about the cats
- Price
As a cattery consumer I just want to make sure my cat is fed right, comfortable and not too lonely.
So I'd say most important things:
- Cleanliness
- Space (decent outside space needed)
- Show you care about the cats
- Price
As a cattery consumer I just want to make sure my cat is fed right, comfortable and not too lonely.
I thought so 
I used a cattery where the owner had given up her high flying city job to open a cattery and do some sort of feline pyschology study at the same time. By studying and understanding cat behaviour, she was able to provide a flexible service to meet the needs of her feline guests.Her USP I suppose.
It worked for me, the moment she told me she wanted to use my case cats as a case study, I kept going back. Mug! However, she really sold the point that she understood the needs of the cats and it worked, you had to ring up very early to get booked in.
It worked for me, the moment she told me she wanted to use my case cats as a case study, I kept going back. Mug! However, she really sold the point that she understood the needs of the cats and it worked, you had to ring up very early to get booked in.
Mobile Chicane said:
Why are the catteries up for sale?
I think that the more cat servants understand about their masters' behaviour, the less inclined they are to put them in a cattery.
Cat-sitting all the way for me.
I think that the more cat servants understand about their masters' behaviour, the less inclined they are to put them in a cattery.
Cat-sitting all the way for me.
so presumably OP, cat sitters charge the same for their services, you may well get similar cat numbers and clients, but nothing like the overheads or hassle. And the cats are happier. Also presumably people like having a cat sitter visit once a day because that's also someone keeping an eye on the house at the same time.
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