Thoughts on Catteries
Discussion
Just looking to book a holiday between Xmas and new year and thoughts are turning to what to do with the cat whilst we are away.He will be a year old just before xmas and we have never left him alone before.We let him out and he is free to come and go through his catflap.
Although we will only be away for 5 days or so I feel mean about leaving him at a cattery.On the other hand we could have someone come to the house and feed him but then we would worry that there might be a problem while we are away(ie he has an accident and needs help)
I have no experience of catteries-would my moggy forgive me if I left him there while we went on holiday!?
Although we will only be away for 5 days or so I feel mean about leaving him at a cattery.On the other hand we could have someone come to the house and feed him but then we would worry that there might be a problem while we are away(ie he has an accident and needs help)
I have no experience of catteries-would my moggy forgive me if I left him there while we went on holiday!?
Can we not have this conversation please 
my two are off to the Cattery in two weeks and I hate it. I have no complaints about the Cattery but I just hate putting them there.
The only reason I put them there is because I know they are safe. I have nobody local that could come in and visit them, unless I pay for a cat sitter type person. They only come in once or twice a day and the cats get no interaction. I can't keep the catflap locked as one of them can break out of it quite easily and I'd worry that they had been involved in an accident or something.
My cats would also get bored and fight with each other and destroy the carpets even more, so as much as I and the cats hate it, it is the safest place for them.
my two are off to the Cattery in two weeks and I hate it. I have no complaints about the Cattery but I just hate putting them there. The only reason I put them there is because I know they are safe. I have nobody local that could come in and visit them, unless I pay for a cat sitter type person. They only come in once or twice a day and the cats get no interaction. I can't keep the catflap locked as one of them can break out of it quite easily and I'd worry that they had been involved in an accident or something.
My cats would also get bored and fight with each other and destroy the carpets even more, so as much as I and the cats hate it, it is the safest place for them.
Completely depends on the cattery. As a whole, I'm not a fan of catteries but our local one is more of a cat hotel, with huge private, heated rooms with a set of patio doors in each which go out to a private garden area. Each area has lots of levels, toys, rest areas etc, along with a seperate litter tray area. This is the only catttery I would ever put our cat in as we have had similar fleas/illness issues with other ones. We use a cattery as our cat gets into a lot of fights etc and I worry, if left at home he might not get any treatment he might need. Also our cat is a big baby and likes cuddles which someone popping in wouldn't give him where as the hotel has three girls who just go round playing and cuddling them. When on the hunt for a cattery, go and look at a few places. When we were looking, a few didn't want us to visit which worried me, but, again, our local just said pop in anywhen, which made me feel a bit more confident that their standards were high all the time and not just done for show. In an ideal world, I would love to leave him at home with a house sitter to pander to his needs but this is second best.
Previously always used catteries, but their charges just go up and up. We've found a reliable cat-sitter who visits for £9 per day. Cats love it, we enjoy knowing our house gets checked daily, and even the fish get fed!
She'll even take the dog in as a house guest, but unfortunately gets booked up months in advance!
She'll even take the dog in as a house guest, but unfortunately gets booked up months in advance!
IMHO feeding cats at home is the best way if you can do it. If not, thoroughly check out a cattery if you are going to place your beloved furball there. Classic cattery scare story follows, happened a couple of years ago.
Our neighbour calls round. 'Have you seen Puss? We haven't seen him for a day or so and he normally comes back within a couple of hours'. Nope says us, but we will keep an eye out.
Couple of days later, Neighbour No. 2, whose cat is very similar to Puss, comes back from hols to find their cat at home. This is weird because Neighbour No. 2 placed their cat in the local cattery.
Neighbour No. 2 calls cattery to find out what the hell has happened. They are told, we have your cat here. Panto of 'oh no you don't, oh yes we do' ensues.
Turns out Neighbour No. 2's cat escaped and made his way home. Cattery idiots rock up to our street, see Puss and grab him thinking that he is Neighbour No. 2s cat.
Luckily Neighbour No. 2 recognise Puss and know where he lives.
We don't recommend that cattery any more.
Trace
Our neighbour calls round. 'Have you seen Puss? We haven't seen him for a day or so and he normally comes back within a couple of hours'. Nope says us, but we will keep an eye out.
Couple of days later, Neighbour No. 2, whose cat is very similar to Puss, comes back from hols to find their cat at home. This is weird because Neighbour No. 2 placed their cat in the local cattery.
Neighbour No. 2 calls cattery to find out what the hell has happened. They are told, we have your cat here. Panto of 'oh no you don't, oh yes we do' ensues.
Turns out Neighbour No. 2's cat escaped and made his way home. Cattery idiots rock up to our street, see Puss and grab him thinking that he is Neighbour No. 2s cat.
Luckily Neighbour No. 2 recognise Puss and know where he lives.
We don't recommend that cattery any more.
Trace
There are catteries and there are catteries.
I left my cats in one and my Bengal nearly died with gastro enteritis, he'd had it for at least 24hrs and they handed me a messy bed to take h ome (which cats do not do unless they are pretty ill), he got worse and worse and I called the vet that night who admitted him, said he was just a few hours from losing him. The other cat was shell shocked when she returned from the same place because they walked barking dogs past the cat pens and she is very timid.
I later found a bonkers old lady who has a very small cattery in her garden. She's utterly devoted to the cats, there are no dogs, she has created an aviary opposite the cat pens which she calls cat TV and she cuddles and plays with each cat every day and reads them postcards from their owners - completely batty yes, but also 100% reliable. People book her a year in advance.
I prefer to leave mine with someone like that incase they get into a scrape, if someone is feeding them each day they wouldn't necessarily know.
I left my cats in one and my Bengal nearly died with gastro enteritis, he'd had it for at least 24hrs and they handed me a messy bed to take h ome (which cats do not do unless they are pretty ill), he got worse and worse and I called the vet that night who admitted him, said he was just a few hours from losing him. The other cat was shell shocked when she returned from the same place because they walked barking dogs past the cat pens and she is very timid.
I later found a bonkers old lady who has a very small cattery in her garden. She's utterly devoted to the cats, there are no dogs, she has created an aviary opposite the cat pens which she calls cat TV and she cuddles and plays with each cat every day and reads them postcards from their owners - completely batty yes, but also 100% reliable. People book her a year in advance.
I prefer to leave mine with someone like that incase they get into a scrape, if someone is feeding them each day they wouldn't necessarily know.
yes, the general rule seems to be the crazier and more uncomfortable interactions with the owner of the cattery are, the more likely the cats will be looked after.
trying to find a cattery here in germany for when we go away... the cats are all kept in one large communal area - no separate litter trays/beds/food etc.. infact no segregation at all. sounds like a bit of a recipe for disaster to me.
trying to find a cattery here in germany for when we go away... the cats are all kept in one large communal area - no separate litter trays/beds/food etc.. infact no segregation at all. sounds like a bit of a recipe for disaster to me.
That's awful! they could fight, become really distressed and spread infection... avoid that one!!
A good cattery will insist on seeing your vaccination records befoer allowing your cat in. They shouldn't really have dogs, if they do then they should be well away. They shoudl have regular visits/checks through day, feeding according to your cats requirement and a be regularly cleaned/disinfected.
I visited about 3 or 4 before finding mad lady. You can get a good feel for a place when you walk round and ask a few questions.
A good cattery will insist on seeing your vaccination records befoer allowing your cat in. They shouldn't really have dogs, if they do then they should be well away. They shoudl have regular visits/checks through day, feeding according to your cats requirement and a be regularly cleaned/disinfected.
I visited about 3 or 4 before finding mad lady. You can get a good feel for a place when you walk round and ask a few questions.
Use Psychology said:
yes, the general rule seems to be the crazier and more uncomfortable interactions with the owner of the cattery are, the more likely the cats will be looked after.
trying to find a cattery here in germany for when we go away... the cats are all kept in one large communal area - no separate litter trays/beds/food etc.. infact no segregation at all. sounds like a bit of a recipe for disaster to me.
That is horrendous!trying to find a cattery here in germany for when we go away... the cats are all kept in one large communal area - no separate litter trays/beds/food etc.. infact no segregation at all. sounds like a bit of a recipe for disaster to me.
I agree with Parakitomol. Small and friendly.
My parents have used the same cattery for years, they are a couple utterly devoted to their cattery (not my parents, the owners!) they have owned it forever, one of the only catteries I'd ever dare recommend when I worked at a vets nearby. Always quick to bring a cat in for tx if it was needed.
It's not the largest of premises so the individual 'cages' are a bit smaller than some but the cats recieve a lot of one to one attention from the owners and that's what counts. (As a result they book up quickly)
My parents cat is a fairly timid little cat but she always comes back from them completely chilled out and as though she hadn't been anywhere, perfect.
Basically OP visit a few catteries and avoid kennel/ cattery combos if you can. Smaller but clean looking catteries probably better than a large one and make sure you feel comfortable with the owners attitudes.
Over twenty years of using them now. Cats will forgive you, just pick out a reasonable one and give them gold plated treating times when they get home. Go to the catteries first to suss them out.
We did find one that had outside runs but they got a bit funny over a non existent malady they diagnosed (cost us a vets visit and tests to show there was nothing, fuming over that). We have had a cat sitter who was good and the added bonus of your house is looked after but a tad pricey.
But, what worries me over sitters etc is they do not know the animal and its foibles and if we are not around then the cats stay locked in so the house had a certain odour when we returned. The sitter may not spot an injury from a fight or accident.
So we stick to the reasonable cattery. No need for gold plated service, comfortable, well looked after and do they ask what the puss prefers for food, evidence of different brands used etc not cheap ash laden stuff.
We did find one that had outside runs but they got a bit funny over a non existent malady they diagnosed (cost us a vets visit and tests to show there was nothing, fuming over that). We have had a cat sitter who was good and the added bonus of your house is looked after but a tad pricey.
But, what worries me over sitters etc is they do not know the animal and its foibles and if we are not around then the cats stay locked in so the house had a certain odour when we returned. The sitter may not spot an injury from a fight or accident.
So we stick to the reasonable cattery. No need for gold plated service, comfortable, well looked after and do they ask what the puss prefers for food, evidence of different brands used etc not cheap ash laden stuff.
jmorgan said:
if we are not around then the cats stay locked in so the house had a certain odour when we returned. The sitter may not spot an injury from a fight or accident.
So we stick to the reasonable cattery. No need for gold plated service, comfortable, well looked after and do they ask what the puss prefers for food, evidence of different brands used etc not cheap ash laden stuff.
That was my concern over sitters, ok for a night or two but not your summer hols.So we stick to the reasonable cattery. No need for gold plated service, comfortable, well looked after and do they ask what the puss prefers for food, evidence of different brands used etc not cheap ash laden stuff.
I agree it doesn't need to be gold plated, just one that actually cares - you can suss this out in a visit - and I would strongly recommend visiting and having a wander round before leaving a cat.
Just to add the point of view from the 'other side'!
I own a cattery; we are fully licensed and regularly inspected by the council (the dog warden carries out the inspections!)
We have sixteen 'penthouses' as we refer to them (so much nicer than 'pens'!) each of which is full height, and at least eight feet by five feet with various shelves for beds, toys activity etc - some are bigger for multiple cats from the same household. The building is fully heated (not just heating pads for the cats). Each penthouse has a window looking out over a meadow with our farmhouse the only building that can be seen, the rest of the view is fields and trees (we have planted buddleia outside so that the cats can watch the butterflies!) a few penthouses have a small outside area that the cats can sunbathe on - not all as many cats are 'indoor cats' and would rather not go out. Someone is in the cattery feeding, cleaning and grooming from 0830 until 1100 and 1700 until 1930 and in between time there are numerous visits to make sure all is well, fuss the one or two nervous cats or ones that need extra attention. All of the cat's habits, likes, dislikes etc are kept in their notes and their home routine is adhered to as far as possible, including what they normally have to eat. If there is a need for a vets visit we are covered by insurance so, providing it is not a pre-existing condition there is no charge to the owner - we insist on all cats being vaccinated and hold their record cards with us while the cats are staying. On the rare occasion we discover a cat has fleas we treat the cat with 'Frontline' and take great care to prevent any cross contamination, if necessary we will treat all of the cats if any spread of fleas is discovered.
We bought the farm with the cattery after taking our cat there for some years so we knew it was good then and have continued trying to improve it over the past three years.
All catteries are not the same but there are some good ones and, if you find one you like and can trust, you will know that your cat is actually being looked after rather than hoping that the neighbour/friend etc has remembered to feed the cat and, if there is anything wrong while you are away someone will notice it and do something about it.
I own a cattery; we are fully licensed and regularly inspected by the council (the dog warden carries out the inspections!)
We have sixteen 'penthouses' as we refer to them (so much nicer than 'pens'!) each of which is full height, and at least eight feet by five feet with various shelves for beds, toys activity etc - some are bigger for multiple cats from the same household. The building is fully heated (not just heating pads for the cats). Each penthouse has a window looking out over a meadow with our farmhouse the only building that can be seen, the rest of the view is fields and trees (we have planted buddleia outside so that the cats can watch the butterflies!) a few penthouses have a small outside area that the cats can sunbathe on - not all as many cats are 'indoor cats' and would rather not go out. Someone is in the cattery feeding, cleaning and grooming from 0830 until 1100 and 1700 until 1930 and in between time there are numerous visits to make sure all is well, fuss the one or two nervous cats or ones that need extra attention. All of the cat's habits, likes, dislikes etc are kept in their notes and their home routine is adhered to as far as possible, including what they normally have to eat. If there is a need for a vets visit we are covered by insurance so, providing it is not a pre-existing condition there is no charge to the owner - we insist on all cats being vaccinated and hold their record cards with us while the cats are staying. On the rare occasion we discover a cat has fleas we treat the cat with 'Frontline' and take great care to prevent any cross contamination, if necessary we will treat all of the cats if any spread of fleas is discovered.
We bought the farm with the cattery after taking our cat there for some years so we knew it was good then and have continued trying to improve it over the past three years.
All catteries are not the same but there are some good ones and, if you find one you like and can trust, you will know that your cat is actually being looked after rather than hoping that the neighbour/friend etc has remembered to feed the cat and, if there is anything wrong while you are away someone will notice it and do something about it.
Do you have a Petpals near you? http://www.petpals.com/
Just got back from a week away and used them to come in, feed the cats and they collect the post and water the plants. £136.50 for two cats for the week, got back and they were both lovely and calm.
Can't reccommend them highly enough, especially as one cat needs pills daily and the other one can be as wild as a tiger. The chap was very nice and we'll be using him from now on.
Just got back from a week away and used them to come in, feed the cats and they collect the post and water the plants. £136.50 for two cats for the week, got back and they were both lovely and calm.
Can't reccommend them highly enough, especially as one cat needs pills daily and the other one can be as wild as a tiger. The chap was very nice and we'll be using him from now on.
MarsellusWallace said:
Just looking to book a holiday between Xmas and new year and thoughts are turning to what to do with the cat whilst we are away.He will be a year old just before xmas and we have never left him alone before.We let him out and he is free to come and go through his catflap.
Although we will only be away for 5 days or so I feel mean about leaving him at a cattery.On the other hand we could have someone come to the house and feed him but then we would worry that there might be a problem while we are away(ie he has an accident and needs help)
I have no experience of catteries-would my moggy forgive me if I left him there while we went on holiday!?
I worked in a cattery, and apart from the morning feed and clean out and evening check they weren't watched over. I always made time to play with the cats but the proprietors who ran the business most the time didn't. If that's what you're after then you'd probably be best to let the cat stay in his own environment and be fed by a friend.Although we will only be away for 5 days or so I feel mean about leaving him at a cattery.On the other hand we could have someone come to the house and feed him but then we would worry that there might be a problem while we are away(ie he has an accident and needs help)
I have no experience of catteries-would my moggy forgive me if I left him there while we went on holiday!?
If you plump for a cattery though I promise moggy won't hold it against you for longer than a couple of days!
Had a recent experience with a cattery whilst we were away on Honeymoon.
Our cat Harley has just recently been diagnosed with Diabetes, so we had a couple of days to get used to injecting him ourselves, then were due to get married and go on honeymoon, so instead of staying with family members which he usually has no problems with, we decided that the cattery would have more experience in treating diabetic cats and decided to leave him there.
Whilst we were away he contracted a respiratory infection and was admitted to a local vet overnight and put on a drip, along with being given a long-lasting anti-biotic injection. We didn't realise this until we returned from honeymoon on Monday as my in-laws dealt with the cattery whilst we were away.
So we got back on Monday and Harley had already been brought back to ours, he was nothing but skin and bones and pretty weak, so we gave him lots of food and water, along with keeping a constant eye on him, then I took him to the vets the next morning. He had gone down in weight from 4.7KG to 3.5KG and was seriously dehydrated, he was left on a drip for the day and overnight and we've got him back now, he's still pretty weak, but is drinking lots (symptom of the diabetes) and eating.
I think the combination of stress at being in the cattery and the infection (probably caught whilst there) contributed a lot towards it, so I can't level it all at the cattery, but you'd think that someone would notice the extreme weight loss and take action.
Suffice to say, he won't be going back there and we're now hoping he can make a recovery, as unless he shows signs of improvement in the next few weeks, we don't think it's fair to him and it will break my heart to do it, but we may be forced to have him put to sleep
Our cat Harley has just recently been diagnosed with Diabetes, so we had a couple of days to get used to injecting him ourselves, then were due to get married and go on honeymoon, so instead of staying with family members which he usually has no problems with, we decided that the cattery would have more experience in treating diabetic cats and decided to leave him there.
Whilst we were away he contracted a respiratory infection and was admitted to a local vet overnight and put on a drip, along with being given a long-lasting anti-biotic injection. We didn't realise this until we returned from honeymoon on Monday as my in-laws dealt with the cattery whilst we were away.
So we got back on Monday and Harley had already been brought back to ours, he was nothing but skin and bones and pretty weak, so we gave him lots of food and water, along with keeping a constant eye on him, then I took him to the vets the next morning. He had gone down in weight from 4.7KG to 3.5KG and was seriously dehydrated, he was left on a drip for the day and overnight and we've got him back now, he's still pretty weak, but is drinking lots (symptom of the diabetes) and eating.
I think the combination of stress at being in the cattery and the infection (probably caught whilst there) contributed a lot towards it, so I can't level it all at the cattery, but you'd think that someone would notice the extreme weight loss and take action.
Suffice to say, he won't be going back there and we're now hoping he can make a recovery, as unless he shows signs of improvement in the next few weeks, we don't think it's fair to him and it will break my heart to do it, but we may be forced to have him put to sleep
Not nice to hear some of these cattery horror stories tbh.
I have just returned from a weeks holiday on sunday and was not sure what to do with my two for that week.
Normally would take them to my parents as I know they are well looked after, groomed, fed and made a fuss of, however the journey is 1.25 hours and Beefy hates travelling (might have something to do with being in the de-catted, CCC, Tuscan)
This time I looked at numerous catteries in the area and didn't feel comfortable with any of them, especially the ones that also had dogs so decided it was not the way forward.
Went for a cat sitter/ feeder. Found her online, made sure she was local, read testamonials, had a chat on the phone and got her round the next day to discuss. She brought round her CRB and answered any questions and I felt happy there and then this was the way forward.
I trusted her with my alarm fob and key, paid up for the week and that was that.
Not only did the cats have no change in environment, they were fed each day petted, and she guaranteed me she would be there around 20 - 30 mins once a day. (I also have a catflap) The best part was on the fourth day she posted on her website pictures that she had taken over a few days of the cats eating, being stroked, and looking happy which was a good thing as I could check this when on holiday!
When I arrived back there was a compliment slip with the following written on the back word for word:
Welcome back. I hope you had a lovely time away. All went very well with Beefy and Mimi they were around for each visit. Very sweet and friendly happy and content. They have been fed and watered.
In the fridge is a fresh pint of milk and jaffa cakes as it is always nice to have a cuppa after a long journey.
I hope to see Beefy and Mimi again in the future should you go away.
Kindest Regards
Patrice
P.S Keys through the letterbox
I felt it was a nice touch. But the big test was how the cats reacted to my return:
Even when at my parents house when I get the cats back they both ignored me for a couple of days, I think this was partly down to change in environment and the car journey.
From the moment I arrived back in the house mimi was purring (she always does) and even Beefy was genuinly pleased to see his Dad giving me a few purrs (he never purrs) Mimi was fine and kept very close to me for a day or 2. Beefy once had said hello, showed he was pleased to see me, got fed and then buggered off out all night and didn't speak to me until the next morning when he was his normal self, which for him is a great reaction
All in all a good reaction from the cats, they looked happy and a great service from the cat/ hous sitter who i will definately use again.
I have just returned from a weeks holiday on sunday and was not sure what to do with my two for that week.
Normally would take them to my parents as I know they are well looked after, groomed, fed and made a fuss of, however the journey is 1.25 hours and Beefy hates travelling (might have something to do with being in the de-catted, CCC, Tuscan)
This time I looked at numerous catteries in the area and didn't feel comfortable with any of them, especially the ones that also had dogs so decided it was not the way forward.
Went for a cat sitter/ feeder. Found her online, made sure she was local, read testamonials, had a chat on the phone and got her round the next day to discuss. She brought round her CRB and answered any questions and I felt happy there and then this was the way forward.
I trusted her with my alarm fob and key, paid up for the week and that was that.
Not only did the cats have no change in environment, they were fed each day petted, and she guaranteed me she would be there around 20 - 30 mins once a day. (I also have a catflap) The best part was on the fourth day she posted on her website pictures that she had taken over a few days of the cats eating, being stroked, and looking happy which was a good thing as I could check this when on holiday!
When I arrived back there was a compliment slip with the following written on the back word for word:
Welcome back. I hope you had a lovely time away. All went very well with Beefy and Mimi they were around for each visit. Very sweet and friendly happy and content. They have been fed and watered.
In the fridge is a fresh pint of milk and jaffa cakes as it is always nice to have a cuppa after a long journey.
I hope to see Beefy and Mimi again in the future should you go away.
Kindest Regards
Patrice
P.S Keys through the letterbox
I felt it was a nice touch. But the big test was how the cats reacted to my return:
Even when at my parents house when I get the cats back they both ignored me for a couple of days, I think this was partly down to change in environment and the car journey.
From the moment I arrived back in the house mimi was purring (she always does) and even Beefy was genuinly pleased to see his Dad giving me a few purrs (he never purrs) Mimi was fine and kept very close to me for a day or 2. Beefy once had said hello, showed he was pleased to see me, got fed and then buggered off out all night and didn't speak to me until the next morning when he was his normal self, which for him is a great reaction
All in all a good reaction from the cats, they looked happy and a great service from the cat/ hous sitter who i will definately use again.
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