Cattery opening hours
Discussion
The cattery we use is very good apart from it's opening hours. It closes at 12:00 on a Saturday opening again on Monday at 9am. Also closed on bank holidays. We go away soon returning on the evening of Saturday 25 May and as the following Monday is a bank holiday we can't pick our cat up until the Tuesday. If that wasn't enough at £25 a day that's another £50 we have to fork out. I appreciate the owners of catteries need a life too but there must be staff at the cattery every day to look after the cats so surely it can't be too much for them to open for pick-ups and drop-offs maybe half an hour a day?
Or am I being unreasonable?
Or am I being unreasonable?
I met this once too. My cat really didn't like being in a cattery so when I phoned at 6pm asking to collect when their closing time was 5pm they were really rather grumpy about it. I'm self-employed and would never turn a customer away at 6pm. I did get the cat back that evening, and as they lived on the premises I really don't understand the fuss. Never used them again - these days I ask neighbours instead and the cat stays where it likes best 
I could understand it more if money was changing hands but we have to pay in full when we drop our cat off.
We have been told a number of times that there are more and more rules around the running of a cattery but I'm a little surprised that there aren't rules stipulating that the cattery must open daily even if it's just for half an hour. Most people look forward to seeing their cats back home after being away so to be denied this for 2 days seems wrong.
We have been told a number of times that there are more and more rules around the running of a cattery but I'm a little surprised that there aren't rules stipulating that the cattery must open daily even if it's just for half an hour. Most people look forward to seeing their cats back home after being away so to be denied this for 2 days seems wrong.
Humpy D said:
The cattery we use is very good apart from it's opening hours. It closes at 12:00 on a Saturday opening again on Monday at 9am. Also closed on bank holidays. We go away soon returning on the evening of Saturday 25 May and as the following Monday is a bank holiday we can't pick our cat up until the Tuesday. If that wasn't enough at £25 a day that's another £50 we have to fork out. I appreciate the owners of catteries need a life too but there must be staff at the cattery every day to look after the cats so surely it can't be too much for them to open for pick-ups and drop-offs maybe half an hour a day?
Or am I being unreasonable?
You know the deal and don't like it, so why not book elsewhere? As a business they can set their own opening hours and as long as you are made aware in advance, I don't really see the issue.Or am I being unreasonable?
Easier said than done I'm afraid. Seems that a lot of existing catteries are closing due to the increased regulations so trying to find one with decent recommendations/reviews is getting harder.
Suspect if the cattery are adamant we can't pick him up earlier than the Tuesday we'll ask a friend if they can pick him up midday on the Saturday and leave him at home until we get back.
Suspect if the cattery are adamant we can't pick him up earlier than the Tuesday we'll ask a friend if they can pick him up midday on the Saturday and leave him at home until we get back.
worsy said:
We have the same restrictions, though not quite as bad for the kennels we use. I think a lot of it is driven by the neighbours and how sweet the owners want to keep them.
I'm quite lucky in that respect; I have several trustworthy neighbours, most of whom have a cat or dog, and we cover each other's holidays.Simpo Two said:
I met this once too. My cat really didn't like being in a cattery so when I phoned at 6pm asking to collect when their closing time was 5pm they were really rather grumpy about it. I'm self-employed and would never turn a customer away at 6pm. I did get the cat back that evening, and as they lived on the premises I really don't understand the fuss. Never used them again - these days I ask neighbours instead and the cat stays where it likes best
The problem comes when someone else wants to collect their cat at 7, another at 8, and a third at 9. A lot of these businesses are run mostly by the owners with minimal extra staff.
It could well be a planning rule that restricts their operating hours.
Having said that, I picked up a neighbours cat - it was just "get it in the morning" so I went about 10AM. The cattery woman nearly had a melt down as I was outside of their collection and drop-off times and she was busy with other tasks. I said rather than keep arquing with me it'd be quicker to get the cat and pop it into its box expecting her to refuse, but she toddled off and got the cat.
Having said that, I picked up a neighbours cat - it was just "get it in the morning" so I went about 10AM. The cattery woman nearly had a melt down as I was outside of their collection and drop-off times and she was busy with other tasks. I said rather than keep arquing with me it'd be quicker to get the cat and pop it into its box expecting her to refuse, but she toddled off and got the cat.
Humpy D said:
The cattery we use is very good apart from it's opening hours. It closes at 12:00 on a Saturday opening again on Monday at 9am. Also closed on bank holidays. We go away soon returning on the evening of Saturday 25 May and as the following Monday is a bank holiday we can't pick our cat up until the Tuesday. If that wasn't enough at £25 a day that's another £50 we have to fork out. I appreciate the owners of catteries need a life too but there must be staff at the cattery every day to look after the cats so surely it can't be too much for them to open for pick-ups and drop-offs maybe half an hour a day?
Or am I being unreasonable?
Yes, you're being unreasonable ... its their business, their rules. That half an hour a day will turn into an hour or two hours ... next minute its all hours and is out of control. Or am I being unreasonable?
The kennels I use is exactly the same, strict drop off/collection times for one of my dogs ... if my flights delayed and I miss the slot, I can't get him until the next day or two days if its a bank holiday. Its not mine nor the kennels fault but its my responsibility to collect my dog ... I have to suck up the cost and accept as 'bad luck'.
Rules, especially running a consumer business like this is an absolute must.
Get the cat picked up earlier in the day by a friend/relative and dropped off at home.
It's what our neighbours used to do, my parents would pick up their dog for them. Not quite as the owners expected though, they would always go pick up the dog as soon as the neighbours left for holiday and they would look after it - hated the fact the poor dog was stuck in Kennels.
I distinctly remember as a kid being told to keep quiet when my parents announced their names as the neighbours names to collect their dog, this was the 1970's and no one checked!
It's what our neighbours used to do, my parents would pick up their dog for them. Not quite as the owners expected though, they would always go pick up the dog as soon as the neighbours left for holiday and they would look after it - hated the fact the poor dog was stuck in Kennels.
I distinctly remember as a kid being told to keep quiet when my parents announced their names as the neighbours names to collect their dog, this was the 1970's and no one checked!
JEA1K said:
Rules, especially running a consumer business like this is an absolute must.
I've been self-employed for 34 years and I have rules too. One is that the customer gets what what they want if I can do it. It's 8.20pm now, I've just had supper and watching the telly. If I ran a kennels/cattery and someone wanted to collect their pet now, no problem at all. But I'm a photographer, so if a customer said now 'Can you just rework that JPG and send it over? Yes I can. Happy customer = more business.JEA1K said:
Humpy D said:
Or am I being unreasonable?
Yes, you're being unreasonable ... its their business, their rules. That half an hour a day will turn into an hour or two hours ... next minute its all hours and is out of control......Rules, especially running a consumer business like this is an absolute must.
Can you use a cat sitter?
We used to use a cattery, which was excellent and also had strict time rules. However, one of our cats is not a good traveller.
With our sitter, who is brilliant, they get 2 visits a day with feeding and playtime plus she checks the house and draws the bedroom curtains on her evening visit
Less faff shifting cats around, cats are happy on their own turf and costs is about the same
We used to use a cattery, which was excellent and also had strict time rules. However, one of our cats is not a good traveller.
With our sitter, who is brilliant, they get 2 visits a day with feeding and playtime plus she checks the house and draws the bedroom curtains on her evening visit
Less faff shifting cats around, cats are happy on their own turf and costs is about the same
solo2 said:
It's what our neighbours used to do, my parents would pick up their dog for them. Not quite as the owners expected though, they would always go pick up the dog as soon as the neighbours left for holiday and they would look after it - hated the fact the poor dog was stuck in Kennels.
That's brilliant - It's the kind of thing my wife would do! That does sound a bit ridiculous but their business, their rules I guess.
The kennel we occasionally use is pretty chilled with generous "open" hours and it's no real hassle to go at other times if you ask too.
From memory they allow you to collect and drop off between the following times, 7 days a week. It's at a remote farmhouse with no neighbours which I guess helps.
10am until 12
2pm until 4
6pm until 8
The kennel we occasionally use is pretty chilled with generous "open" hours and it's no real hassle to go at other times if you ask too.
From memory they allow you to collect and drop off between the following times, 7 days a week. It's at a remote farmhouse with no neighbours which I guess helps.
10am until 12
2pm until 4
6pm until 8
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