What Is a Cattery?
Catteries are often called cat hotels, or sometimes even cat boarding kennel(thanks to the predominance of dog boarding services).
Whatever the term, a cattery is a hygienic compound that can be built indoors or outdoors. It provides a safe, warm, enclosed environment for individual cats (or cats from the same family who are familiar with each other sharing) to stay.
Catteries are boarding places where cats can expect to be cleaned, fed and be attended to depending on their personalities.
One of the benefits of using a boarding cattery other than knowing where your cat is, your cat may need attention or to be played with, cattery staff will be more than happy to oblige!
How to Choose the Best Cattery
Catteries are less strictly regulated in the USA than say in the UK or Europe. In the UK for example, catteries are required to have a license by the local authority’s Environmental Health department (Animal Boarding Establishments Act of 1963).
But there are a few bodies that govern certain elements, such as the guidelines laid out by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) or The International Cat Association (TICA) .
Even if they are insured and licensed, when you are wondering how to choose the best boarding cattery it is always important to maintain your own level of due diligence. If you are not happy, then you will not be happy leaving your cat there either.
You should always visit a cattery near me before you leave your cat there.
Before you get the specifics of the price and the distance, you should ask yourself:
Is it light or warm enough here?
Is it noisy?
Do the owners seem enthusiastic and good-natured?
Google and Facebook reviews can only tell you so much. Traditional catteries tend to be an older-generation owned enterprise, and some of them are not so internet savvy. Still, a quick email response and a good telephone call can go a long way in showing that they are good mannered enough to be caring (and also present in the daytime hours!)
Beyond those issues, you might also do well to look at the surrounding area, the enclosure and the property it is on.
Is it stimulating enough (a nice view, for example)? Also, how many cats will be staying here?