What should I look for in a cattery?

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

options for solitary cats who prefer not to mix with others,

I used to work at a cattery where cats were allowed to mix.
Although it went against everything that i knew, i did start to think that it worked and the cats were happy not being kept in

HOWEVER
After working there for a couple of years (i have now left)  i can know say WITHOUT ANY DOUBT that CATS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MIX IN A CATTERY

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Trust your gut instinct too - feeling comfortable with the staff is as important as the facilities - you want to feel they are people who will take good care of your cats.  As soon as I visited the cattery I now use I knew that I'd be happy to leave my boys with those people.

A FAB cattery is good, but don't automatically exclude one that isn't.  The one I use is not FAB registered but it's excellent, imo.  If a cattery is already successful and gets booked up for holiday periods well in advance there's no incentive for them to pursue FAB registration.  Word of mouth is always the best publicity.

[em1209]

he sounded like he was in his 60's or so,

Just because someone is 'that old' does not mean they are not capable of caring for cats. I know some catteries where they seem wonderful people on the phone and on paper yet the cats don't get as much care as you would think they are receiving. Also just because a cattery is FAB registered does not necessarily mean it is the bees knees. It may be during the time they are inspected. but very lax at other times.

pussy cats".

Quite a few people say that as a term of endearment. What I don't like is when someone especially a man asks for a pussy. I keep talking and emphasizing the word cat.

Ela, no I didn't mean it in that way, wasn't being rude or patronising or anything, I didn't mean to cause offence    It just felt a bit creepy with him saying "pussy cats", don't know, just didn't feel right somehow. I think you get a gut feeling about places as to whether you're happy or not to leave your cats in their care. I can also understand what you're saying about the FAB catteries, but as this is the first time I've put them in anywhere, it was a good place to start to find somewhere I'm happy with.

Emma

[blackcat]

Cleanliness, good size runs, options for solitary cats who prefer not to mix with others, a good attitude to the cats in their care (which you will observe when you visit), willingness to arrange an inspection prior to booking (or better still for you to call in on short notice, but not at feeding time), no sign of fleas anywhere (booked mine in on short notice and the results were horrible), willingness to feed special diet if required, pref some experience with animals in a professional capacity (e.g. vet nurse or similar), and a nice smell to the place. Mine used to have someone who would take them into their home on rotation for a loaf in front of the fire. Now I have someone live in with them at my place so they are not disrupted in their home. It also saves money as there is a fixed rate for the service and you don't have the aggravation of having to hurtle around two different places for the dog and the cats when going on holiday - much less stressful for all concerned...

[alisonandarchie]

I have used a few catteries in my time but have just collected archie from the best which was at our local animal shelter. It was wonderful, not the newest but the cats had so much attention and fuss. They also made sure of archies diet and generally all his details for instance where he liked to be stroked. I would say visit a few and see what the atmosphere is like and whether the owners are genuine cat lovers and not in it for the just the money.
I once took a cat to what seemed like a state of the art cattery and would never go there again as the owner was constantly shouting at staff and my cat came home very unsettled.

[Ela]

he sounded like he was in his 60's or so,

Just because someone is 'that old' does not mean they are not capable of caring for cats. I know some catteries where they seem wonderful people on the phone and on paper yet the cats don't get as much care as you would think they are receiving. Also just because a cattery is FAB registered does not necessarily mean it is the bees knees. It may be during the time they are inspected. but very lax at other times.

pussy cats".

Quite a few people say that as a term of endearment. What I don't like is when someone especially a man asks for a pussy. I keep talking and emphasizing the word cat.

[em1209]

I've booked Fergus and Polly into one for over the bank holiday next week. I found it on the FAB website. I just felt more confident about them as they had obviously gone to the trouble of getting FAB registered. One place I rang, they weren't registered, I spoke to the man who ran the place, he sounded like he was in his 60's or so,  and he kept calling them "pussy cats". That just freaked me out a bit!!

I think you'll know though when you see somewhere that you're happy with.

Emma

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

I would use a FAB registered cattery.

A list can be found on their website

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Here ya go

http://www.fabcats.org/catteries/infosheets/choosing_a_boarding_cattery/choosing_boarding_cattery.html

You should be ok for xmas still but ela is right about good catteries getting booked up quickly.  I must get my boys booked into their regular cattery.  I'm not sure I'm going away for xmas this year but better to get them booked in and then cancel than leave it too late.  Last year I booked them in end aug/beg sept I think and they only had a few pens left.

[LesleyW]

Probably worth looking on the Feline Advisory Bureau website, they have written a whole book on cattery manager and they also run a scheme where catteries can become approved by them so that is worth checking as well.

[Ela]

You will need to act quickly most good catterys would have been booked up months ago.

[Queen-Penguin]

I am going to look around a cattery next week that has been recommended by a friend and (hopefully) book Menue in for Christmas.

What things should I look for when looking round? Is there a website I could look at to make a mental checklist?

S xxx