Bloody cattery costs

Why don’t you employ an experienced cat sitter?

Our cat has stage 4 CKD and she’s amazing with her. She comes in 2 x a day - one is just to feed and the other she’ll play with her. She’ll do the litter tray as well as needed.

We haven’t used a cattery for years - she hated it and her special food complicates matters.

It was always this you’d pay for 2 days for an overnight stay. If the deposit was un refundable it should’ve been made obvious to you.

They are running a business and therefore need to have things to protect themself. If you don’t like it then find an alternative.

Doesn’t actually sound unreasonable to me. They have a policy and you know that and agree to that at the time of booking - they makes plans around your booking and if that changes it’s fair enough they are compensated for it.

Probably because a load of people cancel at short notice, affecting their business revenue and costing them money.

The people who cancel at short notice often do it on a whim and expect to get it for free, even though it may be a cost to the business.

I can only compare to kennels. The no refund booking fee seems harsh, especially as you were changing dates, not cancelling. Presumably they’ve been let down by other clients?

The charge for drop off and pick up days is normal with the kennels I have used. They have to do a complete clean/ changeover, and the timings are generally pretty wide - so drop off from 9am - pick up before 5 pm.

They can’t book in the next occupant for that day.

But, is your cat safe? Comfortable & clean? Cared for?

I have looked after a friend’s cat while she was away and to do it properly, took a lot of time.

They may have lost the opportunity to offer that slot to someone else. The deposit is recompense for that.

£17 a day is ridiculously cheap. But why is the deposit more than the cost of the stay?

All of this is a choice that you make.
To have the pet, to go on holiday, to use the cattery.
If you don’t want to pay these costs don’t make these choices.
The T&Cs of the deposits etc were clear when you paid?? If so then that’s that. This is someone’s business and livelihood. If they make no money they don’t exist and then who’s looking after your cat?
I have a cat. We go away soon. She will go to the cattery and I will be paying pretty much the same as you. It is part of owing a pet. It is the price you pay for knowing your animal is safe and fed.

£17 seems quite cheap. I have a drop in from a cat sitter. She stays about half an hour, feeds, clears litter tray, lets the cat into the catio if weather permits and/or does a bit of a groom (long haired cat). That costs me £12 a day.
Not allowing changed bookings is a bit severe but if it’s in the t and cs…

Was all this clear in their T&Cs? When is the booking for? f you signed up to them then it seems fair that they want to be recompensed.

Although if the holiday is a way off, they can probably fill that slot.

It’s a rip off. For the four of mine they wanted to charge me £60 a day. £840 for 14 days… and that’s including bringing their own food!
Paid a cat sitter to come in she spends a hour with them a day, comes in twice cost me £350 and they send me photos and doesn’t require having all 4 vaccinated. Don’t know why anyone uses catteries anymore.