Cattery advice

[LazySusan11]

I'm in a quandary, we have over the last 6 years put our 2 cats into a cattery twice (2 different ones) the 1st fed the wrong food despite it being written down and lazyboy was sick and at the 2nd cattery we bought them home and they were ok but lazyboy just seemed a bit 'off' out of the 2 he's the more sensitive.

We've also tried a sitter who came twice a day but I discovered she was arriving after midday so they were left from 6pm until she came again. They are fed in the morning so I was a bit pissed off they'd been left so long.

Also lazygirl was hit by a car a year ago and had dh not been at home when she bumbled through the cat flap she might not be here now. I probably sound like a completely neurotic mad cat lady but these furry creatures are my world and I worry about them.

We're going away in Nov for a week and I'm looking at a couple of catteries hoping I'll find one that will keep lazy boy cat happy and not stress him out. Question is what are the key things I need to look at to be sure it's a good one other than cleanliness, sneeze barriers and really kind owners?

Ours requires all 'guests' to be fully vaccinated and provide proof, which I like. They are also attached to a vet which gives peace of mind.

The women that run it are lovely, crazy cat ladies. They adore their charges and post photos to FB

They also provide a 'diary' of eating, sleeping and behavior for every day at the end of every stay which is fab but bonkers so you can see how they've been each day. They get out and about within the cattery if they want to, either in groups or alone if they aren't sociable.

I know being shut in a cage for much of a day isn't fun but they're safe.

One thing I would say is they do get used to it - ours were a bit discombobulated the first stay, but have got better every time.

There's guidance on this page. (Ignore the bit about the 'list' though - that scheme has been discontinued.

Shop around. It took looking around a few before we found the 'right' one, mine even puts pictures up on facebook for neurotic interested owners like me to follow while I'm away

The nice one we use (after accidentally booking special cat into a few really grim places) is a FAB listed cattery - may be worth seeing if there's any in your area.

More expensive for us (£9/night as opposed to £5 a night for the others) and quite a bit further away, but the lady that runs it obviously really likes cats and I feel quite happy leaving cat there.

Where in the country are you?

We went to look at one today, the owner was lovely very calm and all the guests were chilled out. I'd have liked somewhere with an indoor/outside space for them (not communal) as our boy cat loves just parking himself outside and sleeping.

They had the facility of opening the front although still protected but allowing fresh air in, I can't seem to find anywhere that has proper outdoor runs. Though being Nov he may prefer being inside anyway if the weather is rubbish.

Thanks for the link Cozie really helpful

Yes check for FAB listing. Also check for Facebook/ Twitter this will give you an idea of how cat crazy they are. Good ones will let you go and have a look around so you can see what the owners & staff are like as well as the facilities.

We're in Devon lots of countryside catteries but not many with great reviews

I put our cat into the cattery today, and although he doesn't like it, I know that he is safe, fed, and well looked after. I popped into several catteries before making a decision: if they smelled, had no sneeze barriers, and the owner was the slightest bit iffy, and I could walk straight in without ringing a bell, I crossed them off the list. (There were several!) The cattery I chose to put my cat in insists on proof of vaccinations, is clean, posts photos to facebook, and is secure at all times. Our cat is an outside cat, so is grumpy with us for a few days afterwards, but soon forgives us!

Seniorboy would just refuse to eat and turn up his toes in a cattery. The Lodger, on the other hand, would be fine with anything as long as he had a chance for some convivial company - preferably in the shape of a card school and a wet bar. Oh Me Oh My.

I went to a horrible one once but ours is lovely.

Our cats nemesis cats owners use a pet sitter but they only visit once a day & the cats were shut in for two weeks in the hot weather.

Yours has video online if requested doesn't it? (Or did I dream that?)

It does but I don't request it. Dh would spend all day checking the cat was ok

I have at least broken free of ringing every morning to check the cats ok despite some full on emotional blackmail. Dh won't ring because it's not manly.

Awww ok, was going to recommend a good one in Hampshire!

Our vets has a cattery attached to it and we only started using it since our cat began with her medical problems.
It's not fancy but I know they require cats to be up to date on vaccinations. The people who work in the cattery clearly enjoy working with and looking after the cats which I think is important. They are able to give tablets and injections eg.insulin. They aren't veterinary nurses but they are way more knowledgable and experienced than most people.
The nurses do help out and if cats don't seem well there is expertise available.
Am not sure cats are bothered by the extra just to feel safe and secure in a clean environment with food, water and strokes if they want them.

I think it's a real shame your cat sitter clearly wasn't very good. I do intermittent cat sitting as I foster for a charity and as part of the service I open curtains in the morning (and close them in the evening), collect post, get milk and bread for clients return (or stay in for Ocado).

Could you not try a different sitter?