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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cats on tour to centre parcs

41 replies

jbx10 · 01/10/2022 23:40

Wondered peoples thoughts on taking our kittens with us to center parcs. We couldn't really see any reason why not but we haven't been before. They travel well. We're in a detached lodge. We're going for a week (me, DH &DD) and thought it would be nice to bring them with us. People take their dogs without question soo is there any harm is taking our kittens?

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 02/10/2022 09:07

I don’t really see much difference in taking a cat or a dog, some of each aren’t happy travelling/ being left in a new place etc. house cats tend to be quite attached to their owners and not the cliche view of what a cat should be! Kittens learn by experience and it’s a good idea to get them used to travel. However CP only allow dogs and only in prebooked designated villas so you’d be unreasonable to take them!

AlwaysLatte · 02/10/2022 09:22

I would hate to stay in accommodation that had previously housed a cat litter tray. Also the kittens would be terrified. I presume there's a policy of not leaving pets unattended too so someone would have to stay with them at all times unless you're also planning taking them cycling/swimming.

MiniLeopardInTheHouse · 02/10/2022 10:19

No experience of CP, but our cat always comes on holiday with us, and very happily. Some cats are more bonded to their people than the home itself, and so as long as they are with their people and their other needs are met, they are happy.

We have what we need to take and what we need to do down to a fine art now, and we have a routine our cat knows and is happy with. Extreme care has to be taken with doors and windows, but that is only as at home if you have an indoor cat. I do know people who take their cats out and in the garden when on holiday, but that's not a risk I would take.

Our cat has never caused any damage or mess. Some cats would, just like some dogs would, in which case neither should be taken to holiday accommodation or, at the very least, never left unsupervised.

And that is one issue you do have to address when holidaying with cats, because most accommodation owners state that pets should not be left unsupervised, so you have to take them with you whenever you go out for the day or evening. That's not usually a problem with dogs - and that's who they are talking about 99% of the time when they say 'pets' - but most people can't take cats and other pets like parrots and guinea pigs out with them. We take an extra-large crate with us for this reason. It's big enough for a bed, covered litter tray and bowls with food and water. Whenever we go out or go to bed, our cat goes in the crate. This works well and is accepted by holiday accommodation owners in our experience. It only works though because our cat is happy with it, already associating time spent in the crate with food, sleep, familiarity and security. We also take our cat's well-used scratching post, some toys and a throw for the sofa.

So far, we have only come across two holiday accommodation owners who only accept dogs and not any other pets. One is the National Trust - such a shame, as we'd love to stay in several of their properties - and another owner who said she didn't like cats and her husband was allergic. I always check that a cat is acceptable to owners if it's not stated as 'all pets accepted, not just dogs' in the advert, because it's only fair to the owner. I also don't want to be in breach of the rental contract, and I want to be relaxed during the holiday about having our cat there, not concerned I'm doing something wrong and might get found out.

I'd go as far as to say that our cat actually enjoys coming on holiday, especially having some interesting new views and wildlife to watch from the windows and new fires to curl up by. Feedback from owners has always been really positive, including that our cat isn't bringing mud in like dogs and there's never any dog mess left in the garden to clear up. We've always been welcome back, anyway.

I have more tips about travelling and holidaying with cats if anyone needs them.

HebeSunshine · 02/10/2022 12:09

I want to know more about the Woburn black cat, where on earth did it come from? Are there houses nearby? Or did another person try to do what the OP is suggesting!

BeyondMyWits · 02/10/2022 12:19

Cp don't allow cats, and the dog lodges are always booked up about 18 months in advance.

Please don't take them to a non pet lodge. Pet lodges have less carpet and soft furnishings... Some of us cat (and horse and guinea pig) allergy sufferers like to enjoy our holidays too without worrying if there is dander on the sofa.

12roundsofwhitelowfatspread · 02/10/2022 13:12

HebeSunshine · 02/10/2022 12:09

I want to know more about the Woburn black cat, where on earth did it come from? Are there houses nearby? Or did another person try to do what the OP is suggesting!

we wondered too! It seemed very sleek and cared for, so somebody was looking after it and it was certainly good at begging for snacks. We had some difficulty persuading DC we couldn’t take it home with us…

We mentioned it to staff when we left, in case they weren’t aware / anyone had reported a lost cat locally.

jbx10 · 02/10/2022 19:39

@12roundsofwhitelowfatspread ha ha! That's funny, he was clearly comfortable making himself at home in your lodge 😂

@MiniLeopardInTheHouse that's really helpful thank you. We wouldn't take them where we had not fully agreed with the owners and as a few people have mentioned on this thread it is not possible at CP for cats, only dogs. So it does rule it out for us on this holiday. Like you say doors/windows is second nature to us given they are house cats at home too, but of course something to be extra wary of if we were to take them anywhere!

OP posts:
jbx10 · 02/10/2022 19:42

@AlwaysLatte we are still early stages of training and the kittens are not quite there yet with cycling/swimming. Maybe in a couple of years 🤣

OP posts:
MistyBean · 02/10/2022 20:24

Trained cats are surely the exception rather than the rule. We have learnt to understand the preferences of our cat for things such as scratching post locations and toileting, which has really been beneficial for our furniture and carpets. But it's never 100%. I just don't believe you can guarantee a cat won't damage things in holiday accommodation.

Hobbesmanc · 11/10/2022 14:29

One of my cats would deffo be cool to go on holiday- he rarely leaves the house and is always in earshot. He follows his humans around but also loves meeting new people- exploring new things.

But the others would escape and not come home for 24 hours, scratch the buggery out of the curtains and shit in the shower- so wouldn't be welcome

HayleyM24 · 10/11/2022 21:48

Hi, We always take our cats on holiday with us. Last year I did contact centre park to see if we could bring them along and I was point blankly told NO! I think it’s absolutely disgusting that they are not allowed to come. Needless to say we wouldn’t stay there even if it was free! Cats rule not centre parcs!!

boboshmobo · 10/11/2022 21:52

How would you ever get them back if you lost them ?
They would have to be left in the forest forever !

This is too much of a worry for me , cats stay where they know !

Did you grow up with animals because this isn't normal ! They aren't dogs !

emmemmy · 14/09/2025 15:35

Tiani4 · 02/10/2022 04:16

Cats and dogs are very different. Dogs stay beside their owners and are trained to heel and walk
On lead , for those people who take them away with them.

You can't train kittens or cats in the same way. Cats aren't allowable to bring with you precisely because Center parcs would end up with a population of escaped and lost cats in their "forests" that were impossible to find & trap!

You're being unrealistic OP

Old thread I know but I had the same question, and I just wanted to say that cats are ABSOLUTELY lead trainable, and it’s becoming more common. You just have to invest the effort in training them, the same as with a dog. They will walk and heel on a leash the same as a dog, and with training and support will be very well behaved. They are much less likely to urinate on furniture also, when opposed to dogs (as long as they are neutered) and yes there is a risk of scratching furniture with some cats - but dogs also scratch furniture and chew it. Trained cats can be better behaved than many dogs, and it’s misinformation to state otherwise

emmemmy · 14/09/2025 15:36

boboshmobo · 10/11/2022 21:52

How would you ever get them back if you lost them ?
They would have to be left in the forest forever !

This is too much of a worry for me , cats stay where they know !

Did you grow up with animals because this isn't normal ! They aren't dogs !

You can get tracker collars for cats that work very well, although cats that are trained well don’t run away typically.

unvillage · 15/09/2025 22:01

emmemmy · 14/09/2025 15:35

Old thread I know but I had the same question, and I just wanted to say that cats are ABSOLUTELY lead trainable, and it’s becoming more common. You just have to invest the effort in training them, the same as with a dog. They will walk and heel on a leash the same as a dog, and with training and support will be very well behaved. They are much less likely to urinate on furniture also, when opposed to dogs (as long as they are neutered) and yes there is a risk of scratching furniture with some cats - but dogs also scratch furniture and chew it. Trained cats can be better behaved than many dogs, and it’s misinformation to state otherwise

Cats also are territorial and usually don't care to be away from home. Yes you get travelling cats for youtube views, and some cats are very social and outgoing, but harness trained or not, most won't have a good time being in a centre parcs lodge for a week.

Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely an advocate for indoor cats and leash training. Cats aren't the low maintenance, untrainable animals people seem to believe they are. But I also wouldn't take my cat to centre parcs.

Favouritefruits · 17/09/2025 19:51

I take my cats on holiday with me, they’ve done it since kittenhood and are perfectly fine, no way will centre Parcs allow cats but Forest holidays do and in my book they are far nicer and more luxurious than centre Parcs anyway.
Forest Holiday lodges are pet safe with secure windows and an air lock to stop pets escaping out the front door.

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