Can I come and see the cattery before I book?

Yes, of course!  We actively encourage new customers to come and visit the cattery. We will be happy to show you around the facilities and answer any questions you may have. We understand that it’s important for you to feel comfortable leaving your cat(s) in our care, and it’s a good opportunity for us to find out a little more about your pet(s), too.  Just give us a call on 01506 873336 to discuss a suitable time for your visit.

If you don’t already know where we are, we recommend that have a look at the map here.

My cat has never been in a cattery. How do I know they will be ok? What can I do?

The majority of cats including “first-timers” will settle in with no trouble at all. But all cats are different, and while some will relax within the first few hours, other more nervous guests may take a little longer. We will do everything we can to help them feel comfortable as quickly as possible.

To do this we try to find out as much information as we can about your cat: food preferences, favourite games, likes and dislikes, routines, character etc.. It all helps us towards making it feel happy and at home while you’re away.

We also encourage you to bring along some of their belongings from home as they carry familiar scents. Bring along their favourite blanket, bed or even one of your worn t-shirts or jumpers, and perhaps their favourite toy.

We also use Feliway (feline pheromones) within the cattery which can help reduce stress levels if you have a nervous cat.

Some cats can suffer from a loss of appetite when they are stressed and as a result don’t eat or eat very little in the first couple of days. If their usual brand of cat food does not get them eating, then we always have lots of tasty things to entice them: we cooking up some chicken breast or fish filet, or perhaps try some tuna in spring water. Once they have their appetite back the ice is normally broken and they’re fine after that.

My cat is a senior and it can't jump any more. Will it be ok at the cattery?

If you have an elderly cat then please make sure to include any information about their medical history and general health when you book. If your cat is arthritic and has trouble getting around, then we need to know about this. We can help by putting a ramp into their pen, or adding an additional step inside the pen to help them get up and down from the sleeping bunk. We’ll also give your cat additional bedding to make their sleeping quarter softer and more comfortable for their elderly bones. Speak to us about your cat’s needs when you book, or do come and visit us so we can look at the accommodation together and work out what will work best for your cat.

Can I board my kittens?

Yes, we are very happy to look after kittens and juniors, too, provided their have completed their initial course of vaccination (first round and booster) at least a couple of weeks before they come to the cattery. In our experience kittens settle in no problem, and we’ll make sure to give them lots of attention and playtime to keep them stimulated and continue their socialisation while boarded. Make sure you let us know about their favourite toys and games when you book! We also always have food suitable for kittens and juniors.

My cat is not friendly with strangers. Can I board it?

In most cases, the answer is yes. If your cat is a little nervous, stressed or wary around strangers please do ensure you speak to us about this when you book. We want to make sure we do the best we can to help make your cat settle in and manage stress as well as possible.

In case of aggressive cats we also need to make ensure that we are able to look after your cat properly, so it’s important that you let us know in advance so we can discuss the best way to handle your cat with you.

Do you have dog kennels as well?

No, we focus solely on cat boarding and there are no dog kennels. Thus your lovelies can relax in a peaceful and quiet environment during their stay at Baads Cottage Cattery.

What vaccinations does my cat need?

There are a number of different vaccines available to protect your cats from disease. Core vaccinations against the following viruses are essential for boarding your cat at our cattery:

• Feline panleucopenia virus (FPV) (or Feline Infectious Enteritis)

• Feline herpesvirus (FHV), and

• Feline calicivirus (FCV)

Most vaccines need to be administered yearly after the primary vaccination course (the initial vaccination and booster). Please note that these vaccinations MUST be up to date before boarding your cat. Please ensure that there are at least two weeks between the booster and the first day of boarding.

Other vaccines against infectious diseases like Bordetella bronchiseptica, Chlamydophila felis and feline leukaemia virus are also available, but not required for boarding in the cattery. We have strict cleaning and infection control policies and routines, and these are adequate to protect your cats from these diseases while boarded.

What if my cat’s vaccinations are not up to date?

Please note that we cannot accept cats for boarding if vaccinations are not fully up to date. This also applies if your cat is an indoor cat. If you need to get your cats vaccinations up to date before checking into the cattery, then please ensure you do this in sufficient time: the initial vaccinations are followed by a booster about 3 weeks after the first round, which should be completed a couple of weeks before your cat comes to the cattery.

Why do I need to flea and worm my cat before boarding?

We kindly ask that you ensure both worming and flea treatments for your cats are up to date before bringing them to the cattery. We have very high standards of cleanliness, infection and pest control in the cattery to protect our guests, and will check cats and any bedding brought in by owners accordingly. But we also ask you to do your part by protecting your own cats.

We are happy to administer flea and worming treatment here if necessary, just let us know on arrival when your cat was last treated. Please be aware that we may charge the cost of the treatment to your final bill.

My cat needs medication. Can you administer it?

Yes, we are happy to administer medication including pills, drops, creams, as well as insulin injections provided that your cat is reasonably comfortable with this. You will be able to provide information about your cat’s medical history and condition, medication and dosage on our booking form. Please bring all medication needed along when you check your cat in, and ensure that there is enough for the duration of your cat’s stay.

An important note:
We need to ensure that we will be able to give your cat its medication while  boarded, especially if it is diabetic, for example. If you have any concerns whatsoever that it could be problematic to have a “stranger” administer its medication, if it can be aggressive for example, we need to know this in advance – please be sure to discuss this point with us when booking.

I have more than one cat. Do they get to stay together?

Yes. We have different sizes of accommodation and pricing available for 2, 3 or 4 cats sharing the same pen.

Most of our pens are double pens so if you have 2 cats they can definitely stay together. We also have a family pen that will accommodate 3 cats. And if you have 4 cats then we can adjoin two double pens via a connecting flap door (if available).

Make sure you speak to us early enough especially if you plan to go away during busy times like school or public holidays!
 

My cats don't get along. Can they have separate accommodation?

If you know that your cats won’t get along while boarded then you can of course book separate accommodation for them, too. Please note that the pricing for 2, 3 or 4 cats provided on our web site and information material applies to cats that share accommodation, so an additional charge would be added if you require 2 or more separate units.

 

Does my cat share accommodation with other cats?

Only cats from the same household are allowed to share accommodation. If you have 2, 3 or 4 cats then they can share accommodation (provided there is availability for our bigger units). But they will never, ever share with “strangers”.

Do you have a communal play area?

No, we don’t. Cats that are not from the same household are not allowed to have contact with each other, or share the same areas. This is not only regulation and absolutely necessary in terms of infection control, but also in terms of their general welfare while boarded. Cats are not communal animals and meeting “strangers” is likely to cause stress rather than provide entertainment.

Do I need to bring any food along?

No, you do not need to bring any food along, unless your cat requires a special prescription diet (like obesity management, renal, urinary etc.)  We have a large selection of good quality dry and wet foods available. On our booking form we ask you to let us know about what your cat likes and dislikes and what it usually eats at home, so we can stick to their habits as much as possible.

My cat is on a special diet - can you stick to it while you look after it?

Yes, absolutely. We're quite happy to follow specific instructions about what, how and when to feed your cat, like weighing out the right amounts if your cat is on a weight management diet, or similar. Just let us know your cat's requirements on the booking form. If any of your instructions could be a challenge, we will let you know.

If your cat requires special vet described foods, we would ask you to bring this along.

If you are unsure about whether we can cater for your cat’s needs, please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss this point in more detail.

My cat is a fussy eater!

No problem! If your cat is fussy and will only take certain foods then please ensure to provide this information on the booking form. We will do our best to cater for your cat's special tastes. Some cats can suffer from a little loss of appetite in the first day or two in the cattery, and we will do our absolute best to entice them with something tasty they like. We have been known to quite happily cook up the occasional white fish filet, always have some chicken breast in the freezer, some tasty tins of Applaws in the cupboard, or some tuna in spring water...anything that will help to get your lovelies eating and make them feel well look after while they're here.

Do you play with my cat?

Yes, we do. It’s important that cats are mentally stimulated as well as exercised while boarded so if your cat likes to play, then we’ll make time to play. On our booking form we ask you to provide some information about your cat’s character and favourite toys/games. We have plenty of toys, laser pens etc. here, but you can also bring some along from home.

Can I bring a scratch tree?

Sure, please feel free to bring along a scratch tree, provided it is not too large and will fit into their room, and it is not in a serious state of disrepair. We don’t provide scratch trees ourselves as they are difficult to clean and disinfect, so it’s great if you’re able to bring your cat’s own.

Can I bring my cat's favourite bed?

Yes, you can. We do have plenty of fresh, soft bedding and blankets here and provide them as part of the service. That said, we do encourage our customers to bring along their cats’ favourite bedding from home as the familiar scent will help them settle. All cats and bedding brought in are checked for fleas upon check-in as part of our disease and pest control. So do make sure your cats are treated for fleas regularly so we don’t need to wash their familiar scent away!

Can I bring toys?

Sure you can! We do have lots of little cat toys, string toys, laser pens, cat nip etc. here,  but if you wish then do feel free to bring along their own favourite toys as it may help them settle and provide entertainment while boarded.

What type of litter do you use?

We use wood pellet litter. We use rather a lot of litter in the cattery and soil is removed several times a day. The wood litter is excellent for easy cleaning and keeping the litter trays fresh. It’s also environmentally friendly and thus our preferred choice.

It’s worth noting that many of our customers do not use wood pellets at home, however, the vast majority of cats that come to stay with us do use it in the cattery without a problem.