Taking in a street cat as a pet

Finding a suitable place for your pet to stay is an integral part of your holiday preparations if you're a cat owner. Usually, the process of finding somewhere and booking in your cat doesn't take too long, but before you make any hasty decisions, you should make sure your cat is ready.

In fact, before you even book a holiday, it's a good idea to check your cat is suitable for going into a boarding centre. There are some situations where it's either not a good idea or not possible, so make sure none of them applies before you arrange anything. If in doubt, talk to a cat boarder and get a definitive answer.

Too young

Although there are no firm rules, many cat boarders won't look after animals that are younger than four months. This is partly to do with them nearing adulthood and being less prone to illness and partly because of the normal vaccination schedule. It can also be stressful for younger cats to face the upheaval of boarding, which can also make them unhappy and unwell.

Too old

As you might imagine, there's also an upper age limit for boarding animals. However, this is more likely to vary between boarders, so check around if you have a senior cat. You might have more leeway if your cat is fit and healthy for its age, with no special needs, but some places have inflexible rules.

Vaccinations not up to date

Vaccination dates can creep up on you, so make sure you check your cat will be covered for the whole period of boarding. If the booster date is nearing, ask your vet if you can have your cat's vaccinations done early so they're fully up to date.

Not neutered or spayed

You'll be very unlikely to find a cattery that will accept pets who haven't been neutered or spayed. Not only is there the obvious risk of accidental pregnancy, it can cause behavioural issues too, particularly in males. Even if they don't spray or become aggressive at home, this can quickly change in unfamiliar surroundings with other cats.

Recovering from surgery

Cats who have recently had a surgical procedure are weak, possibly prone to illness, and often need special care that would be impractical to provide in the setting of a cat boarding centre. If your cat has any planned surgery coming up, make sure you allow for the full recovery time before you arrange a holiday.

Contact a cat boarding facility for more information.