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What are catteries like?

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24

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  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,872 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    That is dreadful. The one I use is fantastic. MY present cat is very nervous but they are very good with her. She is well cared for and I have no qualms about leaving her there. A previous cat had kidney disease and they cooked rice to put in her food and gave her medication with no extra charge at all. It is always clean with no nasty smells and I would definitely recommend it.
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

    I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
    Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
  • Fridaycat
    Fridaycat Posts: 1,448 Forumite
    Here is a link to the cattery I use, if you want to see another example of a good one:

    http://www.jaxcats.co.uk/index.html

    Just a few more things to think about:

    1. I have found in my experience that it is better to use a specific cattery, and not a kennels with cattery. Though this may not be true for all, of course, I have found that when there is a kennels/cattery combo, it is usually the case that the owners set up a kennels as the primary business and tagged a cattery on. Also, the sound of constant dog barking can upset cats (no offence to dog owners :o).

    2. My cattery only has about 12 chalets - the owner says she has done this deliberately so she can spend as much time as possible with the guests.

    3. You should always inspect a cattery beforehand, and expect to turn up with minimal notice, perhaps just a quick call in advance to check that someone is there. Any cattery owner that needs lots of notice for your visit has probably got something to hide/clean up etc. I realise this latter point probably was not feasible for the OP as it was short notice, but something to consider for the future.
  • Torryquine I'm in Aberdeen too and just wondered which one you are using?

    We tried to get our cat in this week for this weekend forgetting it was trades EVERYWHERE booked up. Have managed to persuade a chum to come feed her!

    Last time we used Parkhill they seemed fine. That was her first visit and she seemed ok after. Lily is an indoor girl with a heart murmur so leads a pretty sheltered life but she rules this roost so it's good to teach her she's not the only cat in the world!! Away for a week in Sept so going to put her in again but just wondered where else there is?

    thanks

    Joanne x
    What's fur ye won't go by ye!
  • spike7451
    spike7451 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    I use the Windmill Pet Hotel in Millisle when I go away.It's more expensive than the others but the is 24/7 on site staff if needed as it's sited in the grounds of a residential country home & they are booked solid all year round,I have got Daisy booked in there for September & I booked it back in March!

    http://www.windmillcathotel.co.uk/
  • flimsier
    flimsier Posts: 799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    I use the same one every time and the space is about 3x3m each, but they get to graze on concrete for an hour or so while they get cleaned. My cat always comes back happy. I'd suggest you use another one.
    Can we just take it as read I didn't mean to offend you?
  • Sagz_2
    Sagz_2 Posts: 6,251 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've worked in 3 catteries and what you described OP is not normal.

    Sometimes the cats can take on the smell of disinfectants and cleaners used in the pens but this soon goes when they get home. We always had one litter tray per cat and, as you described, used newpaper to line it with a small amount of litter - but this was changed through the day as the cat used the tray and washed every morning. 1m x 1m does sound small for 2 cats, but would have been ok IMO if there were plenty of perches, ledges, shelves and beds for the cats to choose from. We wouldn't ususally keep the carry baskets with the cats as most are stressed by the sight of them, I would have been mortified if I'd sent home cats in dirty carry baskets!

    I'd certainly complain if I was in your position.
    Some days you're the dog..... most days you're the tree! :D
  • Drea
    Drea Posts: 9,892 Forumite
    Thank you everyone, I have left a message on their answering machine to call me back but so far have heard nothing. If I need to use a cattery again I'll certainly make sure I visit it first, I just just didn't have a lot of options this time :(

    It was specifically a cattery so there really is no excuse.

    They seem to be happier now they have cleaned themselves up and had some fussing ;)
    Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean you are a mistake.
  • Fridaycat
    Fridaycat Posts: 1,448 Forumite
    I am sure they will be fine, and will soon forget about it with lots of fuss and attention from you :) As you said, it was all very short notice, so I don't suppose there were many options for you ;)
  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,872 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Torryquine I'm in Aberdeen too and just wondered which one you are using?

    We tried to get our cat in this week for this weekend forgetting it was trades EVERYWHERE booked up. Have managed to persuade a chum to come feed her!

    Last time we used Parkhill they seemed fine. That was her first visit and she seemed ok after. Lily is an indoor girl with a heart murmur so leads a pretty sheltered life but she rules this roost so it's good to teach her she's not the only cat in the world!! Away for a week in Sept so going to put her in again but just wondered where else there is?

    thanks

    Joanne x

    I use North Burnside Kennels, it is out near Storybook Glen on the South Deeside road. I usually use it in September with no problem
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

    I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
    Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
  • Drea
    Drea Posts: 9,892 Forumite
    I just phoned again and spoke to the woman who runs it. She says in 28 years she has never had a complaint and is shocked. Apparently in the last couple of weeks she has hired two part time staff members and it has been one of them who has been responsible for Nala and Myles. She is going to speak to him tomorrow and her husband and phone me back. To be fair, she did seem genuinely quite upset that it had happened so perhaps it is just a bad staff member.
    Just because you made a mistake doesn't mean you are a mistake.
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