Toys for cat while in boarding cattery

Bogof_Babe

We are having to put our cat into a cattery (a very nice one, we have had a few visits and it's lovely) for a few days every so often, and I worry about him getting bored. They are let out into a fenced-in "run" area once or twice a day, but apart from that he's cooped up in his little "cage" all the time. There is a shelf with his bed on and a pillow from home, and a floor area of about 3'x5' with his litter tray at one end and food dishes at the other. There is heating for when it's chilly, and he usually has neighbouring cats, but he's not a great one for being sociable!

At home he has a cat flap so can come and go as he pleases, and we sometimes don't see him for hours. By the way, we think he's about 2 - he turned up as a stray 12 months ago and that was the vet's best guess.

He can watch what's going on through the wire mesh, and I suppose he sleeps a lot, but when he's awake I worry he might fret if he hasn't got anything to occupy him. We take in his catnip mice and a toy that has a pretend mouse that whizzes round inside a plastic circuit when he paws it, but I'm wondering whether he might like something like a toy "weeble", or would that just drive him mad? Any suggestions gratefully received.

Fridaycat

I think you take plenty as it is. Most cats are asleep for 90% of the time they are in the cattery. The other 10% they are either eating, doing their business, or having some interaction with the cattery owner (in your case, access to the run).

Of course, if you want to take more toys then it will do no harm, but I think as humans we tend to think of staying in the cattery in terms of how we would feel (i.e. bored), whereas if we think of it in terms of how the cat feels, we would see it as an opportunity to have a good few naps :rotfl:.

BTW - I take it that there are sneeze covers in the wire mesh between the pens, so that he is protected from the neighbouring cats? And I am also assuming that when they have access to the run, it is as individuals or families of cats? (i.e. not letting different owners' cats in there at the same time).

Fridaycat

I meant to add also, that at home when he has access to the great outdoors and is gone for hours at a time, he is undoubtedly napping in a few of his favourite areas for large chunks of that time

Bogof_Babe

Thanks for your thoughts. There is transparent plastic sheeting at the bottom couple of feet of the adjoining cages so I imagine that's what you mean - I'd assumed it was to keep draughts out!

We haven't been there when they let them have their bit of exercise but I doubt they would risk letting them mix, apart from anything else they don't want to have to explain war wounds! They are a husband and wife team, along with the wife's mum and some other staff, and do seem to run a professional place. Everything looks clean, tidy and well organized.

Thanks for the "cat's point of view" angle too - I hadn't thought of it like that!

Fridaycat

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Thanks for your thoughts. There is transparent plastic sheeting at the bottom couple of feet of the adjoining cages so I imagine that's what you mean - I'd assumed it was to keep draughts out!

We haven't been there when they let them have their bit of exercise but I doubt they would risk letting them mix, apart from anything else they don't want to have to explain war wounds! They are a husband and wife team, along with the wife's mum and some other staff, and do seem to run a professional place. Everything looks clean, tidy and well organized.

Thanks for the "cat's point of view" angle too - I hadn't thought of it like that!

Yes, the plastic sheeting is a sneeze barrier and all good catteries should have them

I wouldn't have thought they would let cats mix either, I only asked as this is not a usual thing - at least not in the catteries I've used anyway!

It sounds like a good place and I am sure puss will be well looked after