Cattery - London area...

hander

Hi, I'm a bit desperate.

We need a cattery for 2 weeks late august (we have no alternative, believe me).

I thought I had one sorted but on a visit, I wasn't impressed. Pens quite small, cats socialise together. Our pair are brothers and outdoor cats but I just see trauma ahead (I realise it will always be trauma but ...)

Can anyone help? We're in North London but I'm willing to travel.

Thanks in advance.

dandelionclock30

Can you get a mate or family member/colleague/neighbour to come in and feed them/check on them once a day instead? I think you may find someone if you offer to pay them for their trouble. Then at least your cats are at home.
If not ask your vets if they know any decent pet sitters.

gettingready

Whe you say they are outdoor cats - what exactly do you mean?

Going away and asking someone to popround and feed them may be an idea for cats who are indoors for that period of time.

If they are out and about, perhaps not the best option as what if something hapens to them?

Catter would be safer, not ideal but safer - I think

dandelionclock30

They could just keep them in for 2 weeks, it wouldnt be ideal but its not the end of the world as long as they have food/ water and their litter changed daily.

hander

Thanks for answers. Unfortunately a sitter etc is just not possible and believe me I've explored every option on that front.

When I said, 'outdoor cats' I mean that they are allowed outdoors. They are pretty normal cats - a bit more homely than most, I'd imagine. They tend to come in of an evening and start their 12-hour nighttime shift in bed(!) But first thing in the morning they are up and out.

I desperately need a good cattery and I'm really looking for good recommendations - as I said, I'm willing to travel. I just want somewhere that doesn't look like the horrendous stacked cages/pens I've seen in various places.

I'm no cat nut but our two are gonna find this traumatic as it is (I'm sure most cats do). I also realise that few pet owners are fans of catteries. I'm not either. I just don't have an alternative on this occasion.

Thanks again, everyone.

GwylimT

Just remember the looks of the cattery don't reflect the quality, my cat goes to a cattery that used to be used for quarantine, so they are concrete pens with a cage to the front so they can see outside etc. They are cleaned, the cats are well looked after.

This is the peak season, so you may struggle to find somewhere you like the look of.

My checklist
Size if it was just a weekend it's not that important, but for a two week stay it is.
Is the cattery has dogs, how close are they
What sort of impression I get from the owner, animal people often aren't people people, so a bit it abruptness shouldn't necessarily put you off.

krlyr

A few colleagues use Mink Farm boarding kennels in Woking, Surrey, and the cattery part sounds nice from the website - http://www.minkfarm.co.uk/cattery.php

hander

GwylimT wrote: »

animal people often aren't people people, so a bit it abruptness shouldn't necessarily put you off.

A really good point this.

hander

krlyr wrote: »

A few colleagues use Mink Farm boarding kennels in Woking, Surrey, and the cattery part sounds nice from the website - http://www.minkfarm.co.uk/cattery.php

Many thanks for this one. It's quite a way from us, unfortunately. Just a bit too far. I wish they'd include actual images of the pens, too. But given your colleagues use it, no doubt it's pretty good.

I"m looking at something similar Essex way. Not quite as plush but looks ok. Will feedback here on whatever I use but if anyone else has recommendations, I'd be grateful.

ElusiveLucy

I think you'll really struggle to find a good cattery at this time of year. I had problems booking my two into the cattery just for a weekend away in September. August at our cattery gets booked up early in the year.

I wish you luck, as I know how bad it is when you are worrying about the cats. I have to plan trips away/holidays around my cats and the availability at my cattery. I used another in a moment of desperation one time and was really saddened when I saw the state of my cats when I get back. You might be lucky and get a cancellation somewhere.

rustyboy21

I have my terror booked in for over Xmas, at the same kennels we used to take Rusty to, so we know she will be looked after and the pens are 2 tier floor to ceiling 1m wide x 2m deep inside and same outside. They also have a mister fitted which sprays antibacterial around every 10 minutes, to stop infections.


We are both worrying though as it will be the first time we have put her in and being a cat, I don't know what she will be like when we bring her home again, would we need to keep her in for a while to settle her back again.


OP Pity you don't live up my way, have seen a great one up here, but at £315 for 2 weeks over Xmas is a bit steep. I am working on OH to put her there though ! lol


http://www.petscountrymanor.com/www.petscountrymanor.coms/info.php?p=7


Good luck finding somewhere.