How to Choose a Boarding Kennel or Cattery: A Visit Checklist

Boarding is one of the few decisions where a website tells you almost nothing useful. Two facilities with equally professional photographs can be entirely different places to spend a week. A visit takes half an hour and is the only reliable way to judge.

Always Visit Before Booking

A good facility will welcome a flexible visit. Reluctance to show you the actual accommodation — not just reception — is the single most useful red flag there is.

What to Look At

• Smell and cleanliness: a kennel will smell of dogs; it should not smell of ammonia or waste
• Space: can each dog stand, turn, stretch and move away from their bed area?
• Temperature and ventilation: comfortable, not stuffy or draughty
• Noise: some barking is normal; constant frantic barking suggests stressed animals
• The animals: do the residents look settled, or pacing and shut down?
• Staff: do they interact with the animals naturally, and do the animals respond well to them?

Cattery-Specific Checks

• Sneeze barriers or full separation between units — essential for disease control
• Vertical space and a hiding area inside each unit
• Cats not facing each other directly across a corridor
• Quiet, away from dog accommodation

Questions to Ask

1. What licence do you hold and can I see it?
2. What is the staff-to-animal ratio, and is anyone on site overnight?
3. What is the daily routine — walks, playtime, feeding, quiet time?
4. How do you handle medication, and is there an extra charge?
5. What happens if my pet becomes unwell? Which vet do you use?
6. Are dogs mixed with others, and how are groups decided?
7. What vaccinations do you require, and how far in advance?
8. Can I bring my own food and bedding?

What to Prepare Before Drop-Off

• Vaccination records — check the required timing well in advance
• Enough of your pet's usual food for the whole stay, plus two days
• Medication in original labelled packaging with written instructions
• Familiar bedding or a worn item of clothing — do not wash it first
• Written feeding, medication and behaviour notes
• Your contact details, a backup contact and your vet

A Trial Night

For a first-time boarder, a single overnight stay a few weeks before a longer trip is worth the cost. It tells you how your pet copes and gives the facility a chance to raise anything before a two-week booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is boarding or a home sitter better?

It depends on the animal. Cats and anxious dogs usually cope better at home with a sitter; sociable dogs often enjoy the routine and company of a good kennel.

How far in advance should I book?

Well ahead for school holidays and Christmas, when good facilities fill months in advance. Check vaccination timing requirements at the same time.

Can I visit unannounced?

A good facility will accommodate a flexible visit. A refusal to show you the accommodation at all is a reason to look elsewhere.