Companion Animal Boarding: Kennel and Cattery Welfare

Boarding kennels and catteries present welfare challenges for companion animals separated from their owners; welfare standards vary considerably across facilities.

Key Facts

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 regulate boarding in England
Star ratings from 1-5 are assigned based on welfare standard compliance
Dogs in kennels show elevated cortisol and stress behaviours that typically reduce after 3-5 days
Cats are particularly susceptible to stress in boarding environments due to their territorial nature
Hiding spaces in catteries significantly reduce stress-related illness including feline herpesvirus flares
Group kennelling of familiar dogs reduces individual stress compared to isolation
Regular exercise and human interaction during boarding maintain welfare in kennelled dogs
Home boarding provides a less stressful alternative for many animals, particularly cats

Welfare Considerations

Boarding causes genuine welfare stress for most companion animals, though severity varies with individual temperament, prior boarding experience and facility quality. Cats in particular are highly stressed by confinement in unfamiliar spaces. High-quality facilities provide species-appropriate environments with hiding spaces, appropriate social management, and regular skilled human interaction. Owners should visit facilities before booking, ask detailed questions about exercise and enrichment provision, and consider home boarding or house-sitting alternatives for anxious individuals.

What You Can Do

Visit kennels or catteries before booking and check that the 5-star conditions are genuinely being met
Ask specifically about exercise frequency, enrichment provision and human interaction time
Verify licensing through your local authority before booking any boarding facility
Consider home boarding or house-sitting services for anxious animals as a lower-stress alternative
Maintain your pet's routine feeding times and bring familiar bedding to ease the transition