Boarding in catteries causes variable stress in cats. Choosing high-welfare facilities and preparing cats appropriately minimises the welfare impact of necessary separation.
Cattery welfare varies dramatically between facilities. Minimum licensing standards ensure basic hygiene and housing but do not ensure positive welfare. Individual chalets preventing nose-to-nose contact with other cats reduce stress and disease transmission significantly. Environmental enrichment, hiding options, and visitor interaction appropriate to individual cat sociability are key differentiators between adequate and excellent facilities. Vaccination requirements protect against the most serious infectious diseases in boarding settings. For stress-prone cats, home-sitting services or trusted individual care maintaining access to familiar territory and scent are welfare-superior alternatives to boarding.