Companion Animals

Cat Boarding Cattery Welfare Standards

Boarding cattery quality varies enormously, with welfare-positive facilities providing individual chalets, visual barriers, and stress-reducing enrichment that significantly improve cat welfare during stays.

Key Facts

Cats are highly territorial and find novel environments inherently stressful
Individual chalets preventing visual contact with other cats reduce stress substantially
Familiar items from home including bedding and toys reduce cortisol responses
Experienced cattery staff recognise and respond to feline stress indicators
FAB (Feline Advisory Bureau) approved boarding has higher standards than unlicensed facilities

Welfare Considerations

Boarding causes significant stress in many cats. Choosing a high-quality cattery with cat-friendly design substantially reduces the welfare impact of necessary absences.

What You Can Do

Choose catteries with individual chalets and visual barriers between cats
Visit facilities before booking to assess cat-friendliness and enrichment quality
Bring familiar bedding and toys to reduce novelty stress for boarding cats
Consider home-based cat sitting as an alternative to boarding for stress-prone cats