Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Boarding Cattery Welfare Standards

Cats in boarding catteries face significant stress from unfamiliar environments, sounds, and loss of territory. High-welfare cattery design and management reduces this impact.

Key Facts

Most cats find boarding moderately to highly stressful
Sight and smell of other cats increases stress even without contact
Hiding opportunities are the single most important welfare provision
Familiar bedding and toys from home reduces stress significantly
Trained cattery staff who recognize feline stress signals improve welfare

Welfare Considerations

Cats in boarding environments show elevated stress hormones, reduced eating, and behavioral signs of anxiety. For indoor cats especially, confinement in an unfamiliar space surrounded by other cats and novel odors is a genuine welfare challenge. High-quality catteries that provide hiding spaces, familiar scents, and skilled care minimize but cannot eliminate this stress.

What You Can Do

Choose catteries with solid panel divisions between units
Send familiar bedding and toys with your cat to boarding
Visit catteries before booking to assess welfare standards
Consider in-home cat sitting as a lower-stress alternative to boarding