Absolutely, I would always suggest going to have a look around any cattery to see if it meets you needs. After all, if you feel happier about leaving your cat somewhere safe, where they will be well cared for then chances are your cat will be happier there too (I bet you already know that they pick up and sense how you feel!) As it’s only me here, all visits are by appointment. This is just to make sure I’m available and not tied up with customers or on my way to drop off a cat. Take a look at my calendar and pick a time that suits you. I usually only add dates 1-2 weeks in advance; if there are no dates showing, please try again in a few days.

Rates vary but start at £22.50 per day for one cat in a standard room. Click on the link below to find out more about the rates and services at The Great Catsby.

All cats that stay must be vaccinated against feline parvovirus also known as feline infectious enteritis (FIE), feline panleukopenia, and feline respiratory viruses (feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus) within the last 12 months of their stay. I will need to see their current vaccination card and make a note of which vaccinations were given and the date, for my records. I will ask to see this when you register for an account. Inside your account you'll be able to view your cats vaccination status and upload any images or documents after your cat's booster. In extreme circumstances some cats are unable to be vaccinated, usually, a vet has deemed it unsafe or too high risk to the cat's age or health. If this is the case I must have a written letter from the vets outlining this before your cat can stay.

The quickest way to see if your dates are available is to check my calendar. I update the calendar as soon as bookings are confirmed (or cancelled), so some dates may show as available as I'm waiting for them to be secured and confirmed with a deposit. If you have an account then you can log in and make a booking, if the dates aren't available it will let you know instantly.

All bookings are made through your account. Once inside your account you can add your dates and suitable arrival/collection times. If you haven't stayed before you'll need to register for an account first. Once I have your details I'll set up your account and send you an email with details of how to log on. Just so you know, due to demand I can't hold or pencil in dates, bookings are only secured and confirmed with a deposit.

I have cared for plenty of cats that are on medication, but I would just need to find out a few details first, especially if your cat has never stayed before, to make sure that I can give them the best possible care. However, I'm not insured or able to take cats requiring injections, such as insulin for diabetes.

All cats are welcome to stay as long as they are vaccinated. However, cats over 6 months must be neutered. Having said that, if you have a senior or elderly cat over 10 years old who has never been here before, then I'll just need to know a bit more about it so that I can ensure its stay is as comfortable as possible.

I know it might seem a worry to leave them on their own for a night but honestly, staying at The Great Catsby for one night, even two nights would not be in your cat's best interest, especially if they've never been here before. Regardless of how confident your cat appears to be when you're with them, I can assure you that they aren't quite as confident once you've gone. They are in a new environment and with a stranger, me! Even if you're lucky enough to not wrestle them into a carrier, they will be in a car wondering what is going on. Once they arrive they are faced with new sounds and smells. This can all make cats highly stressed. After a whirlwind first day, they're then whisked back home wondering what on earth just happened! Trying to gain trust and build a bond so that your cat can go back home happy takes time, and in most cases takes more than just one day. I want them to associate me, and staying away from you/home as a positive experience and therefore it takes time for cats to adjust to the change. For most cats I have a minimum 4 day stay, because I want your cat to be happy here, to trust me, and to feel comfortable enough to let their personalities shine. For cats who have been here before, on more than one occasion, they're used to me, they jump out of their carriers and settle into their favourite spots before their owners even leave. For these cats I know that an overnight stay won't upset or affect them, they'll eat every meal and toilet, not showing any underlying signs of stress or concerns...which is what I aim for with every cat.

I record everything to do with your cat several times a day so that I can keep a close eye on any changes. For any change in behaviour or health I would contact you immediately. As I record everything (how they eat, litter tray use, behaviour, health etc) several times a day I can quickly see when something changes or if something seems unusual. In the first instant I would contact you. I would want to know if this change is normal for them (e.g. some cats are sick if they eat too fast for example if I know this I can spread the meal out over a longer period). However, if your cat is displaying more worrying signs, such as straining to urinate, then I would contact the vet immediately. Either your own vet, depending on proximity, or my vet, Medivet Standish. I would keep you informed every step of the way. on your account there is an emergency contact, if I couldn't get hold of you then I would contact your emergency number. When adding an emergency contact to your account please let them know that they may be called. It's also handy if your emergency number is close by in case they need to collect your cat either from myself or from the vet. Having said all that, since I opened in 2017 there has only been a handful of cases where I've had a cat become ill. Two of the cats had underlying issues before they arrived, the owners had noticed but didn't think the signs were anything to be concerned about, another had a history of Urinary Tract Infections and crystals, he was already under medication before he arrived but I didn't feel like the medication was working whilst he was here. And another elderly cat had a seizure, which wasn't the first for him, and it wasn't his last either. Thankfully all the cats were able to be treated due to me being able to quickly notice the slight changes to their usual behaviours. For the majority of healthy cats, they won't have any issues staying away from home...and if they were too I'm on hand to help them receive prompt veterinary attention.

Not at all. Plenty of cats often stay more than 2 weeks, especially during the school holidays. In fact, I have quite a few cats who regularly stay for between 4 and 6 weeks at a time. For those that stay more than 2 weeks, I do spend extra time with them to keep them stimulated and content.

All members receive a 15% discount. More information about the benefits of being a member can be found on the rates & services page. To become a member, just let me know and I'll get you signed up.

If you have an account but can't log in, sometimes resetting the password can help. Click "Forgot password?" If your email is on the system, you'll be able to reset your password. If the system doesn't recognise your email when you log in OR it's been a while since your cat stayed, you may need to register for an account. Legally, I'm only allowed to keep records of cats that have stayed for 3 years. If your cat has never stayed but you registered for an account in the past, I only keep your account active for 6 months; just drop me a message if you'd like to reinstate it.