If you're planning on leaving your cat in a boarding cattery it can feel overwhelming and daunting. But if you visit the cattery before you make a booking it can make a world of difference.

Whether it's the first time you've had to consider using a cattery or re-evaluating your current choice and want to look at other options, here are my five key reasons why a visit is essential.

1. Seeing is Believing

When deciding on a cattery then checking out online reviews and recommendations are usually first on the list. These are a great start but sometimes the people reviewing and recommending have a different wants, needs and likes to you. Sometimes people leave reviews if they feel it's either been an amazing or awful service, there's never usually much mid way. But take those reviews with a pinch of salt, look for the common themes that people mention, like care, cleanliness or how their cat reacted when they came home.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words but when it comes to checking out the photos posted online from a cattery it's worth remembering that the photos might be fairly old, they may have been edited, and sometimes things look bigger on a photo than in real life.

The only way to truly assess a boarding cattery’s environment is to go and have a look for yourself. Pay attention to cleanliness, the size of the rooms, and how happy and relaxed the resident cats appear.

Also, there's nothing better than a gut feeling and that's only something you get from visiting somewhere, you'll have a better understanding if the staff understand your concerns, will care for your cat and meet their needs.

Cat's are brilliant detectives, they know when something is wrong with you and if you don't feel comfortable leaving them in a cattery they will sense your uneasiness and will feel unsettled. By visiting first you have a chance to find out everything you need to know and you'll feel better (but probably still guilty initially) about leaving them as you know where you're leaving them and who with.

2. Meet the Team

It’s important to meet the people who will care for your cat, after all if you're going to trust them with your cat then you'll want to know who they are.

All catteries are different, some have a team behind them whilst others run their cattery solo. If there's more than one person there are you able to meet them all, if they're going to have contact with your cat or is each cat assigned to a caregiver?

How knowledgeable are they, can they answer your questions and make you feel at ease? Have they experience that they can draw on when it comes to your cats needs?

By visiting a cattery you're able to assess how much personal attention your cat will receive and if your cat will get along with the staff.

3. Learn About the Facilities and Routine

When visiting a cattery you'll be able to ask questions about the feeding schedules they have, whether it's set times throughout the day or they're flexible and will follow your cats usual routine. Or if they're happy to stick to your cats usual diet. If your cat eats raw food you could ask about freezers or storage facilities.

You might want to find out about how much time they’ll spend with your cat each day or if they offer and extras.

Look for facilities that will suit your cat’s lifestyle and needs.

4. Reduce Stress for You and Your Cat

Leaving your cat in a cattery, especially for the first time can be stressful. You feel guilty about leaving them in someone else's care. But if you hadn't visited the cattery before your cats stay then it can be even more stressful and traumatic.

However, by arranging a visit, seeing the cattery for yourself and chatting with the staff beforehand you’ll start to feel more relaxed, you’ll probably still feel guilty but you'll know that they will be safe and looked after. This reassurance can help you feel calmer, which your cat will pick up on.

I always recommend that cat owners visit before their cat’s stay. Knowing what to expect can make drop-off day much less stressful for both of you.

5. Make an Informed Decision

Every cattery is different, and visiting helps you decide what’s best for your cat. Some owners prefer outdoor access, while others prioritize indoor setups. At some catteries the cats have a separate sleeping and exercise area and others have partitions where cats can see each other. Some catteries are linked to a kennels whilst others are just for cats. And you will prefer some that will be perfect for you and your cat.

A visit can also inspire you to think about things you might not have considered before, like will you get any updates on your cat? Are the updates sent to you personally or will a photo be shared on social media? Maybe you'll need to contact them whilst your away to find out how your cat is settling?

Checklist for Your Boarding Cattery Visit

To make the most of your visit, here are some questions to ask and things to look for:

• Is the cattery clean and secure?

• Are the staff experienced and friendly?

• What’s the daily routine for the cats?

• How often will someone be with my cat?

• How do they handle medical or dietary needs?

• Can you bring your cat’s favourite items, like beds or toys?

• Do they provide food?

• Do I need to bring my own bowls?

• How many people will my cat have contact with?

• What happens if my cat gets ill whilst I'm away?

• Do you have availability for my dates?

  
  

Considering The Great Catsby Cat Hotel?

The Great Catsby is close to junction 27 on the M6 and many of my guests travel from Wigan, Bolton, Chorley, Salford, Warrington and St Helens. I'd be more than happy to show you around if you're thinking about The Great Catsby! As it's just me here all visits are by-appointment-only that way I can make sure every visitor gets my undivided attention. If you'd like to arrange a visit then feel free to get in touch so that we can sort out a suitable time.

Visits would usually last around 10 to 15 minutes, here at The Great Catsby with only having 7 rooms altogether it doesn't take too long to look around but I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Also, if you have any dates in mind it might be worth checking the availability before your visit. There's nothing worse than having a look around a few different catteries, finally deciding on the right one for you to then discover that they have no availability. Not only will you be disappointed but you then may have to use any cattery that has availability, even if you're not particularly keen on it. To save yourself the disappointment (and heartache) make sure they can accommodate your dates before you visit any cattery.

Remember, whether you’re considering The Great Catsby or another boarding cattery, a visit is an essential step to ensure your cat’s comfort, safety, and happiness while you’re away.