A cattery stay is a big change for a cat, who trades familiar territory for new smells, sounds and neighbours. The good news: most cats settle within a day or two when the groundwork is laid early. Here is a calm, practical plan for the weeks before, the day of, and the return home.
Book Early and Check the Facility Yourself
Good catteries fill up fast around holidays, so reserve as soon as your dates are fixed. Then go and look — a website tells you nothing about how a place smells, sounds or runs. When you visit, check that:
- Pens are spacious, with a separate sleeping area and somewhere to hide.
- Cats cannot touch noses with neighbours — no direct contact between pens.
- The space is warm, ventilated and clean, without a harsh disinfectant smell.
- Staff let cats approach in their own time instead of forcing interaction.
- The facility asks for vaccination proof — a good sign, not a nuisance.
If the manager refuses a tour, book elsewhere. Transparency is part of the care you are paying for.
Get the Paperwork Right
Most catteries require proof of current vaccination against feline panleukopenia (infectious enteritis), feline herpesvirus and calicivirus — the core flu-and-enteritis cover — and many also ask for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) protection. Check the vaccination card the day you book: if a booster has lapsed, a full restart course can take up to a month, and that is the most common reason owners lose a booking. Ask how recent flea and worm treatments must be — many facilities require treatment within roughly four weeks of arrival. Update your cat’s microchip registration with your current phone number, and leave the cattery your vet’s details plus an emergency contact who can approve treatment in your place.
Pack Scent, Not Just Stuff
Cats read the world through their nose, so the most useful items in the bag are the ones that smell like home:
- Enough of the usual food for the whole stay, plus a little extra.
- An unwashed blanket or a T-shirt you have slept in — do not wash it first.
- One or two washable toys, nothing irreplaceable.
- Any medication in original packaging with written instructions.
- The original vaccination card, not a photocopy.
Avoid string toys or anything that could tangle or be swallowed while staff are not watching. Label everything, including the food tub.
Drop-Off Day and Coming Home
Keep the last morning boring: a normal breakfast (slightly lighter if your cat is prone to car sickness), no vacuuming, no visitors, doors closed. If you use a pheromone spray, apply it to the carrier bedding about fifteen minutes before loading. Load the cat, keep goodbyes warm but short — long farewells raise tension, and staff will settle her once you have gone. Never open the carrier in the car park for one last cuddle; that is exactly how cats escape, and it happens every single year.
When your cat comes home, expect a day or two of extra sleeping, clinginess or sudden zoomies while she re-marks her territory. Give her space, restore the normal routine, and call the vet if appetite stays low beyond about two days.
The short version: book early, verify vaccinations the day you book, pack familiar smells rather than new things, keep the drop-off calm and brief, and let the first day home be quiet. A predictable plan is what turns a cattery stay from an ordeal into a manageable adventure.