I am going away on holiday and need to find a cattery. How do I go about it, as I've never had to use one before?
There is a list of boarding establishments in 'Yellow Pages' and local directories, but you need to be careful choosing the one that is best for you and your cat. Word of mouth from fellow cat owners is helpful, but there is no substitute for going to have a look yourself. The best way is to make a 'surprise visit', but you may have to make an appointment with the cattery owner. If the cattery won't let you look round, don't even consider it!
On your visit, make sure the cattery is clean and the cats have individual pens with substantial barriers or solid walls between them and the exercise runs. The cats should have toys to play with, plus a scratching post and sun shelf.
The cattery should also ask you lots of questions about your pet, and insist that your cat’s vaccinations are up to date.