HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a cattery owner in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A cattery needs a council licence, with a star rating in England. Here is what to check before the first stay.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a cattery owner in five steps

  1. Ask for the licence and starsCouncil licence, star rating in England, and the maximum number of cats.
  2. Visit firstSee the pens, smell the air, watch how staff handle cats.
  3. Bring the vaccination cardA licensed cattery must see it; book a booster in good time.
  4. Write down the routineDiet, medication, habits and your vet's details.
  5. Agree the termsNightly rate, sharing, peak dates, deposit, cancellation, vet costs.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

Animal activity licence

In England, boarding cats as a business needs a council licence (Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018), with a 1 to 5 star rating from the inspection and the cattery's record. The licence must state the maximum number of cats allowed.

Ask to see the licence and its stars, and look the cattery up on the council's list of licensed businesses. gov.uk →

Pens, heat and vaccinations (England)

Defra's cat boarding guidance requires each cat unit to give room to stretch, climb and rest on a shelf, sets a temperature band of 15 to 26°C for part of where the cat sleeps, and as a licence condition requires the cattery to see an up-to-date vaccination record for every cat.

Ask to see a pen, and bring the vaccination card. gov.uk →

Boarding licence in Wales and Scotland

A business boarding other people's cats in Wales or Scotland — even in a private home — needs a council licence under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

Ask for the council licence before paying a deposit. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

There is no compulsory insurance for a cattery. A professional will carry public liability and cover for the animals they look after, and can tell you the insurer's name and what happens if your cat is injured.

Ask for a copy of the insurance schedule.

VAT

A cattery stay is standard-rated: 20% VAT is charged on each night's board, and on grooming or medication added to it. A business whose taxable turnover passes the £90,000 registration threshold must charge it and show it as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the cattery for its VAT number, and for the nightly rate per cat with the 20% shown separately. gov.uk →

“Which licence does the cattery hold, and what is its star rating?”

A good answer: The council, the stars and the maximum cats on the licence.

“Can my cats share a pen at the cattery?”

A good answer: Only cats from the same household, if you want them to.

“Is the cattery heated, and to what temperature?”

A good answer: In England the boarding guidance sets 15 to 26°C for part of the sleeping area.

“Which vaccinations do you need to see for my cat?”

A good answer: An up-to-date record — feline enteritis and the cat flu viruses.

“What happens if my cat stops eating or seems ill at the cattery?”

A good answer: They call you and the vet, and you agree how treatment is authorised and paid for.

“Can the cattery give my cat's medication?”

A good answer: Yes, recorded each time.

“Can I bring my cat's bedding and food for boarding?”

A good answer: Usually yes; it helps cats settle.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends to the cats each day — the cattery owner, or kennel staff, employed or subcontracted
  • Nightly rate per cat, and the price for cats sharing a pen
  • Peak dates and minimum stays
  • Food, medication and grooming included or extra
  • Deposit, balance, cancellation and vet cost terms
  • The VAT number, with VAT on the cattery stay as a separate line

Walk away if

  • No licence or no star rating to show
  • No visit allowed
  • No vaccination card asked for
  • Cats from different homes in the same pen
  • Cold or crowded pens
LOW
£12
TYPICAL
£15
HIGH
£35

What a cattery owner costs: £12–£35 per night

Catteries charge per night, per cat, with sharing discounts for cats from one household and peak-date rates set out in advance. Cat Boarding price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Cattery owners near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Visit and bookPens seen, licence checked, dates booked.
  2. PaperworkVaccination card, vet details, diet and medication written down.
  3. ArrivalYour cat settled into its own pen with familiar bedding.
  4. The stayFeeding, litter, health checks and company each day.
  5. CollectionYou hear how it went and get back belongings and medication.

Cattery
A licensed business that boards cats.
Star rating
The 1 to 5 score on an English animal activity licence.
Pen (unit)
A cat's sleeping area and run.
Sneeze barrier
A solid divide that stops cats in neighbouring pens breathing on each other.
Booster
The yearly vaccination top-up.
Sharing pen
A pen for two or more cats from the same household.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check your cat overEating, drinking, coat, eyes and mood over the first day home.
Ask how the stay wentFood eaten, litter use, medication given.
Keep the booking and receiptsFor the next stay or a dispute.
Tell others how it wentA short, specific review is the most useful kind. If it went wrong, the make-it-right step comes first.

STEP 1Tell the cattery, in writingSay what happened to your cat and what you want — a refund or the vet bill. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the cattery must provide its service with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Make-it-right, then reviewA rating below four stars for this cattery owner opens the make-it-right step: you choose whether the cattery hears about it first, we chase it, and the review follows.
STEP 3Tell the council, or the helplineA complaint about a licensed cattery owner can go to the council licensing team, which can inspect without notice and review the star rating in England. Unpaid refunds go through the consumer helpline to Trading Standards: Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4The court, as a last stepFor a cattery owner dispute that will not settle, the small claims route covers up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 in Scotland and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland; the court fee depends on the amount claimed.

Hiring a cattery owner: questions people ask

Yes, if it is run as a business. England licenses cat boarding under its 2018 Regulations with a star rating; Wales and Scotland license it under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

In England a licensed cattery must see an up-to-date vaccination record — against feline enteritis and the cat flu viruses.

In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is optional but sensible.

Usually £12–£35 per night, with £15 as a typical figure. See the cat boarding price guide for what pushes a price up or down, and search above for cattery owners in your area.

It depends on your cat. Some settle well in a cattery; others are happier at home with visits.

See your vet, keep the notes and tell the cattery in writing. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the service to be provided with reasonable care and skill.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Cat SittingHow to hire: Pet BoardingHow to hire: Cat GroomingHow to hire: House Sitting with PetsHow to hire: Pet SittingHow to hire: Dog BoardingHow to hire: Pet TaxiHow to hire: Mobile VetAll 701 hiring guides →

Cattery owners near you

Cattery owners in LondonCattery owners in ManchesterCattery owners in BirminghamCattery owners in GlasgowCattery owners in BelfastAll cattery owners on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
  2. gov.uk (Defra) — animal activity licensing process
  3. gov.uk (Defra) — cat boarding licensing guidance
  4. Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, section 5
  5. gov.uk — get your dog or cat microchipped
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  7. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  8. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  9. nidirect — small claims process
  10. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  11. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register