Cats in a cattery share the same building environment, even when they have their own spaces. Vaccination checks reduce the chance of preventable infectious disease being brought into a place where several cats are staying at once.
Takurua Vets requires vaccination status to be checked before boarding. If you are unsure whether your cat is current, contact us early rather than leaving it until the day of drop-off.
Catteries bring cats from different homes into one managed environment. Even with good hygiene, ventilation and handling routines, respiratory viruses and other infectious problems can spread more easily when animals are close to one another.
Vaccination does not make every infection impossible, but it lowers risk and helps protect the wider group. It is part of responsible boarding, alongside cleaning, observation, flea control and sensible admission rules.
Please check your cat's vaccination record while there is still time to act. If a vaccination is overdue, it may not be appropriate to give it on the same day as boarding and assume the risk has been solved.
If your cat was vaccinated at another clinic, send the record to us before the stay. A photo or document with the vaccine date and clinic information is often enough for us to confirm what is needed.
If your cat has been vaccinated elsewhere, send the record as soon as the stay is being arranged. A clear record lets us confirm whether the vaccination status fits the booking.
If the record is missing, unclear or out of date, we may need time to check what has been given and when. That is much easier to do before you are standing at reception with a carrier.
Cat flu is one of the main reasons catteries pay close attention to vaccination status. Sneezing, eye discharge, nasal discharge and reduced appetite can affect individual cats and create concern for others in the same facility.
Some cats can carry or shed respiratory viruses even when signs are mild. That is why recent illness, sneezing or eye discharge should be mentioned before drop-off, even if your cat seems mostly well at home.
Vaccination status is only one part of infectious disease safety. A cat who is actively sneezing, coughing, has eye discharge, nasal discharge, feverish behaviour or poor appetite may still be unsuitable for routine boarding.
Please contact us if any of these signs appear before the stay. We can help decide whether boarding remains appropriate or whether your cat needs veterinary attention first.
The live cattery guidance also asks families to keep flea and worm treatment current. Parasite control is not just a home-care issue; it helps keep the boarding environment comfortable and safer for all cats.
If you are unsure what product your cat has had, when it was given or whether it is still current, ask us before the stay. Guessing can lead to duplicated treatment or gaps in protection.
Families sometimes assume indoor cats do not need the same preparation because they rarely meet other cats. Boarding changes that risk profile because cats from different homes are being cared for in one facility.
An indoor lifestyle may reduce some risks at home, but it does not remove the need to check vaccination and parasite prevention before a cattery stay.
Some cats have medical histories that make timing more complicated. Senior cats, cats on medication and cats who have recently been unwell may still need vaccination protection, but the timing should be considered sensibly.
Talk to us early if your cat has chronic illness, recent appetite changes, recent treatment or a history of vaccine reactions. The right answer depends on the cat in front of us and the timing of the stay.
Kittens, overdue cats, senior cats and cats with medical histories may need individual advice on timing. The safest approach depends on what has already been given, when the stay begins and whether your cat is currently well.
If you are unsure, contact us early. We would rather help you sort the timing calmly than discover a problem when there are few good options left.
The most frustrating vaccination problems are the ones discovered when bags are packed and travel plans are already underway. At that point, there may be limited options that are fair to your cat and safe for the cattery.
If the stay is booked, send records or ask us to check the file well ahead of time. A quick early check is much easier than trying to solve a missing record at the front desk.
How to prepare a cat for their first boarding cattery stay.
When a health check before boarding is sensible.
What to bring, what to label and what is better left at home.
Return to the main cattery page for bookings, vaccination requirements and how the cattery works.
If your cat has medication, anxiety, dietary needs, senior health changes or a first boarding stay coming up, talk to us early so the arrangements are practical.
If something changes before boarding, contact us before drop-off so we can decide whether the stay can go ahead as arranged or whether your cat needs extra support first.
Cat-specific advice for appetite, toileting, stress, senior comfort and clinic visits.
Carrier, litter and environment support for cats at home.
Carrier and travel planning can make boarding drop-off easier too.
Watch our cattery preparation video.
