A cat's first stay away from home should feel organised rather than rushed. Most of the useful preparation happens before drop-off: carrier practice, food notes, vaccination checks, medication details and an honest description of your cat's temperament.
The aim is not to make every cat love boarding immediately. The aim is to make the stay predictable enough that they can eat, rest, toilet and be observed without unnecessary stress.
If your cat has never been in the carrier except for vet visits, give them small, low-pressure experiences before the boarding date. Let them smell the carrier, sit in it, and leave it without being trapped every time.
You do not need to create a perfectly trained traveller. Even mild familiarity can reduce the suddenness of the day and make it easier to get your cat to us safely.
For many cats, the hardest part of boarding begins before they reach the cattery. A cat who only sees the carrier before travel may hide, panic or resist being loaded, which makes the whole day harder.
Leave the carrier out ahead of time if you can. Put familiar bedding inside, feed treats nearby, and let your cat investigate without being forced. Even a few calm carrier experiences can make drop-off less abrupt.
A first stay is not the ideal time to change diet. Bring your cat's usual food if they are fussy, on a special diet, prone to vomiting or sensitive to sudden changes.
Tell us what a normal appetite looks like. Some cats eat lightly when away from home, but it helps to know whether your cat usually grazes, eats quickly, refuses certain textures or needs encouragement.
A first stay goes best when we know what we are working with. If your cat has never boarded, has never been handled by unfamiliar people, or is likely to hide, tell us directly.
That information does not make your cat difficult. It lets us set expectations around handling, observation, eating and toileting so the stay is assessed fairly.
Please tell us if your cat hides, hisses, scratches, bites, freezes, bolts or becomes difficult to handle. That information is not a judgement of your cat. It lets us approach them more realistically.
A shy or defensive cat may still board well when expectations are sensible. The team can give them time, avoid unnecessary handling and watch for appetite or toileting changes without pushing too hard too soon.
Mention recent vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing, urinary changes, appetite changes, weight loss, medication changes or anything else that feels out of character. Boarding should not hide a problem that was already developing at home.
If we think a check is sensible before the stay, that is usually because the information could change how safely the stay is managed. It is much easier to sort this out before you travel.
Try not to combine first-time boarding with a sudden food change, new medication routine, new litter, new carrier or major home disruption unless it is unavoidable.
When several things change at once, it becomes harder to know what has unsettled your cat. Familiar food, familiar bedding and a predictable drop-off are often enough to make the first stay easier.
Bring your cat in a secure carrier, arrive at the arranged time and keep goodbyes simple. Long, emotional handling at drop-off can make some cats more unsettled, especially if they are already tense.
Have food, medication, contact instructions and vaccination information ready. A clear handover gives the team more time to focus on your cat rather than untangling missing details.
For a first cattery stay, success may look simple: eating enough, using the litter tray, resting, being observed safely and coming home well. It does not need to look like instant confidence.
Some cats become more relaxed with experience. Others always prefer home but can still board safely when the routine respects their temperament.
A first-time boarder may sleep more, explore cautiously, vocalise or want extra space after coming home. Give them a quiet area with food, water and a litter tray nearby.
Call us if they are not eating, repeatedly vomiting, straining to urinate, hiding in a very unusual way or seem genuinely unwell rather than simply tired from the change.
What to bring, what to label and what is better left at home.
How carrier confidence can make drop-off calmer for cats and families.
Why vaccination status needs to be checked before a cattery stay.
What to expect when your cat comes home and when to contact us.
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.
