A short cattery stay can often be managed with simple instructions. A longer stay needs more thought about food supply, medication quantity, contact details, grooming, comfort, health monitoring and what should happen if something changes.
The aim is to keep your cat's routine consistent while still allowing the team to respond if appetite, toileting, coat condition or behaviour changes over time.
For a longer booking, estimate food, medication, litter preferences and comfort items for the whole period. Include a buffer for delayed travel or unexpected changes.
If someone else can bring more supplies if needed, give us their contact information. That prevents a simple supply issue from becoming a boarding problem.
For a longer stay, food quantity matters. Bring enough of the usual food for the full stay, especially if your cat eats a prescription diet, is fussy or cannot safely swap to another food.
If more food may be needed, tell us where it can be sourced and who can approve it. This is much easier than discovering halfway through the stay that a special diet has run out.
If your cat takes medicine, bring enough for the stay plus a small buffer in case travel dates change. Medication should be labelled and accompanied by written instructions.
For repeat prescriptions or complex medicines, check supply before drop-off. A long stay is not the time to discover that a prescription has expired or the remaining tablets are not enough.
If your cat is due for a medication review, blood test, urine test or chronic disease check during the time they will be boarding, talk to us before the stay begins.
Long bookings should not accidentally interrupt medical monitoring. It may be simplest to arrange the review before boarding or coordinate it while your cat is already with us.
A cat may cope well for the first few days and then show different needs as the stay continues. Appetite, grooming, toileting and hiding behaviour all help us judge how they are settling.
Bring practical comfort items, but avoid irreplaceable belongings. For long stays, washable bedding and familiar smells are useful because items may need cleaning.
Long-stay care aims to preserve familiar food, medicine, bedding and handling preferences, but cats are not machines. Appetite, coat condition, toileting and behaviour can shift across time.
If something changes, the response should fit the cat rather than blindly follow the original instructions. Clear owner preferences make that flexibility safer.
During a longer stay, mild appetite reduction, coat changes, weight change or toileting differences may become more meaningful than they would during one night away.
Tell us what baseline normal looks like before the stay. That makes it easier to notice whether your cat is drifting away from their usual routine.
Long-haired cats, senior cats, overweight cats and cats with arthritis can develop coat problems when routine changes. Matting can become uncomfortable and may worsen if not noticed early.
Tell us if your cat dislikes brushing, has a history of mats or becomes painful when handled. That helps us watch coat comfort without turning grooming into a stressful struggle.
Make sure we have a contact who can respond while you are away. If you will be overseas, remote, in a different time zone or difficult to reach, nominate someone who can make practical decisions.
For longer stays, also tell us about treatment preferences, budget limits or referral expectations if your cat becomes unwell. Clear instructions prevent delays.
For a longer stay, it helps to know how much contact you want and who should receive important updates. Some families want only health-related contact, while others appreciate a practical check-in if something changes.
The key is clarity. If your cat is elderly, medicated or anxious, decide before travel who should be contacted and what information would change your plans.
After an extended stay, give your cat time to re-settle. Return to familiar food, litter, sleeping spaces and handling routines, and avoid major changes for the first few days if possible.
Call if appetite, toileting, breathing, comfort or behaviour seems abnormal rather than simply tired. A longer stay makes it especially useful to compare your cat with their normal home routine.
After a longer stay, your cat may take more than a few hours to settle back into the household. They may sleep more, inspect the house, vocalise or need extra quiet.
Give them a predictable routine and watch for appetite, toileting or comfort changes. Contact us if they seem unwell rather than simply readjusting.
What to bring, what to label and what is better left at home.
Why coat condition, matting and grooming tolerance matter before a stay.
How contact instructions and veterinary decisions should be arranged before you travel.
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.
