Boarding

Here are some top tips for helping you to find the perfect holiday home for your pet

Always visit the kennel or cattery before you book. This will help you with piece of mind that you have seen the accommodation where your pet will be staying and have met with the staff who will be caring for your pet. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Keep in mind your pet’s likes, dislikes and quirks. Make sure they will feed your pet appropriate food; some will feed the diet you feed at home which ensures consistency. Ensure they have enough space and enrichment in their cat pen or kennel, that the dogs are exercised regularly and that the cats do have staff spending time with them so they are not alone all day. Find out what the staff would do if in the unfortunate event your pet became unwell, will they use their vet or your own? Look at the cleanliness of the kennels and cat pens. It can be a good idea to take in a bed or blanket that the pet is familiar with as this can help them settle in with a familiar scent.

Ensure your pets’ vaccinations are up to date. Any good, professionally run establishment will want to see proof of vaccination before you can board there. Do not be offended if they ask, this is good practice. They should also ask you about your pets’ diet, medical history, behaviours and emergency contact details. This is also good practice for any boarding establishment.

Book in advance. If you are away over school holidays, especially Summer months, Easter and Christmas, many kennels and catteries can fill up months in advance. As soon as you know the date when you are away, book your pet’s holiday. Personal recommendation counts for a lot. If you have a friend or a relative who have used a kennels or cattery, talk to them and find out about their thoughts and experience. You can also search online and look for reviews on Google and Social Media. Don’t always go the cheapest establishment and don’t always assume the most expensive is the best.

Check any establishment has the appropriate insurance and licenses. All boarding establishments must have a boarding licence through their local authority, so ensure this is confirmed before you even consider using them.

There are options to have you pet boarded in someone else’s home, or have them come and stay or visit your house whilst you are away. All of the above still applies to this and ensure you meet the person who is coming to your home.

Building up a relationship and a trust with an individual or a business who will care for your pet is important and will help ease any worries when you have to leave your pets to go away on holiday.