Whenever you go away, even if it’s for a short time, you know you won’t have a wonderful relaxing trip away unless you’ve sorted out the very best care for your feline friends… and that’s where Buckinghamshire cattery Lily’s Luxury Retreat really comes into its own.
If you’ve never left your cat in kennels before, of course you’re going to be worried about how they’ll fare and if they’ll cope with the sudden change in routine. This is why it’s so very important that you do some research into the different catteries out there so you know you’ve picked the very best, the one that will look after your cat as if he or she were their own.
Talking to people in your local area is a good idea as they’ll be able to advise you and let you know where they’ve had good experiences – and, perhaps more importantly, where they’ve had bad ones.
And, of course, you would certainly be wise to go and visit your choice of cattery before you decide to board your cats there so you can check it out and make sure that it’s somewhere you’d be happy to leave your pets. If you know that your cat is nervous around dogs or if even the sound of barking is enough to leave them stressed, avoid picking a cattery that combines both cats and dogs.
When visiting the cattery, check to see if there is an outdoor and indoor area for the cats to play in, important if your cat loves to spend as much time as possible outside. Check that the block has a working smoke alarm and also have a long look at the cats that are already staying there to make sure they all look happy, content, stimulated and well treated.
Have a good chat with the owner of the cattery as this will give you a very good idea indeed of how they’ll treat your cat when you’re not there. And don’t forget to ask if you can bring a few toys and blankets from home as this will really help your cat to settle into its new surroundings. You should also make sure you let the cattery know if there are any dietary requirements or medical issues your cat has so you know you have nothing to worry about whatsoever.