Starting a cattery can be rewarding for cat lovers who want to provide quality boarding for felines. Here’s your complete guide.
For software to manage bookings and records from day one, see our cattery software guide.
Is a Cattery Right for You?
The Reality Check
Running a cattery means:
- Daily cleaning (no days off for boarding guests)
- Handling sick or difficult cats
- Managing anxious pet owners
- Nights, weekends, and holidays working
- Lower margins than dog boarding
Who Succeeds
Successful cattery owners typically:
- Have genuine love for cats
- Understand cat behavior well
- Have business management skills
- Are comfortable with manual work
- Can handle emotional situations
Legal Requirements (UK)
Licensing
Most local councils require:
- Animal boarding licence (under Animal Welfare Licensing Regulations 2018)
- Inspection of premises
- Annual or longer licence renewal
- Compliance with minimum standards
Planning Permission
Check whether you need:
- Change of use permission
- Building regulations approval
- Environmental health clearance
- Neighbour consultations
Insurance
Essential coverage:
- Public liability
- Professional indemnity
- Property damage
- Care, custody, and control
Facility Requirements
Space Standards
Minimum requirements per cat unit:
- Sleeping area: 0.85m²
- Exercise area: 1.7m²
- Height: 1.8m minimum for exercise area
- Separation between units
Essential Features
- Individual heating in each unit
- Good ventilation
- Sneeze barriers between units
- Easy-clean surfaces
- Secure entry (double-door system)
- Isolation facility for sick cats
Cat-Specific Considerations
Unlike dogs, cats need:
- Hiding spaces (shelves, boxes)
- Vertical space (climbing areas)
- Quiet environment
- Individual attention
- Familiar items from home
Setting Up Operations
Booking Systems
Options:
- Paper-based (not recommended)
- Spreadsheets (basic)
- Dedicated cattery software (recommended)
Software benefits:
- Online booking
- Vaccination tracking
- Automated reminders
- Payment processing
Pricing Structure
Typical UK cattery rates:
- Standard unit: £12-18/night
- Premium unit: £18-25/night
- Multi-cat discount: 10-20%
Health Requirements
Require proof of:
- Vaccination against cat flu and enteritis
- Flea treatment
- Worming treatment (recommended)
Financial Planning
Startup Costs
- Facility construction/conversion: £15,000-50,000+
- Licensing and legal: £500-2,000
- Insurance: £300-1,000/year
- Equipment and supplies: £2,000-5,000
- Marketing: £500-2,000
- Software: £40-100/month
Operating Costs
Monthly expenses typically include:
- Utilities: £100-300
- Supplies: £100-200
- Insurance: £50-100
- Software: £40-100
- Marketing: £50-200
Revenue Projections
10-unit cattery at 60% occupancy:
- 10 units × £15/night × 365 days × 60% = £32,850/year
- Peak seasons can increase this significantly
Licensing and Legal Requirements in Detail
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 govern commercial cattery licensing in England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have equivalent legislation. Before accepting a single paying guest, you must hold a valid licence from your local council.
What inspectors check:
- Pen dimensions (sleeping area and exercise area minimums per cat)
- Ventilation and heating in each unit
- Sneeze barriers preventing nose-to-nose contact between cats from different households
- Isolation unit for sick cats or new arrivals awaiting health checks
- Cleaning and disinfection protocols and the products used
- Emergency veterinary arrangements (written vet agreement required)
- Record-keeping systems for vaccinations and bookings
Licences are typically valid for one to three years depending on the star rating awarded. Higher star ratings (4–5 stars) require enhanced standards but also justify higher pricing.
Insurance minimum: Public liability cover of at least £1 million is expected by most councils and is industry-standard practice. Care, custody, and control insurance (covers illness or death of a boarded cat) is equally important and often required by clients before they will book.
Operating without a valid licence is a criminal offence under the 2018 Regulations, with fines up to £5,000 per conviction. It also invalidates most insurance policies. Apply for your licence at least 12 weeks before your intended opening date to allow time for the inspection process.
Designing Your Cattery Layout
Cat pen design directly affects both your licence rating and your ability to charge premium rates.
CIEH minimum guidelines (England):
- Sleeping area: 1.5m² per cat (family groups may share)
- Exercise area: 1.5m² per cat
- Height: 1.8m minimum in the exercise area to allow natural climbing behaviour
- Sneeze barriers: solid or mesh barriers at least 60cm high between adjacent units to prevent disease transmission
Practical design priorities:
- Isolation unit: Required by licence. Should have separate ventilation from the main cattery. Size for 1–2 units minimum.
- Ventilation: Aim for 8–10 air changes per hour. Poor ventilation is the primary cause of cat flu outbreaks in catteries and the most common licence inspection failure.
- Easy-clean surfaces: Sealed concrete, tiles, or specialist flooring panels. Grout lines and rough surfaces harbour pathogens.
- Outdoor runs: Popular with owners but require double-door entry systems and secure meshing. Optional for a licence but add commercial value.
- Cleaning station: Dedicated area with hot water, drain, and chemical storage. Inspectors expect this to be separate from food preparation.
A basic 10-pen indoor cattery typically requires 50–70m² of usable floor space once you include corridors, an isolation unit, and a cleaning area.
Setting Up Bookings and Client Communication
Phone-only bookings work when you have 5–8 regulars. They stop working as soon as you have 10–15 pens and mixed new and returning clients, because missed calls mean missed revenue.
Why online booking matters:
- Cat owners typically book at evenings and weekends when you may not be available
- Online forms capture vaccination records, feeding requirements, and emergency contacts before arrival — reducing check-in time
- Deposit collection at booking eliminates most no-shows
- Automated reminders (48-hour and 7-day) reduce last-minute cancellations by 30–50%
Cattery software handles all of this from a single dashboard: real-time availability calendar, automated email confirmations, vaccination expiry alerts, and daily report cards that keep owners reassured during longer stays. For a 10–20 pen operation, the time saving versus manual methods is typically 4–6 hours per week.
Start with a free trial during a quiet period so you can configure cat-specific fields (FIV/FeLV tracking, FVRCP vaccination, feeding preferences) before your first busy season.
Marketing Your Cattery
Essential Channels
- Google Business Profile
- Website with online booking
- Facebook/Instagram
- Local directories
- Vet clinic referrals
What Sets You Apart
Differentiate with:
- Webcam access for owners
- Premium accommodation options
- Extra playtime or grooming
- Pick-up and delivery
- Special needs expertise
Day-to-Day Operations
Daily Routines
- Morning feeding and health checks
- Litter tray cleaning
- Socialization time
- Evening feeding
- Final checks before closing
Record Keeping
Track for each cat:
- Feeding patterns
- Behavior notes
- Health observations
- Owner communications
Handling Difficult Situations
Be prepared for:
- Sick cats
- Anxious or aggressive cats
- Difficult owners
- Emergency situations
- Ethical dilemmas
Growing Your Cattery
Once established:
- Add more units
- Offer premium services
- Partner with local vets
- Build online presence
- Train additional staff
A well-run cattery can be profitable and fulfilling. Start small, learn the business, and grow sustainably.
