Kennels & Catteries in the UK
Somewhere the dog will be walked and the cat will be left in peace, a kennel you have actually looked round, a cattery with heated pens and a view of the birds, home boarding for the one who hates kennels, daycare on office days, a place for the fortnight in August booked before it fills, or a licence on the wall: find the kennels and catteries near you.
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Finding a good kennel or cattery in the UK
Boarding kennels and catteries look after dogs and cats while their owners are away: kennels with heated indoor sleeping areas and outdoor runs, exercise fields and walks, and catteries with individual heated chalets, a sleeping cabin and a run, kept apart from the dogs and the other cats; alongside them home boarders take a dog into their own house, daycare centres take dogs by the day, and pet sitters visit cats at home. Every boarding business in England must be licensed by the council under the animal activities regulations, with a star rating from one to five on display, and the licence covers the standards for space, heating, cleaning, exercise, records and staffing.
Choosing well is a matter of looking: visit before you book, see the pens and the runs and how the animals there seem, ask about the exercise, the feeding, the heating, the vet arrangements and how many staff per animal, and check the licence and its rating. Dogs need current vaccinations, including kennel cough for most kennels, and cats their annual boosters; bring the food, the bed and something that smells of home; and book early, since the school holidays, Christmas and bank holidays fill months ahead. Nervous dogs and cats often do better in home boarding or with a sitter, and most kennels offer a trial night.
The listings here show each kennel and cattery's licence rating, facilities and pens, exercise and care, prices per night, vaccination requirements, daycare and home boarding, and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who is licensed and well rated, and where people in your town leave their animals without worrying.
Kinds of boarding
Boarding kennels: licensed kennels with heated indoor beds, outdoor runs, exercise fields, walks and play, for a night to several weeks, with family kennels for dogs from the same home.
Catteries: licensed individual chalets with a heated sleeping cabin and a run, kept away from dogs and other cats, with scratching posts, shelves and a view.
Home boarding: a licensed host takes one or a few dogs into their own home, for dogs that dislike kennels, with walks and company.
Daycare and pet sitting: licensed dog daycare by the day for working owners, and sitters visiting cats and small animals at home or staying in the house.
Extras: grooming, training, medication and special diets, collection and delivery, and photos and updates while you are away.
Before you book boarding
- Visit first, look at the pens, the runs and the animals there, and ask to see the council licence and its star rating.
- Ask about exercise, feeding, heating, staffing and the vet they use; the answers tell you the standard.
- Check the vaccinations required — kennel cough for dogs, annual boosters for both — and get them done in time.
- Book school holidays, Christmas and bank holidays months ahead; the good places fill.
- Bring the usual food, the bed, a worn T-shirt and any medication with written instructions.
- For a nervous animal, ask about a trial night, home boarding or a sitter instead.
What boarding costs in the UK
As a rough guide, boarding kennels cost £18 to £35 a night for a dog, with a second dog sharing £10 to £20 and luxury kennels £35 to £60; catteries £12 to £25 a night for a cat and £18 to £35 for two sharing; home boarding £25 to £45 a night; dog daycare £20 to £40 a day with weekly and monthly rates; a cat sitter's visit £12 to £20; and Christmas, bank holidays and the summer often carry a surcharge or a minimum stay; medication, grooming and collection are extra, and a deposit of a night or two secures the booking. Most kennels charge for the day of arrival and the day of departure.
A fortnight in kennels costs about the price of a single night in the family's hotel, and the dog has been walked twice a day.
How do I find a kennel or cattery near me?+
Look at the kennels and catteries listed for your town, which show the licence rating, facilities, exercise and care, prices, vaccination requirements and reviews; most areas have several within twenty minutes, and home boarders and sitters cover the rest. Visit before you book and ask to see the licence.
How much do kennels and catteries cost?+
Typically £18 to £35 a night for a dog in kennels and £12 to £25 for a cat in a cattery, with a second animal sharing at a reduced rate, home boarding £25 to £45 a night and daycare £20 to £40 a day; holiday periods carry surcharges or minimum stays, and medication and collection are extra. Deposits secure the booking.
Do kennels need a licence?+
Yes, in England every boarding kennel, cattery, home boarder and daycare must hold a council licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities) Regulations, inspected and rated one to five stars for the standards of housing, care, records and staffing, and displayed on the premises and the council's register; Wales and Scotland license boarding too. Unlicensed boarding is illegal and uninsured.
What vaccinations do dogs and cats need for boarding?+
Dogs need their core vaccinations — distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis — up to date, and nearly all kennels require kennel cough given at least two weeks before; cats need current boosters for cat flu and enteritis, and some catteries ask for leukaemia; flea and worm treatment is usually required. Bring the vaccination card; boarding without it will be refused.
What should I bring to the kennels?+
The usual food to avoid an upset stomach, the bed or a blanket and a worn item of your clothing for the smell of home, any medication with written instructions, the vaccination card, the vet's details and your contact details while away, and a favourite toy; most kennels provide bowls and bedding and prefer you not to bring valuable things.
Is home boarding better than kennels?+
For a nervous, elderly or sociable dog used to a house, often yes: a licensed home boarder takes one or a few dogs into their home with walks and company, at £25 to £45 a night; a confident dog that enjoys other dogs does well in a good kennel with runs and play. Cats usually prefer a quiet cattery or a sitter at home over being moved. A trial night tells you.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.49 a month to sit above the free listings.