I used this cattery as my usual one was full over the long weekend. They sounded great on paper, particularly for senior cats with medication needs, which I have. Checking my cat in was fine - I filled out a form detailing his usual medication (which I brought with me to give to them), and his special diet (which they assured me over the phone they often feed the cats anyway, and had plenty of to give him). He was weighed and given a cursory mouth check, then whisked away into the building somewhere. I was told he would be given a senior health check for free while he was there, I gave them his blanket and we left.
Picking him up was a different matter. There was one person at the desk, and she wasn't particularly friendly. We gave her our cage, and she took it out back, then came back out and wandered about counting stock until the phone rang, whereupon she informed us they were having some trouble with our cat, and she would go and get him. Now, our cat doesn't like going into his cage (what cat does?) but it's quite simple - just lift the lid, pop him in, and close the lid. We do it all the time. So she emerges with the cat, swinging the cage and the poor cat is splay-legged, and wailing loudly. She hands him over with the medication, and says goodbye. I had to ask for his blanket, and also ask whether or not he'd had his medication. There was no mention of the health check, whether or not it was done or what the results of it were. Very perfunctory.
The biggest problem, though, is that I don't believe they fed him the right food, as my poor cat has had terrible diarrhea since coming back home (he has been to a cattery before where we physically gave them the food without incident in this regards). He has IBS and we've worked very hard to get him to a point where he's on the right food and solid, regular bowel movements, and now we're back to square one again. I won't be taking him back there, and I'd encourage anyone else to double-triple check that the staff know what your cats needs are and whether or not they can properly care for them before leaving them there. read more