Andilees Boarding Cattery Policy
Supervision/responsibility
The owners of Andilees Cattery live on site and will be present on a daily basis to exercise supervision and deal with any emergencies whenever cats are boarded at the premises. Emergency staff & additional keyholders also live on the cattery site.
Sharing
Cats from different households will never share cat units. Family pens are provided for cats from the same household where preferred by the owner.
Access
Access to the cat units are via a door leading to the safety corridor. The entrance door must be closed and locked on entry before any individual cat unit doors are unlocked or opened. It is the staff member’s responsibility to ensure that this procedure is followed to avoid any escape from cats. Pens will only be opened individually, one at a time to prevent any cats from different households coming into contact.
Litter trays
All units are provided with one litter tray per cat. Litter trays are filled with appropriate wood based cat litter and are situated at least 60cm distance from the resting and feeding areas. Litter trays are cleaned a minimum of twice a day and monitored for additional cleaning as appropriate.
Bedding and Sleeping
Accommodation Each unit is equipped with an enclosed separate sleeping unit with adequate hiding space. These are separate to the exercise run areas in ‘Walk In’ style area`s. Each unit is equipped with a heat mat and should these fail spare heat mats, heat lamps and oil filled radiators are available.
Water Provision
Fresh water is provided for each cat on a daily basis in separate water bowls. Water will be changed once daily or sooner if visibly soiled. Water bowls are positioned at a distance from cat litter trays. Water bowls are kept separate from food bowls.
Food Provision
Each cat will be fed according to the owner’s preference and the cat’s own dietary needs. Andilees cattery provide wet and dry cat food unless the cat is on a special diet specified by their vet or owner. We will work with the owner to ensure their cat’s dietary requirements and eating habits are met. All food is stored and prepared in the ancillary building next to the Cattery building. As a minimum all cats will be fed 2 meals per day, 8 hours apart. Food intake will be monitored on a daily basis and veterinary advice sought if a cat has not eaten for 2 days.
Feline company and interactions
Cats are provided with enclosed hiding spaces enabling them to remove themselves from view of other cats. Windows in the cat runs will make cats visible to each other. Cats from different units will not share exercise runs or areas at the same time or in sequence after each other.
Human company and interactions
On arrival the Cattery staff will find out from the owner and monitor each cat to ascertain how much human contact it wants and adapt to provide this to minimise stress. Enclosed hiding places are provided for cats to remove themselves to should they wish to avoid human contact.
Disease Control
Full attention will be given to ensuring that the risk of transmitting disease between animals is minimised. The cattery procedure dictates that no cats will be allowed to mix with others. Movement of staff and visitors around the cattery will be minimal and where necessary will be supervised. If any rescue cats are boarded then they must be fed, changed, handled last. Where rescue cats or breeding cats are involved, extra precaution for sanitisation and cleaning must be taken to prevent the spread of disease. Where there is concern over the health of a cat, that cat must be handled last. An isolation pen is provided in the ancillary building.
Handling cats
Hand sanitiser is available in all cat care areas and hands washed thoroughly. Hand gel must be used between handling of each cat. Kittens and young cats should be handled before adult cats.
Hygiene
All pens will be thoroughly cleaned with animal-friendly detergents before each cat arrives. Regular monitoring of the cleanliness of each pen will be made during a cat’s stay with any accidents, spillages or other dirt cleaned immediately. . Bedding, litter trays and feeding bowls will be kept clean and replaced as appropriate. All obvious food waste, soiled litter other soiled matter will be removed. Litter trays and feeding bowls are never washed together. Areas are disinfected between washing the two. Litter trays are cleaned and disinfected at least once a day or more frequently if necessary.
Vaccination, fleas, worms and other parasites
All cats must have up to date vaccinations prior to coming to the cattery. Any specific advice from vets on cats’ individual health and vaccination history will be sourced on a case by case basis. An up-to-date veterinary health record must be provided by the owner. Vaccinations (including boosters) must have been completed, at the very least, 2 weeks before the cat’s arrival/. Homoeopathic vaccination is not acceptable.
Veterinary treatment and health care
If a cat requires veterinary treatment during their stay we will attempt to contact the owner and/or their emergency contact before making an appointment with the vet. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that somebody who can advocate for their cat is able to respond to us immediately in case of an emergency. If we cannot contact the owner and we believe that the cat needs medical attention urgently, we will make an appointment with the vet and refer all decisions to him/her. We are not financially responsible for any medical bills that arise during your cat’s stay at Andilees Cattery. All veterinary fees are the responsibility of the client and will be payable at the time of departure. If medication is necessary, it will be given according to the dosage and frequency details set out on the medical form completed by the owner on arrival. Medication will only be used for the cat for which it is prescribed and following a veterinary surgeon’s instructions. Medications will be clearly labelled and stored safely at the correct temperature. All unused medicines will be returned to the owner on
departure. Where cats require wiping of eyes, grooming or other cleaning regimes, these will be carried out frequently enough to keep the cat clean and comfortable providing it is safe to do so.
Transportation of animals
In the event of having to transport a cat to the vet for treatment, the vehicle used will be considered an extension of the cattery site and will be subject to the same regulations for cleanliness and safety as the cattery building. No animal shall be transported without the use of a suitable, lockable carrier box. No animal will be left unattended in the vehicle or kept in the vehicle other than during the transportation.
Liability
Andilees cattery is fully insured to cover loss, injury, illness or death, this does not cover any pre-existing conditions prior to visit. In the unlikely event a cat should die, burial or incineration will be arranged with the owner’s consent. If the owner wants to make their own arrangements the carcass will be stored on ice.
Fire and other emergencies
Appropriate steps will be taken for the protection of the animals in case of fire and other emergencies. The Cattery office building is equipped with a fire extinguisher which is easily accessible in the event of an emergency. In instances where the cattery pen is affected by an emergency such as fire or flood, all animals will be removed in to a temporary location in their personal cat boxes. They will be housed either in the Ancillary Buildings or in extreme cases within the Proprietor’s home.
If the licence was ever suspended or revoked I would contact the owners/emergency contact to come collect the cats