The Feline Advisory Bureau advises the following in relation to best practice when constructing a cattery.

At Milky Whiskers we took on board all of this excellent advice to provide one of the safest cleanest environments recommended for boarding beds.

Our individually heated, separate, spacious units conform to all the recommendations set out.

Types of Catteries   

Catteries are generally classified as outdoor (having an outdoor run for the cats) or indoor (having no outside run), according to the nature of the main area in which the units are constructed.

Most cats enjoy having an outdoor run; it also helps to ensure there is good ventilation and airflow to help prevent the spread of disease. FAB prefers catteries with outdoor runs.

While totally indoor catteries may seem cosy, the shared-air situation means that bacteria and viruses remain in the cats’ environment and can spread from cat to cat unless there is some form of ventilation.

Good cattery design should ensure that:  

• The cat accommodation has a separate enclosed sleeping area with its own individual exercise run. This should be of appropriate size, warm, dry and secure.There is no possibility of cats within the cattery
  (excluding those from the same household in the same unit) coming into direct contact with each other. There should also be no direct contact with any animal outside of the cattery.

• Only cats from the same household are boarded together.

• Adequate ventilation and air are present to minimise the
  danger of spreading air-borne diseases.

• There are gaps between units (minimum 0.6 m) or, if the units are joined together, sneeze barriers. Full-height barriers are essential to prevent cats sneezing on or touching one another.

• Cats have an interesting view to stimulate them, a scratching post and plenty of toys to play with.

• Cats have a shelf in the run for resting and basking in the sun.

Housing that offers any opportunity for cats from different households to come into contact with each other (or each other’s faeces) increases the potential for spread of disease and should be avoided. This includes catteries where lots of cats are kept together in large pens and those that use a common area as an exercise run. Cat cages without runs should also be avoided – cats need space to exercise and move around.

The sleeping areas may be a full-height house (like a small chalet which houses the cat’s bed and litter tray) or a ‘penthouse’ (a raised box off the ground). The latter is accessed by a solid ladder or ramp and the litter tray is usually placed outside, underneath the house. Each house should be insulated, lined with an impervious material (ie, fibreglass, polypropylene, melamine-coated hardboard) and enclosed to facilitate heating, but still allow the cats free access to their run through a cat-flap. All units should be individually heated so that each cat’s requirements can be catered for