can my cat go outside for a play?

No! Cats staying in the cat hotel are NOT allowed outside the suite that they are housed in for the duration of their stay. There are strict regulations for health and safety, prevention of infection and obviously the risk of escape. All our units have an enclosed indoor section where there is a window, places to sleep and a heater. The door can be open or closed, we decide if it stays open or not, depending on the weather, and how the cat is. There is a cat flap for the cat to get in and out of the indoor area. There is a spacious semi-outdoor area where the cat has great views of the outside and can get lots of fresh air whilst remaining completely separated from the other cats that are staying.

My cat has never used a cat flap before.

This is not a problem. Cats are usually very intelligent and soon work out how to use a cat flap! Our cat flaps are kept open the whole time as they’re not like ordinary cat flaps, we lift and hook it up we are sure that the cat knows how to get in and out!

I am anxious about leaving my cat as I have never done this before. I can’t bear the thought of him/her not settling and not knowing if he/she will be ok.

Some cats have a very nervous disposition and we prefer to have as much information as possible to help us help the cat to settle. Our approach depends completely on the individual cat as each one is different. Most cats take a day or two to get used to the routine and surroundings. Nervous cats often do better if they are in our care for a longer period as they have a chance to settle and get used to their surroundings. Usually if we have cared for a very nervous cat before and managed to gain their trust, they settle much quicker on subsequent visits as the surroundings are familiar and they remember us.

We are happy to send you updates-

We are fully aware how hard it is to leave your beloved pets with someone else. We are more than happy to keep you updated by email, WhatsApp! We may also post photos or videos of your cat/s on our Facebook page/ Instagram (depending how busy we are). The more information we have about your cat’s likes/ dislikes/ habits the easier it will be for us to make sure that they settle and are happy.

We tailor our approach and care to each cat-

All cats have different personalities and therefore each one will become settled in his/ her own way. Some cats are bold and will settle instantly even if they have never been away from home before. More commonly cats that come for their first stay can be a bit wary and unsure to start with. Many cats don’t eat very well for the first day or two, but once they are more settled in their new environment they regain their appetite. At Chichester Cattery we recognise that each cat is individual, and so we tailor our approach and care to each one according to their specific needs.

Do we need to bring anything with us? beds, toys, scratching posts, litter trays and litter?

We provide beds, in-built scratching posts in each suite, litter trays and litter, and toys. If you’re adamant about you wanting to bring these things you do so at your own risk, we do notice that cats that have bedding from home tend to ‘‘mark their territory’’ and so we then need to wash it and the smell of home will have gone anyway.

Do I need to bring my cat’s vaccination record?

Yes. All cats must be fully vaccinated and we will require proof on arrival. We cannot accept any cat without up-to-date vaccinations.