Things you need to think about when looking for a kennel

When looking for a kennel you should always try to view it first, this will give you a good feel for the place, the staff and give you a chance to ask any questions. Below is a list of questions you should think about when choosing the right kennel/cattery for your pet.

• What vaccinations are my pets required to have? Some kennels/catteries only require the yearly booster to be up to date. But most kennels these days like your pet to be vaccinated against kennel cough too and some catteries may prefer extra injections like feline leukaemia. Most injections also need to be administered at least 14 days before the pet is boarded, but each establishment has different requirements so check with them for their information on this.
• Are your prices per day or per night? This is an important one as if they are per day most kennels/cattery will then require you to pay for the day your board your pet and the day you pick them up regardless of the time of day. There are some kennels/catteries however that will not make you pay for that day if delivered/picked up before/after a certain time of day.
• How much human or animal interaction will they receive? Most pets will receive some time with a member of staff but obviously it won't be as much as they are used to at home as each staff member may have several animals to look after. At quieter times of year they will receive a lot more attention. As for animal interaction in general most kennels/cattery do not allow pets to come into contact with other pets just in case but there are a few that do have open boarding or runs.
• Is bedding provided? Most kennels/catteries will provide bedding but will give you the option to bring in a blanket and toys to make your pet feel more at home.
• Am I required to provide my own food? Most kennels/catteries have their own selection of foods, but check with them to see if they have something your pet will eat. Most will let you provide your own food if your pet is on a special diet or is a fussy eater.
• How many times a day are they fed and when? This will vary between kennels/catteries, but most will take into consideration how many times your pet is fed, just times will probably be different from at home.
• Do they administer medication if needed? If your pet requires medication generally all kennels/cattery will do this just some may charge for this.
• What happens if my pet becomes ill? A member of staff will take the pet to the vets, but this may not be your own vet as some kennels/catteries have their own veterinary practice that they prefer to use. They may also charge you for the time taken to visit the vet.
• How much exercise will my pet receive? You need to think about this because some kennels will walk the pets and others have compounds that they let the pets run around in. Also ask how often this will be done on a daily basis. There are a few kennels that offer walking as a service but you have to pay extra for it per walk.