All About Our

Absolutely, we couldn’t recommend this highly enough.

We will be delighted to schedule a viewing appointment and we will take you around the cattery, let you meet our staff and, of course, our boarders and show you how we look after the cats in our care.

You can ask as many questions as you like and we are confident that you will leave feeling very happy and comfortable making a booking for your cat[s] to stay with us here at Airth Station Cattery.

School holidays are undoubtedly our busiest periods and typically, the months of June, July, August, September and the October school holiday often see our pens booked up months in advance.

To avoid disappointment, It’s best to try and book pens quite far in advance if you are planning on boarding your cat[s] with us during the school holiday periods.

During the month of July and the Festive Holiday Period (20th December – 5th January) we require an advanced deposit payment of £50 in order to secure a booking with us.

Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for further guidance on how this deposit policy may affect your bookings during these periods.

During the summer holiday period of July – August we require a £50 deposit to secure your booking with us.

If you cancel your booking more than 21 days before the arrival day, the deposit will be refunded in full.

The deposit will be retained if you cancel your booking less than 21 days before the arrival day.

Yes! We offer a 10% discount on boarding fees for any stay longer than five weeks (35 days) consecutively

During check-in and on collection days, we restrict customer access to our accommodation area’s. A member of staff will come and collect your cat[s] at reception and take them to their accommodation, which is pre-prepared for their arrival. Thank you for your understanding of this policy.

BELOW IS THE SOP (STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE) GUIDANCE GIVEN TO OUR STAFF FOR THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF CATS FROM OUR BOARDING ESTABLISHMENT.

AIRTH STATION CATTERY LTD – STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR STAFF ON CAT CHECK-IN DAY.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CATTERY ENVIRONMENT (STAFF PROTOCOL FOR BOARDER ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES)

On the day a cat arrives to board with us at Airth Station Cattery the following protocol will be observed to minimise stress and/or anxiety for the cat.

We will request owners to check-in at reception. Once check-in is complete the member of staff on reception duty will radio (walkie-talkie) a nominated member of staff to come, from the boarding area, to collect the cat[s] from the owner at reception and take them to the boarding areas.

Staff transporting the cat from reception to boarding areas must ensure that the following important protocols are observed.

RECEPTION TEAM DUTIES – ARRIVALS:

The member of staff on reception duty will greet the owner and explain the checking in process. Reception Staff must be wearing the logoed uniform provided by the Cattery clearly identifying that you are a member of staff authorised to check in their cat.

1. Proof of vaccination must be provided. This can be either in the form of a Vaccination Certificate/Booklet or via email from the cat’s registered veterinary practice.

2. The Vaccination Dates must be entered into our booking system and the Vaccination Certificate/Booklet will be retained and filed during the duration of the cats stay.

3. The owner will be asked to sign and date our Boarder Acknowledgement Form agreeing to the policies and protocols of boarding their cat with us. The cat[s] will be weighed and the data in KG will be logged on the Acknowledgment Form.

4. The owner will be asked to confirm their contact details that we hold in our system including confirmation of their registered veterinary practice and a confirmed emergency contact person or number should be required to contact them.

5. Explain to the owner that, for the purposes of health and safety and security of the cat boarding area, we have a policy in place which restricts access to boarding areas to staff only. If this policy is questioned, then refer them to the cattery owner for further explanation.

6. A Boarding Suite Information Card will be completed and checked by the owner.

7. If the cat requires medication, then a medical questionnaire and guidance form must be completed and signed off by the owner stating the measures that will be required for us to medicate their cat during its stay with us.

8. Once check-in is complete, the member of staff on reception duty will radio (walkie-talkie) for a member of the boarding team to attend reception to collect the cat. You should provide the Boarding Team Staff with the Boarding Suite Information Card.

9. A member of the Boarding Team will transport the cat[s] to the boarding facility.

10. If the owner arrives with two or more cats in separate carriers, you will require a 2nd member of staff to transport the cats to the boarding area. You must make sure that this is relayed to the Boarding Team by radio.

11. For security reasons, please always remain in the reception area during the check-in process.

BOARDER TEAM DUTIES – DEPARTURES:

The member of staff on Boarding Team Duty must be wearing the logoed uniform provided by the Cattery clearly identifying that you are a member of staff authorised to bring the customers cat from the boarding area to them on departure day.

1. Staff will be called on the radio (walkie-talkie) by the Reception Staff to notify you that a cat requires to be collected from the boarding area and brought to the customer at the collection point. Please acknowledge that you have received the call. The reception staff will provide you with the cats name.

2. Staff should cross reference this information by checking which pen the cat is located in on the Boarder Information Board located in the kitchen. This is done so that you know that you will be collecting the correct cat[s] from the boarding area.

3. Staff should then proceed to the boarding area and enter the pen. At this point, please give gentle re-assurance to the cat[s] and begin by gathering any blankets or bedding and toys and placing them in the bag or box provided by the owner.

The bags or boxes may be located in the storage compartments next in the kitchen cupboard.

4. Prepare the cat carrier prior to the cat entering. Staff should make sure that the carrier door and fastening clips are all in place and in working order. Make sure that the carrier is clean and that any blankets inside the carrier will not restrict the cats movement, comfort and that they don’t prevent the door from closing.

5. Gently collect the cat and introduce them to the carrier. Place a firm hand over the cats breast and use index fingers and thumb to firmly hold the cats front two legs before motioning the cat forwards into the carrier.

6. Once the cat is safely inside the carrier, the member of staff should conduct a safety and security check of the carrier making sure that all clips and door fixings are completely secure before leaving the boarding pen.

7. Staff should then make sure that the boarding block security corridor is clear (free of any potential trip hazards such as brooms or mop buckets) before exiting the pen.

8. Boarding Team Staff Member should use the walkie-Talkie to radio Reception Staff to let them know that they are on their way with the cat[s] to the collection point.

9. After exiting the boarding block, the member of staff should progress safely and slowly, purposefully minimising movements that may potentially alarm the cat being transported.

10. Staff will meet the owner at the collection point (Gated entrance to Cattery) and hand over the cat. The owner may request that you take the cat to their car and this should always be offered as a courteous gesture.

11. Staff should engage in conversation with the customer with regards to how their cat was during their stay and offer positive feedback on their stay.

12. Staff are not responsible for securing the cat in the customers car. This is entirely the responsibility of the owner.

13. If the cat has any items such as bedding, toys or blankets or their own food, the member of staff will return to the boarding area or our storage area to retrieve the items before returning them to the owner. STAFF SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO CARRY ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME AS CARRYING A CAT CARRIER.

14. Once the cat has vacated the cattery, staff should return to the boarding block and retrieve the Boarding Card from the front of the pen door. The boarding card holder should now be displaying the Airth Cattery Logo to denote that the pen is empty. Two of the clips are left open denoting that a ‘To Be Cleaned’ is required before the pen returns to being available for new boarders.

15. Staff should then remove the name of the cat from the Boarding List board in the Cattery kitchen area and use the red pen to write TBC (To Be Cleaned) to provide notification that the pen requires a deep clean before the pen is returned to use.

16. Take the laminated Boarder Information Card back to reception and notify the member of staff on duty that the pen is vacated.

17. Return to Boarding Team duties.

18. AGGRESSIVE OR NON-COMPLIANT CAT PROTOCOL: If a cat display’s aggressive resistance towards a staff member attempting to place it in a carrier, then the member of staff is required to cease the attempt and enact our Exception Circumstances Protocol.

EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES PROTOCOL: In exceptional circumstances, whereby a cat is displaying aggressive behaviour and non-compliance towards staff attempting to place it in a carrier, the member of the boarding team may request assistance by radioing the reception staff. At this point, the reception staff will notify the owner and will accompany them to the boarding area to allow them to place their cat in the carrier. The member of the boarding team will meet the owner at the boarding block security door and will ensure that it is locked behind the owner before showing them to the pen. The boarding team member should then allow the owner to enter the pen and attempt to place the cat in its carrier. If the owner asks for or requires further assistance, then this can be provided by holding the carrier for them. Cattery staff are not permitted to try and lift the cat. We provide access to protective gloves, which can be offered to the owner. Before vacating the boarding block with the owner, staff should ensure that the carrier is secure and that security doors are locked after the owner and cat leave the block.

Yes, afternoon collections and drop-offs can be arranged by prior appointment (Mon-Fri Only) and we offer a time slot between 5:30pm and 6pm for this purpose.

Regrettably, we have a ‘No Refund Policy’ for early collections.  We organise our staffing rota and food purchasing based upon actual booking confirmations therefore please note that we will not discount or refund your boarding fees for an earlier than expected return. Additionally, during busy periods, should you choose to remove the cat[s] before the end of the period booked ,we could have sold this space to someone else.

The same applies if you don’t bring you cat in on the day that you have booked.

We hope you understand why we have had to adopt this policy.

We charge our boarding rates on a full-day basis. This means that your cats chalet unit is available to you on your scheduled arrival day until 12pm on your scheduled departure day. Afternoon collections (Made By Appointment) on the day of departure will automatically incur another full-day’s boarding rate charge.

PLEASE NOTE THAT, ON CERTAIN DAYS DURING THE PEAK HOLIDAY SEASONS IN APRIL(EASTER), JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER (BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND) & OCTOBER (SCHOOLS FORTNIGHT) CHECK-INS MAY BE SUBJECT TO LATER DROP-OFF TIMES. CUSTOMERS WILL BE ADVISED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE SHOULD WE BE REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE A CHECK-IN TIME BETWEEN 12PM AND 2PM. THIS IS TO ALLOW OUR STAFF TO MANAGE THE CHANGEOVER PERIOD BETWEEN DEPARTURES AND ARRIVALS.

We keep impeccably high standards with regards to the control and prevention of infection and disease and health and safety is of paramount importance to us. To this end, every chalet unit and all items of equipment are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between stays. This cleaning does take time and it is essential to ensure that your cat remains comfortable throughout his/ her stay. We aim to always have the unit ready for your cat’s arrival and we also insist that they are allowed to remain in their unit in comfort until you arrive to collect them. We will never leave your cat in a carrier waiting for you to collect him /her and so we need to book the unit for both day of arrival and day of departure. Our many customers value this policy highly as they have the guarantee that their cat is comfortable for their entire stay.

We have two Family Pens which are large enough to accommodate a family of four cats in the one space.

We have a number of Adjoined Pens available which are formed from two standard sized pens that are linked by a hatch between them. Adjoined pens can hold a maximum of four cats from the same family.

They are especially popular for people who may wish us to separate cats for the purposes of feeding or for quiet time away from each other. The adjoined hatch can be opened and closed to suit these requirements.

No, our provision of food is costed into our boarding rates and as such, we would not consider discounting on the basis of a customers decision not to use our house food. We are more than happy to have your cat fed on your own selected brand and are happy to prepare and serve this to your cat.

We stock Royal Canin Protein Exigent and Sensible 33 as our Dry Food provision and a range of Wet Food (Meat) including Whiskas (Both Gravy and Jelly), Felix as Good as it looks and also Sheba and James Wellbeloved.

If you require to, or wish to bring along your own food then please label prior to arrival so that we can store it separately for you along with any specific feeding instructions.

Please note that we do not accept unneutered cats over the age of six months old.

This is because unneutered male cats can be disruptive and cause odors, while unspayed females can become stressed and cause agitation when they come into season.

Whilst having Pet Insurance is not a pre-requisite requirement of boarding your cat[s] with us, we do highly recommend that you do so.

We have our own insurance cover provided by PetPlan Sanctuary Ltd and this covers us for the following:

Public Liability Insurance
Employers Liability
Professional Indemnity

Should your cat be clinically diagnosed with either an injury or illness, up to 72 hours after having boarded with us, then after a claims investigation our insurer will give consideration to covering the following:

• Veterinary Fees: Maximum £1,250 per animal in the period of insurance.
• Death of Animal: Maximum £1,250 per animal in the period of insurance.
• Loss by Theft or Straying: Maximum £1,250 per animal in the period of insurance.

We are very experienced and more than happy to administer medication prescribed by a vet.

There will be an extra charge starting from £1.50 per cat per day for this service.

Please make us aware in advance of check-in day of any medical treatment your cat[s] require. This is of paramount importance in enabling us to plan and provide the correct care for your cat[s.

On check-in day, a member of our staff will ask you to complete a Boarder Medication Form which will note the name of the medication and the frequency and level of dosage we will be required to administer.

This Boarder Medication Form will then be fixed to the Boarding Pen with instructions on your cats medication requirements.

Cats with severe health issues, such as heart conditions, respiratory problems, or mobility limitations, may require specialised care and might not be suitable for standard boarding facilities.

We reserve the right of refusal to board your cat[s] on the basis that we feel we are unable to offer them a safe boarding environment for their additional needs.

If your cat requires complex medication provision during their stay with us then this should be discussed with our owner prior to making a booking or arriving with your cat.

Examples of Complex Medication Provision is as follows:

• Pills that are required to be administered orally.
• Steroid or anti-seizure pills required to be given orally.
• Wound Treatment & Wound Dressing.

No. We provide bedding and blankets for all of our boarders. We have a range of beds ranging from Igloo’s to Round Beds to Traditional styled beds and many more to suit your cat’s preferences. We also have a range of fleece blankets and bedding for our guests.

We kindly ask that you do not bring along your own bedding. We do laundry on a daily basis and it is difficult to keep track of individual items, which is why we prefer to only provide our own bedding.

You may bring along a small blanket from home, however please note that we cannot take responsibility for lost items.

We also ask that you do not bring along your own feeding bowls.

Yes! We have a number of adjoining chalets, however these are subject to availability and use of adjoining pens are charged at a rate of £24 per night. Should there be no adjoining pens available then you can book two separate chalets for two cats. We would charge 2 x the single cat rate for a booking such as this – £28 per night.

We do offer boarding to elderly cats and regularly have guests who are as old as 21 & 22 years of age. Because we are a well established cattery, we have cats who were with us as kittens over 20 years ago and they are still coming to board with us. Our staff are experienced and well placed to look after elderly cats so long as they are healthy enough to be in our care.

This care however does come with a caveat which is that your cat must be healthy and able to safely negotiate the ladder up to their sleeping area (loft) from the exercise area below, where their litterbox is located. Muscular infirmity and complete blindness and/or an inability to hold their bladder movements would only cause undue stress to your cat in unfamiliar surroundings and, on that basis, we would advise against boarding him/her in a cattery environment if this your cat[s] exhibits such frailties.

If you are unsure about whether a cattery environment will be suitable for your elderly cat then please get in touch to discuss further and we can also arrange to send you an Elderly Cat Guidance Information Booklet that will help you decide.

We would also advise a consultation with your veterinary practice for further guidance. They may also be able to offer high level boarding care whilst you are away.

Our Cattery has been designed to maximise the comfort of our boarder’s throughout their stay with us.

We have six individual. boarding houses/blocks which range in occupancy size from four pens, eight pens through to our largest block which has twenty pens.

This means that we can offer boarders a quiet stay or a more social experience which can be determined by their own nature and boarding preferences.

All of our boarding houses are garden facing and are designed to maximise natural light and air. Bird feeders in our garden guarantee a lot of stimulation for our boarders.

In terms of construction, the cattery offers a balance of indoor and outdoor living.

The sleeping lofts are all insulated and have individual pet cassette heaters, ensuring a snug and cosy area. The cats have 24/7 access to their own covered exercise area.

In the summer months, we remove the windows to allow for natural air flow and this is especially good for cats who are classed as outdoor as it creates a natural outdoor feel for them.

In the winter months, we place the window panels back on the front of each boarding block, but it doesn’t restrict views of the gardens, meaning it’s cosy inside with retained views.

The Cattery is constructed of timber on a brick base. Each individual pen is separated from the other by plexiglass and wire mesh.

Each pen has a climbing tower and a hidey-box along with scratching posts.

Access to the sleeping loft is via a wooden ladder and integrated cat flap.

Please note that cats will, on occasion, climb up the wire mesh and we take no responsibility for any injuries sustained in doing so.

Please also note that, although an incredibly rare occurrence, in cases where cats from the same family are sharing a pen, we take no responsibility for injuries caused by bites or scratches whilst in our care. Should this happen, or if we feel a squabble may escalate, we reserve the right to separate the cats if we feel it will be safer for your cats well being. Additional costs may be incurred for the use of an extra pen. 

We take the security, comfort and health and wellbeing of our boarders very seriously and our Cattery environment is designed to reflect this.

Yes, Vaccinations are required before we can have your cat come to stay with us.

For us to take care of your cat(s), we require your cat(s) to be vaccinated against the following:

• Feline Panleukopenia
• Feline Herpesvirus
• Feline Calicivirus

We need to see the vaccination certificates on arrival day and will retain them on file throughout the duration of your cat[s] stay with us.

Alternatively, please email us a picture of the vaccination certificate or have your registered Veterinary Practice email them to us directly prior to arriving to check-in.

Cats must also be up to date with flea and worming treatments; before check-in, please provide us with the following:

• Type of flea treatment and date of administering.

• Type of worming treatments and date of administering.

All kittens must have received both primary vaccinations, and we require one whole month to have passed after the second vaccination before we can provide boarding.

It’s a great question and one that, naturally, we are asked often.

The truth is that they do all react in their own way to coming into a boarding environment and we have built up a wealth of experience over the decades we have been established to understand and mitigate for any anxiety a cat may feel when they first arrive for their stay with us.

For some, the experience is entirely positive and they are out and about and happy to receive attention from the first moment they arrive, and for others they will seek a quiet spot to hide and acclimatise in their own time.

The term ‘acclimatise’ therefore can’t be understated. It is something we feel we are very good at understanding and allowing for at Airth Cattery.

Experience has taught us to instinctively know when to find a quiet area and afford them some privacy and time to come out in their own time. It makes it all the more special when that moment does come and the wee one gains confidence and seeks us out for a wee pat or stroke and some attention and 99% of the time this is exactly what happens. 

Our boarding units are also perfect for acclimatisation.

The loft areas affords much privacy and a level of quiet seclusion from the world and time to adjust to their new surroundings. For the inquisitive, out-going boarder, the opportunity to sit on their tower and watch the world go by in our gardens and also see their next door neighbour and have a cat-to-cat chat is always available.

“Everything in life has its own time to happen. A time to plant, a time to grow, a time to harvest. And of you take things steady you’ll bring your harvest home.” – Felicity Hayes-McCoy

It’s just one of the methods we use to get a gauge on a cat’s eating habits while they are in our care.

The cat’s are weighed in their carriers, so it is not the cat’s approximate weight however, both cat and carrier are weighed on departure in the same carrier therefore the departing weight reading should be accurate.

We introduced a weighing policy to complement our already well established food monitoring policy, which tracks the amount of food intake a cat has during their stay with us. Our staff are trained to monitor a boarders eating habits and how much food they consume on a daily basis so that we can identify, at an early point in their stay, whether a boarder is eating satisfactory amounts during their stay.

It is not unusual for cats to refuse food for up to 24 to 48 hours when they first arrive and this can be a very normal habit, but one that we monitor closely and take steps to introduce a feeding routine that will encourage them to begin eating.

We have noted through our weighing process that it is normal for some cats to gain a few hundred grams and for some to lose a few hundred grams over the course of their stay at the Cattery. Interestingly, there is a not inconsiderable amount of cat’s whose weight remains. exactly the same, which indicates that they are extremely adept at maintaining their own eating habits throughout their stay.

If you have any further questions regarding our Boarder Food In-take Monitoring Policy then we will be glad to discuss further.