FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Absolutely, you’re more than welcome to come and have a look around. I completely understand how important it is to feel confident about where your cat will be staying. I would always suggest going to have a look around any cattery to see if it meets your needs.

I do just ask that you check your dates with me first before arranging a visit.

Because I only have seven rooms, availability can change quickly. The last thing I want is for you to come out, have your heart set on booking your cat in, only to find out I’m already fully booked for the dates you want — it just sends you back to square one and wastes your time.

Fill out the enquiry form and send it over to me to check the diary. As soon as I've checked that I've got availability, I’ll happily offer you some days and times to visit. As there is only me here, all visits are arranged around the cats I currently have in, so they vary a little week to week, but I’ll always do my best to find a suitable slot where we can be uninterrupted by any arrivals or departures.

Rates vary depending on the number of cats in a room.

Only cats from the same household can share a room. Cats who live in different houses from each other will never share a room.

From January 1st 2026 rates start at £24 per day for one cat in a standard room. Click on the link below to find out more about the rates and services at The Great Catsby.

All cats that stay must be vaccinated against feline parvovirus, also known as feline infectious enteritis (FIE), feline panleukopenia, and feline respiratory viruses (feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus) within the last 12 months of their stay.

I will need to see their current vaccination card and make a note of which vaccinations were given and the date, for my records. I will ask to see this when you register for an account. Inside your account, you'll be able to view your cat's vaccination status and upload any images or documents after your cat's booster.

My cat can't be vaccinated for health reasons?

In extreme circumstances, some cats are unable to be vaccinated; usually, a vet has deemed it unsafe or too high-risk for the cat's age or health. If this is the case, I must have a written letter from the vets outlining this and confirming that they are otherwise in good health.

How often does a cat need to be vaccinated?

A cat should have annual boosters. Your vaccination card will outline the expiry/due date, and your cat should have their booster before or soon after this date.

If your cat has missed their booster date, then they may need to restart their vaccinations. The vet will discuss this in detail, but a restart usually consists of a first vaccination, then 3-4 weeks later, a second vaccination is given. I can only accept cats who have had their full course of vaccinations (either 2 separate vaccines for a restart or their annual booster each year).

If you haven't been to The Great Catsby before or it's been a while, then I’d love to check if you let me know your dates!

Because I only have seven rooms and bookings change every day, I don’t keep a full date-by-date calendar on the website. The quickest way for me to confirm availability is for you to send over your exact check-in and check-out dates, along with the number of cats and rooms.

Once I have your dates, I can check the diary straight away and let you know which rooms are free (or add you to the waitlist if your dates are already full).

School holidays and Christmas tend to fill up first with returning customers.

If you have been to The Great Catsby before and have an account, you'll be able to log in and check whether the dates are available. The system will let you know instantly.

Why don’t you show a full availability calendar?

Because I only have seven rooms, availability can change daily — and it’s often split between standard and family rooms. A simple website calendar can look “free” when in reality only one room is left, or the wrong room type is available.

In previous years, due to demand and limited availability, I usually close the diary to new customers around May/June and reopen it again in December to give returning customers priority, especially for the following year. A static calendar wouldn’t reflect this, and could lead to confusion.

The easiest and most accurate way to check availability is to send me your dates — I can look at the diary straight away and let you know exactly what’s possible.

Do you have a cancellation/waitlist?

Yes — if I don't have any availability for your dates, I can add you to my waitlist. Just send over your check-in and check-out dates, and if a room becomes available, I’ll get in touch straight away.

Cancellations are rare, especially during peak periods such as school holidays, but sometimes circumstances change and cancellations may happen. But I’m always happy to add you to the list just in case.

How far in advance should I book?

Because I only have seven rooms and due to demand, I tend to only accept advanced bookings at certain times of the year.

Here’s how it usually works:

• December 2025 → May 2026: The diary is open for the new and returning customers. As availability becomes very limited after spring through to the summer, usually by May, most of the remaining school holidays and September dates are fully booked.

• July/August 2026: After planning my own family holidays for 2027 share dates/availability with members and previous customers only. I start accepting bookings for the following year. This gives my regulars the chance to secure their usual dates first — especially school holidays, bank holidays and Christmas.

• Around December 2026: Once returning customers have confirmed their dates, I reopen the diary to new customers with whatever remaining availability I have for the year ahead. I also email anybody who's on the waiting list.

If you’re a returning customer, you can log into your account to make a booking or check dates.

If you’re new and planning ahead, feel free to drop me a message with your dates — I’ll happily add you to my interest list and let you know when bookings open for your dates.

If you’ve stayed with me before: The easiest way to book is through your account. Just pop your dates in, and it will send the request straight to me. If you prefer, you can still message me directly — whatever’s easiest for you.

If you’re new: Just fill out my enquiry form. I’ll need a few details first so I can check availability properly, including:

• Your preferred check-in and check-out dates

• Your cat’s name and age

• A quick note about their temperament, diet, or any medical needs that I need to be aware of

• A copy of their up-to-date vaccination record

• And your vet's details

Once I have that, I’ll check the diary and get back to you with availability and next steps.

Please note: I only have seven rooms and demand can be high, especially during school holidays and Christmas, so it’s always best to send your dates over as early as you can.

Yes, I’m very happy to care for cats who are on medication. I regularly look after guests who need tablets, drops, supplements, inhalers or other routine treatments, and I’ll always make sure I understand exactly what your cat needs so I can look after them properly.

If your cat hasn’t stayed with me before, I may ask a few extra questions so I can get a clear picture of their routine. Cats who take medication confidently at home can sometimes react differently in a new environment, so it’s crucial that I understand how they usually take it, how they behave, and what works best for them.

However, I’m not insured or able to administer injections, including insulin for diabetic cats. If your cat requires injectable medication, it’s worth speaking to your vet for alternative care options.

If you’re ever unsure whether your cat’s medication needs can be supported during their stay, just send me a message and I’ll be happy to chat it through with you.

All ages are welcome at The Great Catsby, as long as your cat is fully vaccinated. The only requirement is that cats over 6 months old must be neutered.

If you have a senior or elderly cat (10+ years old) who hasn’t stayed with me before, I’ll just need a little more information first. Older cats can find new environments a bit more challenging, so understanding their health, routine, mobility, and general temperament helps me make their stay as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

If you’re unsure whether your senior cat would be happy here, just send me a message — I’m always happy to talk things through.

I totally understand the worry of leaving your cat at home for a night or two. However, a short one– or two–night stay really isn’t in most cats’ best interests, especially if they’ve never been here before.

Even the most confident cats at home can react very differently once they leave their familiar environment. Travelling in the carrier, the car journey, and then arriving somewhere with new smells, sounds, and a stranger (me!) can be a big shock to their system.

For many cats, the first 24–48 hours are spent quietly observing, adjusting, and working out if they feel safe. If they arrive, spend that entire time trying to settle, and then get taken straight back home again, they’re left wondering what just happened — and it can actually make future stays more stressful for them.

Building trust takes a little time. I want every cat to feel settled, secure, and confident enough to eat normally, use their tray, and let their personality shine. For this reason, my minimum stay for most cats is 4 days, as this gives them the time they need to decompress and feel comfortable.

For cats who have stayed with me before recently or stayed a few times over the year, it’s different. Those cats already know me, they recognise the room, and many of them are exploring or settling into their favourite spot before their owners have even left the building. For these regular visitors, I know a short stay won’t unsettle them or impact their wellbeing, so overnight visits are usually absolutely fine, as long as I have availability.

If you’re unsure what’s best for your cat, just send me a message — I’ll always give you honest advice based on their personality and past experience.

I monitor every cat closely throughout the day, and I record everything — how they’re eating, drinking, using their litter tray, their behaviour, and any small changes I notice. This helps me spot anything unusual very quickly.

If I see any change in behaviour or health, I’ll contact you straight away. Sometimes it’s something simple, like a cat that occasionally vomits when they eats too quickly. In cases like that, knowing what’s “normal” for your cat helps me make the right adjustments (for example, spreading meals out or using a puzzle feeder to slow them down).

If your cat shows more concerning symptoms, such as straining to urinate or signs of pain, I’ll seek veterinary advice immediately. This may be your own vet (if they’re close enough), or my vet. You’ll be kept informed every step of the way.

If I can’t reach you, I’ll contact the emergency contact listed on your account. Please make sure this person knows they may be called and is ideally local, in case your cat needs to be collected from me or from the vet.

It’s worth saying that illnesses are very rare here. Since opening in 2017, only a small handful of cats have needed veterinary attention, and in every case the owners were already aware of underlying issues or ongoing medical concerns. Because I monitor each cat so closely, those subtle early changes are picked up quickly, allowing fast treatment when needed.

For the vast majority of healthy cats, staying here is smooth, stress-free, and uneventful — and if anything does crop up, I’m right here to make sure they get prompt, appropriate care.

Which vets do you use if my cat needs treatment?

If your cat ever needs veterinary attention during their stay, I usually use Medivet Standish, as they are my closest and most reliable veterinary practice. They know The Great Catsby, and they’ve always been brilliant in helping me support any cat who needs quick care in the past.

If your own vet is in or near Standish and the situation allows it, I’m also happy to contact them first — it just depends on the urgency and how practical it is at the time. My priority is always to make sure your cat gets prompt and appropriate treatment.

You’ll be kept informed at every step, and if I can’t reach you, I’ll contact your emergency contact listed on your account.

Absolutely — longer stays are no problem at all. Plenty of cats stay with me for 2 weeks or more, especially during school holidays, and I even have regular guests who stay for 4–6 weeks at a time.

For cats on extended stays, I make sure they get a little extra time, reassurance, and stimulation so they stay settled and content throughout their visit. Each cat has their own routine, and I tailor my interactions to suit their personality so they feel safe, relaxed, and at home for the whole stay.

If you're ever unsure how your cat might cope, feel free to ask — I’m always happy to talk through what longer stays look like here.

Yes — I offer a 15% discount to members.

To be a member, there is a small annual fee, depending on the number of cats. You can see everything that’s included on my Rates & Services page linked below.

This is the only discount I offer, as places are limited and most bookings are secured well in advance. If you’d like to become a member, just let me know, and I can get you signed up.

If you’ve stayed with me before but can’t get into your account, the first thing to try is resetting your password. Click “Forgot password?” and, if your email is still on the system, you’ll be able to create a new one.

If the system doesn’t recognise your email, there are a few possible reasons:

• It’s been a while since your cat last stayed Legally, I can only keep customer records for 3 years after a stay. If it’s been longer, your old account will have been removed in line with licensing requirements and you’ll need to register again.

• Your cat hasn’t stayed before If you created an account in the past but never completed a booking, the system only keeps unused accounts for around 6 weeks. If it’s been longer, it may have been removed — just message me and I can reinstate it.

• Your account may be restricted In very rare cases, an account may be blocked from booking for welfare or safety reasons. This could be because a vaccination has expired (in which case I’d just need to see an updated vaccination record before you can book again), or because a cat wasn’t suited to a cattery environment and their wellbeing could be affected by staying again.

If this ever applies, I’ll always explain things privately, sensitively, and offer alternative care suggestions that may be more suitable for your cat.

If you’re unsure what’s happened with your account, just send me a quick message — I can always check the system for you and point you in the right direction.

It’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous when your cat stays somewhere new for the first time — and honestly, most cats feel the same way at the start! Every cat is different, but here’s what usually happens with first-time visitors:

• The first day or so is all about settling in

Most cats spend the first 24–48 hours watching, sniffing, and quietly working out if they feel safe. This is perfectly normal and part of their natural behaviour.

• I keep a very close eye on them I record everything several times a day — how they’re eating, toileting, behaving, and how confident they seem. This helps me spot even the smallest changes and tailor their care to what they need.

• They start to relax once they realise they’re safe After a little time getting used to me and their room, you’ll usually see their personality peek through — the head bumps, the chirps, the curiosity, the sunbathing… it’s lovely to watch.

• They settle faster than you might think Once they understand the routine (mealtimes, quiet time, playtime), most first-timers relax far more quickly than their owners expect.

If your cat tends to be shy, nervous, or sensitive to change, feel free to tell me — I’ll always adjust my approach so they feel as comfortable and supported as possible. And if you ever want advice before their first stay, just ask — I’m always happy to help.