When you are thinking of setting up a licensed cattery it is essential that you obtain a cattery licence from your local council. Every council will have their own requirements. It is essential that you take note of the regulations otherwise you could be refused a licence for setting up a cattery.
The criteria for issuing a licence is strict, but every rule is in place to help you plan your new cattery properly with the welfare of the animals in your care in mind. If you buy an existing cattery that has already got a licence in place you should find that all requirements have been complied with.
Number of Permitted Cats
The number of cats that you can board at any one time will be determined by your council. This number will relate directly to the number and size of your pens/chalets. Each cat must be housed separately unless they come from the same household. The owners must agree to the cats being together (some cats from the same household might not get along well together in a confined space) and the size of the pen/chalet must be adequate for several cats.
You may be allowed to have a number of holding pens for temporary use but normally a cat should not be housed in a holding pen for more than 24 hours. The size of the holding pen as with all the pens/chalets will need to be a minimum size, decided by the council.
General Construction of The Cattery
Your cattery must be laid out exactly as the approved plans, any alterations must have approval of your licensing officer. If you make alterations that are not approved you could be made to change them before your licence is renewed.
The regulations stipulate exactly what materials can be used for every part of the cattery, the floors, walls, ceilings, roof, in fact everything. The safety and security of the cats in your care is always paramount. Each pen/chalet will need to be fitted with a raised sleeping quarter, and everything will need to be easily disinfected without excess use of water.
Temperature in the Cattery
You will be required to have thermometers placed at various positions throughout the cattery, and a minimum/maximum record should be kept. The council regulations will stipulate the minimum/maximum temperatures that you should aim to achieve.
If you have enclosed pens/chalets keeping an even temperature at some times of year can be a problem. If you are building from scratch installing an air conditioning unit could be a wise investment. If your pens/chalets are open to the elements the summer months should be fine but winter could be a problem. Look at your council requirements and decide accordingly.
Cleanliness and General Management
Needless to say cleanliness is essential. Everything that is used in the cattery, either by yourself or by the cats, must be kept clean and disinfected. You will need a separate area to store the cat food and this must be stored so that it cannot be contaminated in any way. You must know what precautions you must take to stop the spread of any infectious diseases and parasites (cat fleas).
You will also need to make sure that all cats boarded with you have up to date vaccinations, if they have no vaccination certificates you should not allow them in your cattery. You will also need to have a basic first aid kit for yourself, your staff and the cats. Every council has it's own set of rules and regulations, you should always get a copy of the regulations before you embark on your business or apply for a cattery licence.
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