The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Schedule 4 covers the boarding of cats.

You may need a cat boarding licence if you provide accommodation for other people’s cats as a commercial business. This includes providing overnight housing for cats in purpose-built cattery units and arranging housing for other people’s cats where the activity is carried out as part of a business.

Businesses that look after a cat within the owner’s own home, such as cat sitting, are not treated as cat boarding under the statutory guidance. Cats must be boarded under a cat boarding licence, not a dog home boarding licence.

Before you apply

Before making an application, please read the statutory guidance and prepare any documents, records and policies that are relevant to your cat boarding activity. You should also review our Animal Licensing Policy and the cat boarding checklist before inspection.

• read the cat boarding statutory guidance.
• consider using our cat boarding checklist to self audit that you have all required policies or procedures
• make sure veterinary, healthcare, medication and training records are available
• check that cattery units, sleeping areas and exercise runs meet the relevant welfare standards
• review consent arrangements, particularly feeding, grooming, veterinary care and emergency contact details
• make sure your website displays the licence holder’s name and licence number once licensed

Apply for a licence

Use our animal welfare licence application form to apply. The application does not currently have a save draft function, so you should have the information and documents you need ready before starting the application.

We aim to determine new licence applications within 10 weeks of receiving a complete application. Some applications may take longer where further information is needed or where an inspection is difficult to arrange. Existing licence holders should apply to renew at least 10 weeks before the current licence expires.

Apply for Animal Welfare Licence

Inspection

Cat boarding premises will be inspected as part of the application and renewal process. Applicants should use the cat boarding checklist to audit their arrangements before inspection. The inspection will consider whether the premises, staffing, records, procedures and cattery accommodation meet the relevant welfare standards and licence conditions.

Please bear in mind that we will star rate your premises on the day of the inspection, those items furnished to the council after the inspection and not available on the premises during the inspection will NOT be taken into account for star rating purposes.

Guidance and useful information

Checklists, templates and records

Cat boarding documents

• Checklist for cat boarders
• Example policies and procedures – cat boarding
• Consent form – cat boarding

Standard documents required by most licence holders

• Preventative healthcare plan template and guidance notes
• Medication record
• Training policy and staff training record 
• Isolation facilities template letter to be completed by veterinary practice
• Nominated veterinary Practice form

Key cat boarding rules to highlight

• cat boarding activities require a licence where they are carried out as a commercial business
• The licence applies only to boarding cats and should state the maximum number of cats permitted on the premises
• licence holders must keep required records available for inspection and retain them for at least 3 years from creation
• cats must be kept in a suitable environment, including appropriate space, temperature, ventilation, lighting, hygiene and toileting arrangements
• cats must have a litter tray and scented litter must not be used
• cats must always be transported in a suitable, strong cat carrier
• cats must not be taken from their individual units except in an emergency or for veterinary treatment; communal exercise areas are not acceptable
• changes in behaviour must be monitored, recorded and acted upon where there are signs of suffering, stress, fear, aggression or anxiety

Zoonoses and infection control

Zoonoses are infections that can pass between animals and humans. Exhibition businesses should consider zoonoses as part of their infection control procedures. We suggest that you examine the list on the Zoonoses - HSE page and consider all those infections relevant to your business. Particular care should be taken where multiple species are exhibited or where animals have direct contact with members of the public.

Fees, star ratings and licence duration

Fees are payable for the grant and renewal of a licence, variations, inspections and other matters where applicable. Cat boarding licences are subject to the animal activity star rating system. Licences may be issued for one, two or three years depending on the star rating and risk assessment. New applicants are generally issued with a one-year licence initially because there is no compliance history available.

If you are unsure whether you need a licence

If you are unsure whether your dog breeding activity requires a licence, please contact the Licensing team before you apply. We can advise on whether the activity appears to fall within the licensing regime.