Boarding Tips

Preparing Your Pet for Boarding

When you decide to take your pet to a boarding environment for care, it’s vital that it’s as easy as possible for your pet — and of course, for you. To ensure you’re both at ease, we’ve created our boarding tips to address the emotional and practical sides of boarding.

Some people still think it’s ‘cruel’ to leave their pet at a boarding kennel or cattery, but that’s far from the truth. Owners may also feel unsure because they’re the ones going away and wonder how their pet is coping. It’s important to understand the boarding experience doesn’t have to be unpleasant or distressing for you or your pet. Pets do adjust and learn routines; they do get to know their temporary home while you are away.

We can’t emphasise enough the importance of the settling-in process for all pets. This ensures they feel happy, safe, and content while in our care. It’s not enough to think that just because someone operates a boarding kennel or cattery, they know how to properly care for pets in a boarding environment. This is where our 36+ years of experience sets us apart.

We pay attention to each and every pet, understanding how pets individually react and behave in a boarding environment. We’re able to notice the signs of discontentment and we’re proactive in helping each pet feel safe, secure, and comfortable in our care. We never ignore pets.

The best thing for your pet is to establish an ongoing relationship with a boarding kennel and cattery. This allows them the time to adjust, familiarise, and become comfortable with the routine. We see it time and time again: pets are slightly hesitant on their first visit, the next time they remember and settle much faster, and by the third time, they settle from the start.

That’s the emotional side covered — now for the practical side.

We’re mindful that boarding pets for the first time or at a new place can be stressful, more so for the owners than the pets. Based on our 36+ years of experience, here are our top boarding tips for you and your pet. We’d like to ease any concerns you may have, so please contact us with any questions.

Boarding Requirements

All pets must be vaccinated.

• For dogs, the requirement is a C5 vaccination

• For cats, the requirement is a F4 vaccination. We’re willing to accept an F3 on the advice of your vet.

If your pet requires any medication, please bring it in a container labelled with their name & clear instructions. A sandwich ziplock bag is ideal for this.

Please email us your pet’s current vaccination certificate or bring the certificate with you on arrival. If you can’t locate your pet’s certificate, we’re able to check your pet’s vaccination details by calling your vet.

Arrival

For all office hours and inspection times, please click here.

On arrival to our boarding kennels and cattery, we recommend:

Do not feed your pet within 4 hours prior to arrival – over-excitement or nerves can result in diarrhoea, which is unpleasant for your pet.
Ensure your cat is in a carrier and your dog is on a lead.
If other people are present, please keep distance between your pet and others.
Remain relaxed – if you’re overly anxious, your pet will become concerned.
Non-regular boarders should arrive in the morning – this gives your pet a full day to adjust, become familiar with us, and get used to their new neighbours.

Remember, pets do not always behave the same way in a boarding environment, especially first timers. This is common and nothing to be concerned about, but it's something to keep in mind.