Pets: Consider holiday pet care

GOING away on a summer holiday? Make sure you forward plan if you decide to place your four-legged friend in boarding kennels or a cattery – it is important to make the right choice.

To help with the process, the PDSA has created a checklist to consider before making a booking, knowing that choosing the right place is a must for both pet and owner.

Close to home

Consider catteries or kennels close to your home to avoid distressing your pet with a long journey. Make time to visit all the possible places so you can look around, meet the owner, discuss your pet's needs and assess the standards of care. It is a good idea to visit during normal opening hours. A good kennel or cattery should always welcome prospective clients, so if they will not let you visit, go elsewhere.

What to look for

Check the buildings are well maintained and clean. The living and sleeping areas should be secure, with no escape routes and have access to an exercise run.

The walls of the pens and exercise areas should have solid barriers between each one.

You should also check for clean, regularly topped up water bowls and a well-stocked kitchen with diet charts.

Home comforts

Ask the kennel owners if your cat or dog will be groomed and if they can have their own baskets and bedding. This will make them feel more at home.

Ask about exercise regimes for dogs and check if sleeping areas have a temperature control – younger and older pets may need air conditioning in summer, as well as heating in winter.

Questions for you

A good indication of kennel standards is what questions staff ask when you make a booking. They should require proof of up-to-date vaccinations, as well as any special requirements your pet may have.

They should also ask about your animal's medical history and the contact details of your vet and of a friend or relative who can authorise any decisions on your behalf while you are away.

"If you do find a good kennel or cattery that you decide fits all your pets needs, make sure you book well in advance – good ones fill up quickly," explains senior veterinary surgeon Sean Wensley. "You can find details of local kennels and catteries in the Yellow Pages, pet magazines and pet shops, but a recommendation from a friend or relative is a good place to start.

"The only way to get a good feel for a kennels or cattery is to check it out for yourself."

For more information, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pethealthad vice.