Checking the Little Boxes: Health, Vaccination and Paperwork Readiness for a Cattery Stay

Boarding paperwork has a reputation for being the dull bit of a holiday. The exciting part is choosing the dates, picturing the cosy pen and deciding which blanket smells most like home. But those little checks — vaccination dates, vet details, a scribbled note about medication — are really part of the care itself. They are the quiet scaffolding around a safe stay.

Here at Todhill Cattery, we would much rather have a gentle conversation about health paperwork than a last-minute scramble. So put the kettle on, find the folder that lives at the back of the drawer, and let us walk through it together.

Start with the cattery's own list

No two catteries word their requirements in exactly the same way, and that is worth remembering before you book. Licensed catteries in the UK usually ask for proof that your cat's vaccinations are up to date, but the finer details can vary. Some ask for a minimum time between vaccination and arrival. Some want to see the vaccination card itself rather than a photo. Some have specific questions about flea and worm treatment, medication or recent illness.

None of this is designed to catch you out. It is simply how a good cattery keeps the whole building calm and protected. Ask for the requirements in writing before you pay a deposit, even if you have boarded before. Requirements can change, and a quick email saves a lot of guesswork later.

Why timing matters more than the tick box

A vaccination record is not just a stamp in a card. The dates matter. If your cat's booster is due around the time of the stay, it is worth speaking to your vet well ahead rather than leaving it until the week before. Some catteries ask that vaccinations have been given at least two or three weeks before arrival so that protection has had time to settle. Others may accept a different window. The key is to check, not assume.

Most UK catteries ask for current protection against feline enteritis and cat flu. Some also ask about feline leukaemia virus, depending on their own policy and your cat's lifestyle. Your vet is the right person to advise on what your cat actually needs. The cattery's job is to tell you what it requires for boarding; your vet's job is to make the clinical recommendation. Keeping those two conversations separate — and both courteous — usually makes everything simpler.

A simple paperwork ritual

You do not need a filing system worthy of an office. A plain A5 folder and a phone photo are plenty. Before the stay, gather:

• your cat's vaccination card or record, with dates clearly visible;
• your vet practice's name, address and phone number;
• a short note of any medication, including dose times and how your cat takes it;
• microchip details, if you have them to hand;
• any recent health information the cattery should know, such as a sensitive tummy or a tendency to hide.

Take a photo of the vaccination page and email it to the cattery if they are happy to receive it that way. Keep the original card with you for drop-off. Label medication clearly and bring it in its original packaging. If your cat is on a special diet, write the brand and amount down rather than relying on memory at the door.

If your cat is older, indoors-only or has a complex history

Older cats deserve a slightly slower conversation. A senior cat may still be perfectly well, but a pre-boarding check with your vet is a sensible chance to confirm that teeth, weight and general health are comfortable. Ask the cattery whether they have any extra requirements for older guests, and mention anything that has changed recently — even small things like a new habit of sleeping more deeply or eating a little less.

Indoors-only cats sometimes surprise owners by needing the same paperwork as outdoor cats. Boarding is a change of environment, and catteries take sensible precautions to keep all guests protected. If your cat never goes outside, that is useful context for your vet, but it does not automatically mean vaccination rules disappear. Ask the cattery directly.

For cats with a complex history — medication, a chronic condition, a previous reaction to a vaccine, or a vet-led decision not to vaccinate — do not guess. Speak to your vet first, then speak to the cattery. Some catteries may accept a letter from your vet explaining the situation; others may not be able to. Either way, an early conversation is kinder than a difficult one at the door.

The questions worth asking before you book

A short list keeps the conversation friendly and clear:

• Which vaccinations do you require, and how far in advance should they be given?
• Do you need the original card, a photo, or both?
• Do you require a recent health check or vet letter?
• How would you like medication and diet information supplied?
• What happens if my cat's booster falls due during the stay?
• Is there anything specific you ask for senior cats or indoor cats?

Write the answers down in one place. It sounds fussy, but it means you are not trying to remember three different emails while holding a cat carrier in the rain.

A gentle countdown for a 2026 stay

If you are planning ahead, six to eight weeks before arrival is a comfortable time to check vaccination dates and book any vet appointment. Four weeks before, confirm the cattery's requirements and send any paperwork they have asked for. Two weeks before, sort medication, food and the familiar blanket. The day before, put the folder by the door and give your cat a quiet, ordinary evening.

No stay is made safer by panic. It is made safer by small, timely checks and by people who are happy to answer questions. If you are ever unsure, ask us. A calm conversation now is far better than a worried one later, and your cat will thank you for it in their own quiet way.