Boarding Information

Opening Times

·         Monday to Saturday 10am  to 4pm

·         Collection and Drop off can be arranged outside this hours by prior arrangement

·         All visits are by appointment only

·         Bank Holidays closed for admissions and collections

Boarding Tariff (from 1st April 2026)

Our charges include heating, regular checks and lots of cuddles:

·         1 cat £18 per day

·         2 cats sharing a lodge (from the same household) £28 per day

·         3 cats sharing – double lodge (from the same household) £38 per day

·         4 cats sharing  - double lodge (from the same household) £48 per day

Charges are calculated daily, starting with the day of arrival and include the day of departure. There is no reduction for early collection. There is a minimum stay/charge of seven days at Easter, Christmas and New Year.

Boarding fees in excess of three months will be subject to separate negotiation. A separate payment schedule will be required for long term bookings (usually payments made monthly).

There is a minimum charge of three days. Boarding charges are at the rate applicable at time of collection.

Drop off and Collection

To ensure smooth drop-offs and collections, and to avoid overlap with other bookings, I kindly ask all owners to arrive promptly at their agreed time. Arriving early or late may result in a wait, as I may be attending to other scheduled appointments. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Any changes to the agreed times must be approved in advance. Late collections may incur an additional charge, calculated at an hourly rate.

Although we are open for boarding throughout the year, we are closed for collections and drop offs on Bank Holidays (including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day).

Deposits and Cancellation Policy

A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. If you cancel or amend your booking with at least 30 days notice, the deposit is fully refundable/transferable to your next booking. Deposits are non refundable with less than 30 day notice.

In the event of you having to cancel your booking, the following charges will apply:
Days prior to arrival                        Cancellation Fee
30 days or more                               No Charge
15 – 29 days                                       50%
Less than 15 days                           100%

If you make a change to a booking on or within 14 days prior to arrival and the number of days is less than originally booked or the cash amount is less than originally booked, we reserve the right to charge for the full period booked.

We appreciate that due to unavoidable circumstances; there may be a delay in collecting your cat. Notification of any delay is required as early as possible to ensure the continued availability of a chalet.

Payment for balance of the boarding must be made at the time of your cat(s) drop off. We accept cash, bank transfer and most major Debit and Credit Cards.

Accommodation

All units are built to the new The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, approved and regularly inspected by Wealden District Council (licence number: 33489). 

The accommodation consists of 10 luxury chalets set in our beautiful garden, which is overlooked by our home. All the chalets are insulated and have thermostatically controlled heating in the sleeping area and an exercise run with scratching post and shelving where the cats can relax and watch the birds outside on the bird feeders or the squirrels in the trees.

Our chalets provide a clean and hygienic environment for your cats stay and the full height opaque sneeze barriers between each chalet ensures there is no contact between the cats thus reducing any risk of cross infection. All chalets are fully cleaned and disinfected between occupancies. Scratch posts, beds, bedding and toys are provided but owners are more than welcome to bring their cats favourite blanket or toy with them to remind them of home and help them settle in.

If boarding more than one cat you agree that they can share a room and give us authority to separate them if necessary.

For added security there is a safety corridor between the chalets and the outside world and we operate a 2-door system (one door is closed before another is opened) so the cats cannot escape. In addition, the cattery has CCTV cameras, lights and the doors are secured at all times. Fire safety is also very important to us: the cattery has heat & smoke detectors throughout and the alarms are linked to our house and we have fire extinguishers throughout the cattery. The premises are occupied 24/7.

Health

Vaccinations
Only cats that have a current vaccination certificate against Feline Infectious Enteritis and upper respiratory infections (Cat Flu) can be accepted for boarding and owners must produce an up to date inoculation certificate on arrival. Cats without proof of the appropriate up to date certificate will not be accepted for boarding. Homeopathic vaccinations are not acceptable under our licence conditions.

Primary vaccinations must not have been administered any less than ten days prior to boarding in order to protect our other residents from possible infection. Please note that only vaccinated kittens can be accepted.

If you arrive at drop-off without being able to provide evidence of current vaccinations, your cat(s) will not be accepted, and the full boarding fee will still be charged.

Neutered cats
Unfortunately cats over the age of 6 months that have not been neutered cannot be boarded with us, due to their habit of spraying, and this can present an infection hazard.

Flea and Worm Treatments
For the health and wellbeing of all our boarders, we require all cats to be up to date with their worm and flea treatments before boarding with us.

If any evidence of internal/external parasites are found when your cat is boarding with us a charge of £75.00 will be made for the additional time taken for your cats’ grooming and the special cleansing of your cats chalet, exercise area and bedding to ensure that no parasites remain.

Illness
1. No cat suffering from, or suspected to be suffering from any infectious or contagious disease can be accepted for boarding. The proprietor reserves the right to refuse admission to any cat showing any signs of ill health. Owners will appreciate that this is essential in order to safeguard the health & wellbeing of all cats boarded. Any pre existing conditions must be advised at the time of booking.

If your cat requires special care or medication this should be discussed with us at the time of booking. In most cases we will be happy to continue with any medication or treatment prescribed during your cats stay with us, providing full instructions are given. All medication must be in the original packaging.

2. Although it is very unusual for a boarding cat to become unwell, the following steps will be taken should this occur.
i) If illness is suspected, your cat will be placed in the isolation unit while veterinary advice is sought and where practical; your own vet will be contacted. Dependent on the level of treatment required we reserve the right to take your cat to the catteries nearest vet, Knotts Yard in Watton.
ii) Should owners insist on their cat being taken to their own vet, a mileage charge of £1.50 per mile will apply.
iii) We are happy to administer medication (at no extra cost), but if the illness warrants, in consultation with yourself, your cat will be hospitalised with our Vet until your return.
iv) Poppie's Cattery will endeavour to keep you (or your appointed emergency contact) fully informed, and we will take the very best care of your cat.
v) All veterinary treatment will be carried out at the owner’s expense. Veterinary treatment invoices will be produced for payment on collection of your cat.

Elderly Cats
If an elderly or ill cat should pass away whilst boarding with us they will be placed in the care of our Vet for your collection upon your return from holiday.

Collars
All collars will be removed while your cat(s) are boarding with us. This recommendation comes from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Model License Conditions and Guidance for Cat Boarding Establishments and reduces the risk of injury.

Transportation

Cat(s) must be transported to and from the cattery in a suitable secure cat carrier which will remain at the cattery during the stay.

Diet

We provide Harringtons and Whiskas wet and dry food as our standard diet. If your cat does not usually eat these brands at home, or is on a specialist or veterinary-prescribed diet, we kindly ask that you provide their usual food for the duration of their stay. This helps to keep them comfortable, as sudden changes to a cat’s diet can sometimes cause digestive upset. If suitable food is not provided, we will do our best to purchase your cat’s usual food on your behalf, and the cost will be added to your bill. Please note that this may also include any applicable delivery charges.

If allowed, we can give them occasional treats including fresh fish or chicken, Lick-e-Lik, Dreamies and meat sticks. 

Catcam

We will make every effort to provide you with 24-hour access to the camera, allowing you to check in on your cat(s) throughout their stay. However, there may be times when access is temporarily unavailable due to routine cleaning, system maintenance, or technical issues. We will do our best to keep any disruptions to a minimum.

Photos and videos within the cattery may be used for marketing purposes, names and personal details of cats and owners will not be used. Please advise if you do not wish for any photos or videos of your cat to me used to promote the cattery.

Other Information

Poppie’s Cattery is fully insured. Insurance details are displayed in the garden room and details are available on request.

Please feel free to bring any bedding, toys or any other items that will ensure your cat(s) comfort, these will be documented on your arrival, but please note these will be left with us at your own risk.

Whilst every care and precaution is taken to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all cats, they are boarded entirely at the owner’s own risk. If a cat is not collected on the appointed date and the owners have not made contact within 14 days of that date in addition to us not being able to speak to the emergency contact, we reserve the right to assume ownership of the cat and make whatever arrangements for its future welfare we deem necessary.

Poppie's Cattery retains the right to increase fees annually, in line with the RPI forecasts and a percentage relating to statutory wage increased. If increased rates are decided, they will be implemented from the 1st April each year, and any bookings that fall after that date will be subject to the new prices, regardless of when the booking was made.

You agree to Poppie’s Cattery holding your data for the purposes of boarding your cat(s).

If you have any questions or would like any additional information please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below.