Catteries have some of the most specific licence conditions of any animal business: exact pen sizes, barrier heights and temperatures. You know exactly what the inspector will measure, which helps, but it's expensive to put right if you've built or bought pens that fall short. This guide sets out what England's cattery conditions require, what a licence costs, and how the rules differ in the rest of the UK.
This summarises Defra's statutory guidance on cat boarding as published in October 2026. It's general information, not legal advice. Your council's inspector interprets the conditions, so talk to them before you build or change anything.
Do you need a cattery licence?
In England, yes, if you board cats as a business. "Providing boarding for cats" is one of the licensable activities under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and your district, borough or unitary council issues the licence. The same business test applies as for dog boarding: the council looks at whether you're trading for profit or a fee, and someone earning less than HMRC's trading income allowance doesn't need a licence. There were 1,634 cat boarding licences issued in England in 2022 to 2023, according to Defra's review of the regulations.
Licences last one to three years depending on your star rating, exactly as for dog boarding. Our UK boarding licence guide explains how star ratings, risk and renewal work.
Unit and run sizes
Every unit (sleeping area plus run) must be at least 1.8 m high. The minimum sizes depend on whether the sleeping area is walk-in or a raised "penthouse" pod:
| Number of cats | Walk-in sleeping area | Penthouse pod (at least 1 m high) | Exercise run |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cat | 0.85 m², at least 0.9 m in each direction | 0.85 m² | 1.65 m² (0.9 m minimum dimension) |
| Up to 2 cats | 1.5 m², at least 1.2 m | 1.1 m² | 2.2 m² (1.2 m) |
| Up to 4 cats | 1.9 m² | 1.7 m² | 2.8 m² (1.2 m) |
A few details catch people out. New builds can't use the one-cat size. For penthouse units, the run area is measured in front of the pod, not underneath it. Older catteries with one-cat units and shorter runs can still be licensed. To meet the higher standards (and earn a better star rating), units need to be one and a half times the minimum area, with at least two raised areas per cat.
Sneeze barriers and layout
Cat flu spreads easily, so much of the guidance is about keeping cats from different households apart:
- Adjoining units need solid, full-height and full-width sneeze barriers. On new builds these must be at least translucent.
- Barriers are also needed on the end walls of runs and at each end of a block.
- Gaps between units must be at least 0.6 m.
- Corridors should be at least 1.2 m wide; if they're narrower, unit fronts need barriers too.
- There must be no communal exercise areas, and only cats from the same household can share a unit.
- The whole unit needs a waterproof roof.
- Wire mesh must be at least 1.6 mm thick, with gaps no more than 25 mm in one direction.
You also need a holding unit for emergencies, with at least 2.25 m² of floor space and 0.7 m of height.
Temperature, care and feeding
- Part of each sleeping area must be kept between 15°C and 26°C, and it must never drop below 10°C. The higher standard is 18°C to 26°C.
- Cats must be checked at least every three hours between 8am and 6pm.
- Adult cats get two meals a day, at least eight hours apart.
- Food, water and litter must be at least 60 cm apart, and litter trays at least 30 cm by 42 cm.
- Each unit needs a one-page summary on or near it: the cat's name, age, sex, medical and behavioural notes and diet.
Staffing
The minimum is one member of staff for every 25 cats. To meet the higher standards you need at least one full-time member of staff for every 20 cats.
Vaccinations
Cats must be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia (also called feline infectious enteritis) and cat flu (feline herpesvirus and calicivirus). You'll need to see evidence before each stay, and it's easy to miss a booster that has lapsed since the last visit. Our vaccination policy guide covers how to write and enforce the rule.
The records an inspector will ask for
Like all licensed boarding businesses, a cattery must keep a register of every cat with arrival and departure dates, name, age, sex, neuter status, microchip number and description, which cats come from the same household, owner and local emergency contacts, vet and insurance details, medical and behavioural history, diet, vaccination, worming and flea treatment dates, and any treatment given during the stay.
Cat consent forms have their own requirements. They must cover veterinary treatment, whether cats from the same household should share or be kept apart, toys and how much interaction the cat likes, and any items left with the cat. Records must be kept for three years, with electronic records backed up. You also need a written emergency plan, cleaning and disinfection procedures, and staff training records.
What a cattery licence costs
Councils set their own fees. Some recent examples:
- Test Valley (2026/27): £310 for cat boarding, or £400 for cats and dogs combined.
- Elmbridge (from April 2026): £510 for a new cat boarding licence, £449 to renew.
- Sevenoaks: £758 for a new kennel or cattery licence, £666 to renew, with vet fees extra.
Higher star ratings mean longer licences and fewer renewal fees, so the higher standards are worth working towards if your pens allow it.
How to apply
- Check planning permission first. Purpose-built catteries need full planning permission from your local planning authority.
- Download your council's application form and read its version of the conditions.
- Write your procedures: emergency plan, cleaning and disinfection, feeding, disease control, and what happens to the cats if your licence is suspended.
- Set up your records before the inspection, not after. The inspector will want to see how you'll keep the register.
- Apply and pay. Councils aim to decide within 10 weeks.
- Once licensed, display the licence and add your licence number and the licence holder's name to your website.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
In Scotland and Wales, catteries are still licensed by councils under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963. Licences run to the end of the calendar year and each council sets its own conditions, so the England sizes above are a useful guide but not the law there. In Northern Ireland, DAERA licenses boarding establishments under the Animal Boarding Establishments Regulations 1974, with one-year licences. Ireland has no cattery licensing scheme at all, though planning rules and general welfare law still apply.
How KennelBooker helps catteries
KennelBooker handles cattery bookings alongside dogs: each pen or chalet is a unit, cats from the same household can be booked together, and owners book and pay online. Vaccination dates are stored on each cat and flagged at booking and check-in if they've expired. Consent forms are signed online, and feeding and medication can be logged against each stay, which builds the register your inspector asks for. For the day-to-day side, read our cattery management tips.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to run a cattery?
Yes. In England, boarding cats as a business is a licensable activity under the 2018 Animal Activities Licensing regulations, issued by your local council. In Scotland and Wales, catteries are licensed by councils under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963, and in Northern Ireland boarding establishments are licensed by DAERA.
How much does a cattery licence cost?
Councils set their own fees. In 2026 examples include £310 at Test Valley, £510 for a new licence at Elmbridge and £758 at Sevenoaks, with vet fees extra where a council charges them. A three-year licence, earned with a five-star rating, spreads the cost.
How can customers check that a cattery is licensed?
Licensed catteries must display their licence and show the licence holder's name and licence number on their website. Councils also keep a register of licence holders, and many publish it online.
What vaccinations do cats need to stay in a cattery?
Under the England guidance, cats must be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia (feline infectious enteritis) and cat flu (feline herpesvirus and calicivirus). Check your council's conditions if you're in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.