If your cat seems to hate the cattery there are things you can do to turn their stressful short break into a harmonious holiday.

With the schools out for the summer, lots of us are jetting off for a well-earned vacation. “What to do with the cat” will be high up on your pre-trip checklist. Nearly a fifth of cat owners choose a cattery as a safe place for their pet while they’re away.

But if your cat gets the horrors when you take their travel crate out of the cupboard, mewls all the way to the cattery, and exhibits their disgust on arrival, it helps to understand why they display these behaviours in order to make it easier for them.

Why cats hate catteries

If cats could leave reviews on TripAdvisor, there are lots who would give one star and voice their displeasure at the cosy B&B, country retreat or luxurious lodge in which they stayed.

Not all cats detest the cattery. Plenty even enjoy their new surroundings. But there are many who just won’t settle and quite a few who will even go in a huff with you for a while after you pick them up.

Cats are territorial animals. They’re hardwired to make their environment their own and roam through defending it from invaders. They’re also solitary types who spend much of their time alone and will react if there’s a new kitty on the block.

So when a cat is taken from its familiar territory, they often don’t react well. They can become stressed and unhappy, display aggression at other cattery guests and even stop eating.

Choose the right cattery for you and your pet

Although all catteries have to be licensed with the relevant local authority in their area, not all are created alike. There are lots of really fabulous catteries but the odd not-so-great one dotted about. It’s worth a visit to a few before you pick the one for your cat to go to.

Think about the environment your cat is used to and the places it seeks out within your home and its surroundings. Do they prefer to perch up high to keep watch on what’s going on, or do they tend to hide out of the way? Is your cat aggressive or shy around others? A quick mental checklist will soon have you identifying the right cattery, and lodging pens within, for your pet.

Mists for twists, spray for dismay and wipes for gripes

It can be a good idea to place the cat box in your feline friend’s favourite room for a few days before the trip so that they get used to the sight of it. You may even want to pop an item of your own unwashed clothing in it so that there’s a familiar scent around. You can even have your cat box in the pen with your pet during its stay at the cattery.

Take along your cat’s bedding, toys and scratching post. If the cattery objects, it just isn’t the place for your pet. And make sure you let the cattery staff know about likes and dislikes, routines, and whether they like cuddles (from strangers initially) or whether it will only rub them up the wrong way.

If your cat is sensitive then it’s time to call upon some help from nature. Pet Remedy products are all-natural and perfectly designed to help calm your cat in the days before their staycation, the trip to it, and the stay itself. If your cat does give you the evil eye for taking them away from home, try it when you get back too.

Calming sprays, wipes for the journey and a battery-operated diffuser in your pet’s cattery suite will all help them with their anxiety and holiday blues, leaving you free to enjoy your break without worrying about your cat. You might even get a purr rather than the cold shoulder when you return to collect them!