Trusted Cattery Ibstock

The cattery is owned and run by like-minded friends Sue Clayton and Sarah Hannant. Having been open for 40 years, Highfield Cat Hotel has been maintained and improved since 2011 by us to ensure that our residents enjoy an environment and care that we would wish our own cats to enjoy; this ensured that our 5-star Council rating was awarded in 2018 without the need for any improvements. 

The standards can vary enormously and many catteries were built during a time when we think basic standards were set too low.

We have no single chalets: a single cat enjoys the same generous sized space as two cats in which to enjoy their stay.

We have some of the largest family chalets you can find; in addition, for those extremely large cat families, our family chalets can be joined to make an even more extensive space.

Our chalets benefit from an air barrier rather than a solid barrier between them. This gives the impressions of even more space and ensures fresh air to all.

We have many completely indoor cats that stay with us who are completely happy and at home in the cattery. The indoor chalet section ensures that they can stay warm and watch the outside activities as they are used to at home, The outside run looks across a safety corridor which gives protection against the elements whilst not restricting their views to the garden activity and fresh air.

Any cat that enjoys the freedom of being outdoors at home will obviously need to adjust to his/her temporary accommodation whilst you are away. They will get lots of attention and will need things to play with to keep them active and prevent boredom.

Lots of our customers have never used a cattery before often because they have never found one they are happy with. We have lots of ‘first timers’ – from small kittens to very elderly cats and they usually settle very well with the proper care and attention. We also have a high level of returning customers, and get a lot of referrals from a number of vet groups in and around the area. A lot of customers come to us through ‘word of mouth’ recommendations too. There are many reasons for people to need to use a cattery and we are always happy to discuss any individual situations and offer advice to customers without obligation. We also strongly encourage new or prospective customers to come and have a good look around the cattery to see the facilities and surroundings that we offer. We are happy to chat about your cat(s) and answer any questions that you may have.

No. Cats staying in the cattery are NOT allowed outside the unit that they are housed in for the duration of their stay. There are strict regulations for health and safety, prevention of infection and obviously the risk of escape. All our units have an enclosed indoor section where there is a window, places to sleep and a thermostatically controlled heater. The door can be open or closed and there is a cat flap for the cat to get in and out of the indoor area. There is a spacious covered outdoor area where the cats have great views of the outside and can get lots of fresh air whilst remaining completely separated from the other cats that are staying.

This is not a problem. We have a ‘hole’ in the door with a flap that can be lowered or raised depending on the size and agility of the cat; this means that we are able to accommodate the largest and smallest, youngest and oldest of guests.

Our cattery adheres to strict regulations that stipulate that all cats in the care of a cattery must never have any contact with another cat throughout their stay. This minimises any health and safety risk and also ensures that a high standard of infection control is maintained. Every cat remains in the unit for the duration of the stay and is not even allowed out into the safety corridor under any circumstances.

Most kittens settle really quickly and we always pay particular attention to them to ensure they have plenty to do. We are the partnership cattery for Cats Protection Leicester and County are experienced in dealing with cats of different ages and personalities

We have thermostatically controlled heaters in the indoor section of chalet. These heaters keep the temperature to a comfortable and cosy level. Individual chalet heating allows us to adjust the chalet temperature appropriate to the individual guest.

Some cats have a very nervous disposition and we prefer to have as much information as possible to help us help the cat to settle. Our approach depends completely on the individual cat as each one is different; all staff are trained to respect each cat’s difference. Nervous cats often do better if they are in our care for a longer period as they have a chance to settle and get used to their surroundings. Usually, if we have cared for a very nervous cat before and gained their trust, they settle much more quickly on subsequent visits as the surroundings are familiar and they remember us. It is really useful for owners to bring something familiar such as bedding, your T shirt etc that smells of home. The familiar scents provide reassurance for the cat to make them feel secure. We can also use Feliway or Pet Remedy spray if we think this will assist.

We are happy to send you updates

We are more than happy to keep you updated by telephone / e-mail / FB messenger (NOT public post). The more information we have about your cat’s likes/ dislikes/ habits the easier it will be for us to make sure that they settled and are happy. Please note, for your security, we never post publicly on FB about your cats whilst you are away.

We tailor our approach and care to each cat

All cats have different personalities and therefore each one will become settled in his / her own way. Some cats are confident and will settle quickly even if they have never been away from home before. Cats that come for their first stay may be a bit wary and unsure to start with. Occasionally, cats don’t eat as normal for the first day or two, but once they are more settled in their new environment, they regain their appetite. We recognise that each cat is individual so we tailor our approach and care to each one according to their specific needs.

We make every effort to ensure that your cat is given the same food that he/she gets at home. This helps them to settle, reduces any risk of upset and also, we are happy in the knowledge that we are giving food that we know they enjoy.

We keep a wide range of foods and can cater for many diets but it's not possible for us to stock every brand, flavour or type. If you wish to ensure that your cat will be fed the same that you offer at home, you are very welcome to bring it with you. Please check with us at the point of booking what food we have available. Any foods left over at the end of stay are returned to you.

We stock Whiskas in Jelly, Felix in Jelly, Felix As Good As It Looks (please be specific which your cat prefers) wet food and a variety of the more popular quality dry food brands.

If your cat is on a special prescription diet from the vet (diabetic, renal, urinary, digestion etc), you will need to bring a supply with you.

We prefer to feed the cats staying with us whatever they usually have at home. Some cats are happy to eat any food, others can be fussy eaters, so we do encourage owners to give us as much information as possible about the cat’s likes and dislikes.

If we have a cat that isn’t keen to eat, we have a number of ‘tricks up our sleeves’ to try and entice them to eat! Whether it is cooking up their favourite fresh fish, treating them to a tin of Applaws or tuna, or just sitting with them for reassurance while they eat.

We keep a daily record of what your cat is eating so that if there is a problem it will be quickly noticed. We also have a feeding chart in the food preparation area so that all your cat’s preferences (and medications) are noted.

We stock many different foods but we are unable to supply special dietary or prescription diets. We are happy to follow instructions provided by you.

We can provide all the essential items for your cat to use and so there is no requirement for you to provide anything unless your cat has a favourite bed/bedding that your cat would be happier to use. We are happy for you to bring bedding with you as the familiar scents will help your cat to settle.

Cats can be very particular about their toileting habits and can have problems if things are not ‘just right’. We usually use paper based litter in the cattery and many cats adapt easily to this even if they are used to using a different litter, or used to only going outside. However, some cats have a strong preference and do not like change. If your cat is used to a different type of litter you are welcome to bring it from home by prior arrangement.

Regulations stipulate that all cats boarding in a cattery must have a valid certificate for cat flu (feline herpesvirus and feline calcivirus) and feline enteritis (feline panleukopenia virus). Some vets also use additional vaccinations against feline chlamydiosis and feline leukaemia virus. These additional vaccinations are not essential for cattery boarding as the cats will not have any contact with each other during their stay.

A course of starter/kitten vaccinations should have been completed at least seven days before arrival at the cattery. If they are done less than a week before there is a risk that your cat’s immunity levels may be low and they may not be fully protected against infection.

We regret that we will not accept any cats into the cattery if they are not fully vaccinated.

Vets recommend that all cats receive flea and worming treatments. The products recommended by vets are more effective and reliable than inexpensive products bought over the counter.

We request that all cats coming into the cattery are up to date with flea and worming treatment for their own protection as well as for the protection of others. Cats who are carrying fleas will be treated and, depending on the severity of the infestation, may need to be collected and taken home.

We always check your cat’s vet registration at time of dropping your cat off in just in case anything happens while you are away. When you register your details with us, we ask for as much detail as possible of any past and current medical conditions. In the event of any illness, we always make every effort to contact you to keep you informed of what is happening. We also request that you sign a form to give us permission to act on your behalf in the event of any emergency. This form is signed when you register with us and is then kept on file.

If your cat is ill unwell, we prefer where possible to take the cat to his / her usual vet. This is because the vet has the full medical history. Sometimes this is not possible, so we also hold on record your preferred vet if we are unable to visit your vet. We are happy to take your cat to a vet if required and to administer any medicines that have been prescribed whenever appropriate.

Asking for Veterinary assistance is rare, but we have robust processes in place if help is needed.

It is extremely useful to have some details of any past history as this may alert us to a possible problem much more quickly if your cat shows signs of illness. Even something simple such as an ear infection or urinary infection can be recurrent.

Yes. We are happy administer your cat's daily medication needs as long as we have full written instructions from you and that the medication clearly shows it is prescribed by your Vet. We ask for as much medical information from you as possible about your cat/s at the time of registration.

It is essential that if your cat has a change in medication or has new medication that we are unaware of, you contact us prior to your arrival so we are prepared for your cat’s stay. Please be aware that there are some situations where we may be unable to accept your cat to stay.

Diabetic cats will only be accepted if your cat's condition is stable and he/she has not been diagnosed as diabetic recently.

If your cat has any medication needs and you have any concerns, we are happy to discuss this with you.

Many families have more than two cats and our family chalets offer spacious accommodation. However, if your cats do not get along, and prefer their own space, we recommend that you consider booking separate chalets.

Some families who have two cats prefer to pay for a chalet for each cat. Where incompatible cats are sharing, and need to be split we will move one to separate accommodation whenever possible; extra cost will be incurred. Please keep in mind that we are frequently fully booked and there may be no alternative accommodation available.

Yes. Although we are able to provide beds, scratching posts, and grooming equipment, we do recommend that you bring something from home – be it a favourite bed, blanket or toy. You do not need to bring litter trays or bowls for food and water.

We are happy to make sure that your loved-one has the same food here as they would have at home.

We cannot make a cat eat on command so if you have a cat that eats the ‘wrong’ food, you may wish to use a microchip feeder so each cat can only eat the food meant for them, and in their own time.

We cannot make a cat eat immediately so if you have a cat that eats the ‘wrong’ food or all the food, you may wish to use a microchip feeder so each cat can only eat the food meant for them.

We are able to give names of other catteries but, unfortunately, we are unable to recommend other catteries in the area. This is because we're very focused on what we do at our cattery, and don't have professional or personal experience of any alternative facilities.

Unlike many of our competitors, we are open 7 days per week with no closure period during the day. Our opening hours are displayed on our Tariffs page:

Cat hotel tariffs | Highfield Cat Hotel

Please respect our opening hours. We can sometimes operate outside these hours for arrivals or departures, by prior mutual agreement. Please ask a member of the team at time of booking if that is required. An out of hours charge may be payable.

Our guests will never leave the chalet that they are staying in unless for any reason we have to move them to another; this would be done using their carrier. This is for obvious reasons – we don’t want our guests escaping or coming into direct contact with another cat.

Although the cats in our care never leave their chalets, they have lots of lovely views and fresh air. They can watch the birds and other wildlife.

Each cat has a spacious external covered run attached to their indoor chalet.

We have lots of indoor and outdoor cats staying with us. Our care is based on each cat individually. Your cat can choose to lounge inside or outside; we ensure that each cat has a choice of inside and outside relaxation areas. Our dedicated team ensure that all cats are happy and settled and if they need a little extra bit of stimulation, we’re happy attend to that!

From our experience, outdoor cats settle very quickly and love the garden views and fresh air.

No, but we very strongly recommend that you have your cat microchipped.

Indoor cats can become lost outside – animals can be let out of a house by mistake by both adults and children, residents can leave windows open, burglars can leave windows open and so on.

Outdoor cats can roam, can get into vehicles, can even be picked up by a well-meaning person because they believe it to be lost.

Cat microchipping to be made mandatory - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you love your cat and want to give him / her the best chance of being found if he / she goes missing, then microchip.

***It is also essential that you keep your microchip details up to date. Have you moved since your cat came to live with you? Has your mobile number changed? Has your email address changed?