Some commonly asked questions:

Vaccinations: What about vaccinations? Can my cat stay if their vaccinations are not up to date?

We only accept cats that have current F3 or higher vaccinations and have been vaccinated at least 10 days prior to arriving at Cats Cottage. Absolutely no exceptions to this rule will be allowed and a Certificate of Current Vaccination is to be verified on arrival. So please be sure you have not just had your cat vaccinated within 10 days of arriving at Cats Cottage or your cat cannot stay with us, thank you. Please also be aware that kittens require 3 shots before they are fully vaccinated. PLEASE ALSO NOTE that we do not accept 2 and 3 year vaccinations.

Outdoor Areas: What are these balconies and outdoor areas you mention?

Cats Cottage is the only cattery in the Latrobe Valley that offers their feline residents their own outdoor areas (see pictures on right). Each cat staying at Cats Cottage has his or her own balcony/outdoor area which is accessed via their own cat door. This means cats can lay outside and soak up the sun and fresh, country air rather than being cooped up inside like other catteries.

Own Toys/Bedding: Can I bring my cat's favourite toys and/or bedding?

Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it. Anything that will make your cat feel more at home or more comfortable will make their stay much more enjoyable.

Food: What will my cat be eating? What if my cat has a favourite food?

All our feline guests are fed twice daily. In the morning they are given dry food and in the evening they are given canned food. If your cat is a dry food only cat then they are given dry food morning and evening. We stock Whiskas and Iams dry food and Whiskas tinned food. If your cat has a particular favourite food, such as a different brand or especially if they have a prescription diet, then you are more than welcome to bring along food for the duration of your cat's stay. Just be aware that we do not discount prices if you bring your own food.

Grooming: Will you groom my cat?

We are not a pet grooming service and so generally do not do any grooming. However, for particularly long haired cats we can do a light brush for them daily, if requested.

Mixing of Cats: Are cats allowed out of their cages or mix with other cats?

Never! Cats here at Cats Cottage never mix with other cats and are not allowed out to wander. If you ever see a cattery that does this you should leave immediately as it is against health regulations and simply a bad idea. Most cats do not get along with other cats, so mixing is never a good idea for obvious reasons. Even allowing cats a chance to wander one at a time is a bad idea as it is unhygienic and increases the chances of illness being spread.

Kittens & Older Cats: Do you take older cats or young kittens?

We do take kittens, however, it usually isn't possible to take kittens younger than 4 months as it's usually unlikely they have had all their appropriate vaccinations by that stage. But if they have then we'll happily take them. We also accept older cats too, depending on their state of health. We've had a cat as old as 25 before, so age isn't an issue.

Length of Stay: Can my cat stay long-term?

Yes. We allow cats to stay for any length of time, whether it be a couple of nights, couple of months or couple of years (yes, it's happened before!).

Extending Stays: We're going to be away longer than we expected, is this a problem?

Generally, no. We often have clients call us whilst on holiday and say they are staying an extra week and if they can extend their cat's stay. We are more than happy for your cat to stay longer than expected, but this obviously depends on how busy we are. Aside from the Christmas/New Year period, this should not be a problem. Just give us a call to let us know and we'll be happy to look after your cat longer.

Checking Up: I hate being away from my beloved cat, can I check up on them?

By all means. We know how much you love your cat because we love cats too. So if you want to call us (every day if you need to!) to see how your cat is doing then that's fine.

Sickness: What if my cat gets sick whilst staying at Cats Cottage?

Should any problems arise during your cat's stay, we will take your cat to your usual vet (if they are one of the local vets in Traralgon) or otherwise we have a preferred, nearby vet on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We will always call you to let you know if any serious problems arise and should decisions be required for the vet you can advise us what to do. Naturally, any vet bills incurred during your cat's stay are the owner's responsibility and we also have a travel fee.

Diabetes / Injections: hMy cat is diabetic and requires injections, will you take him?

Sorry no, we do not do injections due to liability constraints and personal choice.

Risks: I've heard bad stories about catteries in general before, should I be worried?

We like to be completely honest with all our clients, that's why we want it to be clear that no matter how well run and maintained a cattery is there is always a risk of sickness. The most common is cat flu and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI unlikely if your cat hasn't had a history of it). Your cat should never come home with any illness outside of these. Even though a cat is fully vaccinated and has been for years, they are still capable of catching cat flu. The reason for vaccinating is so that the flu is not dangerous to them. However, the cleaner the cattery is, the more thorough the business owners are and the better the overall setup then less likely it is your cat will get sick. Hence, when inspecting a cattery you should be taking note of how clean the whole facility is, how happy the cats look and how capable the business owners seem. This goes for inspecting all catteries, not just us. We would also advise you to ask a local vet is still unsure.

We have a very good reputation and track record here at Cats Cottage and this is backed up by all THREE vets in Traralgon, therefore you can feel confident leaving your cat at Cats Cottage :)

I'm still not convinced, why should I leave my cat at Cats Cottage?

We honestly believe we are the best cattery in the Latrobe Valley. We encourage you to go and check out the other catteries in the area because we believe that when you come and see us, you'll see the difference. The level of cleanliness, our level of care, our level of professionalism, our genuine love of cats and our reputation that has been built in the community will speak for themselves. You are welcome to come and inspect between business hours. So come and check us out, we'd love to see you and your cat soon :-)