Policy on Cats on Premises

Home Dog Boarding – Wigan, Greater Manchester

1. Purpose

This policy outlines how Pet Getaway safely manages the presence of resident cats within a home dog boarding environment.

Our priority is to ensure:

• Safety of resident cats

• Safety of boarded dogs

• Controlled introductions

• Stress minimisation

• Compliance with licensing welfare standards

Cats are never placed at risk.

2. Resident Cats

Pet Getaway has resident cat(s) living within the home environment.

Cats:

• Have designated safe spaces

• Have elevated areas inaccessible to dogs

• Have escape routes and retreat zones

• Are never forced into interaction

Their welfare is protected at all times.

3. Dog Suitability Assessment

During Meet & Greet, we assess each dog for:

• Prey drive

• Fixation behaviour

• Chasing tendency

• Obsessive staring

• Reactivity to small animals

Dogs with strong prey drive or unsafe cat behaviour will not be accepted for boarding.

This is non-negotiable.

4. Controlled Exposure

Where appropriate:

• Initial exposure is controlled and supervised

• Dogs remain on lead during first encounters

• Physical barriers used where necessary

• Interaction limited and monitored

No dog is permitted to chase, corner, or harass cats.

5. Separation Measures

Pet Getaway maintains the ability to:

• Fully separate cats and dogs

• Restrict access to certain rooms

• Use stair gates and barriers

• Provide cat-only zones

Cats have uninterrupted access to:

• Litter trays

• Food and water

• Resting areas

6. Stress Monitoring

We monitor cats for signs of stress, including:

• Hiding excessively

• Reduced appetite

• Avoidance behaviour

• Vocal distress

If stress levels increase:

• Dog access areas adjusted

• Interaction reduced

• Additional separation implemented

Cats’ welfare is prioritised alongside boarded dogs.

7. Safety Protocol

If a dog shows:

• Persistent fixation

• Chasing attempts

• Escalating prey behaviour

• Aggression towards cats

The dog will be:

• Immediately separated

• Owner contacted

• Possibly required to be collected early

Safety overrides convenience.

8. Hygiene & Cross-Contamination

To maintain hygiene:

• Litter trays kept inaccessible to dogs

• Cat food stored separately

• Cleaning equipment separated where appropriate

Dogs are not permitted access to litter areas.

9. Welfare Commitment

This policy ensures:

• A calm, controlled mixed-species environment

• Prevention of injury

• Reduced stress for resident animals

• Compliance with licensing expectations

We do not accept dogs that present a risk to resident cats.