Rescue

No legislation currently in place.

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

The Animal Activities Licensing England 2018 boarding in catteries conditions requires:

(8) Cats must have constant access to their sleeping area.

(14) The sleeping area must form part of the cat unit and be free from draughts.

Size of sleeping area in full-height walk-in unit
Min area Smallest dimension Min height
One cat* 0.85m2 0.9m (e.g. 0.9m x 0.95m) 1.8m
Up to 2 cats 1.5m2 1.2m (e.g. 1.2m x 1.25 m) 1.8m
Up to 4 cats 1.9 m2 1.92 m (e.g. 1.2m x 1.6m) 1.8m
*For new builds the ‘one cat’ size option has been removed.

Size of penthouse sleeping accommodation
Min area Smallest dimension Min height
One cat* 0.85m2 0.9m (e.g. 0.9m x 0.95m) 1 m
Up to 2 cats 1.1m2 0.9m (e.g. 0.9m x 1.20 m) 1 m
Up to 4 cats 1.7 m2 0.9 m (e.g. 0.9m x 1.9m) 1 m
* For new builds the ‘one cat’ size option has been removed

Rescue

No legislation currently in place.

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or
raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

No legislation currently in place.

Code of Recommendations for Cats

As a minimum a cat should be provided with a living space that –
a. is large enough to allow it to lie down and rest or sleep in a natural posture,
b. is large enough to provide it with space, other than the place in which it rests and sleeps, to stand up, stretch, walk three paces and turn around in a normal posture,
c. provides it with shelter that is dry, ventilated, but protected from draughts and which provides protection from direct sunlight and extremes of heat and cold,
d. provides daylight or light equivalent to daylight during normal daylight hours, and
e. allows continuous access to water and appropriate access to food (to ensure it receives a sufficient quantity of food as required to meet the duty of care).
4. A cat should have access to an outside area where it can dig and cover urine or faeces with soil or other material or it should be provided with a deep litter tray.
5. A cat should be able to go to the toilet in a place other than the place where it normally eats, drinks, rests and sleeps.

Rescue

No legislation currently in place.

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or
raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

The Conditions for Cat Boarding Licencing state that:

Designs must include cat units with sleeping accommodation (with solid sides) and an individual attached run.

Cats need separate sleeping accommodation, which must be large enough to allow cats to move and lie comfortably and provide enough space to spread resources.

The exercise run must be:

– Large enough to allow cats to play/exercise.

– Communal exercise areas must not be used.

Rescue

A Code of Practice for boarding establishments is in place. The Cat Code of Practice applies to cats in rehoming establishments and states:

24. In new constructions, each unit should have a sleeping area and an adjoining exercise area, which is exclusive to that unit.
25. In new constructions, each unit should be provided with a sleeping area of at least 0.85 sq. m (9 sq. ft) for one cat, I .5 sq. m (16 sq. ft) for two cats, 1.85 sq. m (20 sq. ft) for up to four cats.
26. Units should have a minimum internal height of I.8m (6ft) in the exercise area. The height of the sleeping area should be at least 3ft (91 cm) in existing units and 4ft (1.22m) in new buildings
27. Suitable clean bedding must be provided and must be capable of being easily cleaned and disinfected, if it is to be reused. Bedding material should be checked daily and maintained in a clean, parasite-free and dry condition.
28. In new construction, each unit should be provided with an exercise area of at least 1.7 sq. m (18 sq. ft) for a single cat; 2.23 sq. m (24 sq. ft) for two cats; 2.78 sq. m (30 sq. ft) for up to 4 cats.
29. Units should open into secure areas so that cats are not able to escape from the premises.
30. Exercise areas to which there should be direct and voluntary access, must not be used as sleeping areas.

Boarding

A Code of Practice for boarding establishments is in place. The Cat Code of Practice applies to cats in boarding establishments and states:

24. In new constructions, each unit should have a sleeping area and an adjoining exercise area, which is exclusive to that unit.
25. In new constructions, each unit should be provided with a sleeping area of at least 0.85 sq. m (9 sq. ft) for one cat, I .5 sq. m (16 sq. ft) for two cats, 1.85 sq. m (20 sq. ft) for up to four cats.
26. Units should have a minimum internal height of I.8m (6ft) in the exercise area. The height of the sleeping area should be at least 3ft (91 cm) in existing units and 4ft (1.22m) in new buildings
27. Suitable clean bedding must be provided and must be capable of being easily cleaned and disinfected, if it is to be reused. Bedding material should be checked daily and maintained in a clean, parasite-free and dry condition.
28. In new construction, each unit should be provided with an exercise area of at least 1.7 sq. m (18 sq. ft) for a single cat; 2.23 sq. m (24 sq. ft) for two cats; 2.78 sq. m (30 sq. ft) for up to 4 cats.
29. Units should open into secure areas so that cats are not able to escape from the premises.
30. Exercise areas to which there should be direct and voluntary access, must not be used as sleeping areas.

Rescue

No legislation currently in place.

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

Licencing conditions for boarding establishments are in force.

Cats should have a sleeping area and an adjoining exercise area, which is exclusive to that unit. Each unit must be provided with a sleeping area of at least 0.85 sq m (9 sq ft) for one cat, 1.5 sq m (16 sq ft) for two cats, 1.85 sq m (20 sq ft) for up to four cats. The sleeping area may be at ground level or in the form of a raised area. Raised areas should be at least 3 ft above floor level with a maximum depth of 3 ft 6 inches. It is strongly recommended that the minimum floor area of the sleeping area be 1.5 sq m (16 sq ft) as this allows greater flexibility in usage ie one or two cats may be boarded in all units. The height of the sleeping area should be at least 1.22 m (4 ft).

Each unit should be provided with an exercise area of at least 1.7 sq m (18 sq ft) for a single cat; 2.23 sq m (24 sq ft) for two cats; 30 sq ft for up to 4 cats.

Rescue

No legislation currently in place.

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

No legislation currently in place.

Rescue

Legislation is in place, the requirements for an Animal Welfare Establishment licence, provided by the Local Authority, are as follows:

Where the exercise area is physically separate from the dog’s resting/sleeping area dogs must be given access to the exercise area at least four times a day. Part or all of the exercise area should be outdoors.

Boarding

The Animal Boarding Establishments Act applies in Scotland, there is no specific guidance for local authorities. Each local authority may have their own guidance set.

Rescue

No legislation currently in place, but the Code of Practice states

ADCH Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards require cats to have a separate sleeping accommodation which provide somewhere for the cats to hide. All cats shall be provided with a bedding area or bench, large and suitable enough to allow the animal to lie comfortably. Shelves or raised areas shall be provided to allow cats to rest high up. In some catteries that are completely indoors, it is not necessary to have completely separate sleeping and exercise areas. Cat exercise areas should be 1.65 m² for single cats; 2.2 m² for two cats and 2.8 m² for up to 4 cats. The floor area should be equal to the sum of the sleeping and exercise areas and the cat needs a unit to sleep on, e.g. feline fort. The run enclosure should be a minimum of 1.8m tall. Shelves or
raised areas should be provided in the exercise area and steps or a ramp should be provided to allow easy and safe access for elderly, ill, very young or disabled cats.

Boarding

The Animal Boarding Establishments Act applies in Wales, there is no specific guidance for local authorities. Each local authority may have their own guidance set.