Most new catteries are planned backwards. Someone finds a site, orders a run of cattery pens, and only then reads the licensing guidance. In England the minimum sizes, layout rules and building details for a boarding cattery are set out in Defra’s cat boarding statutory guidance, and your council inspector will measure against it. Start there and the rest of the plan, from pen numbers to budget, follows.
This guide covers how to start a cattery in practical order: the licence, unit sizes, layout and building details, then how to brief cattery pen suppliers and run the business once it opens.
Step 1. Understand the licence before you choose a site
Boarding cats for other people as a business is a licensable activity under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. You apply to your local council, an inspector visits, and you get a star rating from 1 to 5 that sets how long the licence lasts. Catteries that meet all the required higher standards and at least half of the optional ones can reach 4 or 5 stars and a licence of 2 or 3 years rather than one. Our guide to animal activity licences explains ratings, fees and inspections in more detail.
A few rules shape the site itself. Cats must be kept from direct contact with animals from outside the premises, so sneeze barriers are needed on the end walls of the exercise runs at each end of a block. The whole cat unit needs a safe, secure, waterproof roof, and run materials must filter UV light and give enough shade. Communal exercise areas are not allowed, and a unit can only be shared by cats from the same household.
Step 2. Cattery pen sizes you must meet
A cat unit is the sleeping accommodation plus its run. The minimum height for all units and runs is 1.8 metres. The guidance gives minimum floor areas and a minimum dimension for each type, and new builds should not use the one-cat size at all.
| Part of the unit | 1 cat (existing only) | Up to 2 cats | Up to 4 cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-in sleeping accommodation | 0.85 m², min 0.9 m (e.g. 0.9 x 0.95 m) | 1.5 m², min 1.2 m (e.g. 1.2 x 1.25 m) | 1.9 m² (e.g. 1.2 x 1.6 m) |
| Penthouse sleeping box or pod (min height 1 m) | 0.85 m², min 0.9 m | 1.1 m², min 0.9 m (e.g. 0.9 x 1.2 m) | 1.7 m², min 0.9 m (e.g. 0.9 x 1.9 m) |
| Exercise run (min height 1.8 m) | 1.65 m², min 0.9 m (e.g. 0.9 x 1.85 m) | 2.2 m², min 1.2 m (e.g. 1.2 x 1.85 m) | 2.8 m², min 1.2 m (e.g. 1.2 x 2.35 m) |
For new penthouse-style units, the run area is measured in front of the penthouse, not underneath it, because cats do not use the space below. Older catteries may keep their one-cat units and shorter runs, but anything you build now must use the larger sizes. Each unit also needs room for at least 60 centimetres between the litter tray, the resting place and the feeding area, and an elevated area large enough for a cat to lie on, with easy access for elderly, ill, young or disabled cats.
Step 3. Lay out the block
Layout rules decide how many units fit on your plot. Adjoining units need solid barriers covering the full height and width of the shared wall. In new builds those sneeze barriers must be at least translucent, letting light through without cats seeing each other clearly. Any gap between units must be at least 0.6 metres wide, and a corridor between facing units must be at least 1.2 metres wide.
Plan a separate, self-contained isolation unit for sick, injured or infectious cats. If a cat stays in isolation for more than 12 hours, that unit must meet the same size and facility rules as a normal unit. Some catteries use a local vet practice for isolation, which needs agreeing in advance.
Step 4. Heating, ventilation and noise
Insulation and heating must keep part of each sleeping area between 15°C and 26°C, and the temperature must never fall below 10°C. Heated beds or pads can top up warmth but cannot be the main heat source, and cats must be able to move away from it. Heaters must not create a burn, electrocution or fire risk. Interior areas need ventilation to avoid excess humidity, and cats must not be exposed to draughts or to excessive or continuous noise, such as barking dogs. That last point matters if you plan to run kennels on the same site.
Step 5. Brief cattery pen suppliers properly
Cattery pens come in timber, uPVC, plastic thermal and modular systems, and UK manufacturers range from small family workshops to firms that design and build whole animal welfare centres. Browse our cattery pens and units listings, then send each shortlisted supplier the same brief so quotes compare like for like.
| Ask the supplier | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which sizes in the table above does each unit meet, and is it a new build design? | New builds cannot use one-cat units; the inspector measures the sleeping area and run separately. |
| Are sneeze barriers full height, full width and translucent? | Required for adjoining units in new builds. |
| How is the roof and run covered, and does the run material filter UV and give shade? | A waterproof roof over the whole unit and UV filtering are conditions. |
| What surfaces will we clean, and how do they stand up to disinfectant? | Cleaning is a daily task, so wipe-clean materials save staff time. |
| Do you install, and what groundwork and drainage do you need from us? | Groundwork is often outside the pen price. |
| What guarantee covers parts and labour? | Guarantees vary widely between materials and makers. |
Several manufacturers in our listings say their catteries are approved by International Cat Care or built for rescue charities, and some publish step-by-step guides for new cattery owners. Ask to visit a working installation before you commit.
Step 6. Run it as a business
Every unit must be clearly numbered, and the guidance expects a one-page summary of each cat to be available to staff and inspectors. Booking software that stores vaccination records, owner consent and emergency contacts makes that easier; see booking and business software. You will also need cleaning products that are effective without harming cats, listed under kennel cleaning and disinfectant, and insurance that covers cats in your care, covered in our pet business insurance guide.
If you would rather buy an established cattery than build one, specialist agents list kennel and cattery businesses for sale; see business sales and brokers. Ask the council how a change of operator affects the licence and rating before you buy.
