Dog Kennel Guide

You may well find some family and friends almost impossible to buy presents for.  Either they are one of those people who has everything or else there is very little that they want.  However, if they own a cat then there are all sorts of cat gifts that can be bought for them.

Until you start researching cat gift ideas on the internet you will be completely unaware of the sheer range of things out there to buy.  The gifts can be subdivided into two main groups – those for the cat herself and items with a cat theme for the owner.

If you want to buy something for your friend’s cat then something that will make your friend’s life easier is always a good option.  Water and food bowls are a relatively cheap option while if you want to spend a little more then something like a fancy bed or a cat carrier for taking their cat on journeys will be most appreciated.  Cat gift baskets are also a nice idea as they include little treats and toys for the cat in a nicely presented basket.

If you want something with a cat theme for your friend then look on the internet for unique cat gifts so that you can be sure that they don’t already have one.  Many items can be bought with pictures of cats printed on them but if you’re not careful then they can look rather tacky.  One fun idea would be to take a photograph of their cat and have this printed onto something like a mug or a mouse mat.  If they also have a dog then getting a cushion with a picture of the cat printed on it to put in the dog kennel is sure to make them laugh.

If you want something with cat pictures on it that won’t be considered a bit gauche then try something like cat print socks or an umbrella or glasses case with little cats printed onto them.  Of course some people like nothing more than little cat figurines or prints in which case there are simply thousands of items to choose from.

So, before you rush out and buy something for your friend, first think about what type of item would be most appreciated.  If their cat spends the holidays in a cat boarding kennel then something like a carrier might be best but if you know that they already have lots of cat paraphernalia then something else might well be appreciated.

Cats are well known to be home bodies who rarely enjoy being taken anywhere else.  However, there are certain situations where she simply has to be popped into her cat carrier and taken elsewhere – usually the vets or a cat boarding kennels.  There are several different styles of carrier available and so you will need to do a bit of research before you take the plunge and buy one.

If you are environmentally minded then you should consider one made either from re-cycled cardboard or else a natural wicker design.  These materials are great for keeping your cat warm as they are well insulated and can easily be broken down once they are no longer required and so don’t end up filling landfill sites.

Travelling abroad on a plane with your pet will require a special airline cat carrier as the airlines have specific requirements for carrying animals.  These carriers are particularly well ventilated, have a very closely meshed door so that paws can’t fit through and are made from toughened plastic so as not to be easily damaged in transit.  They can also be bought with extra features such as wheels for ease of movement and a water bowl that can be fixed to the door so that it doesn’t get spilt.  Sometimes people will actually use a small dog kennel for this purpose as they are easier to get hold of and also tend to be cheaper!

Before taking your cat on a trip out it is a good idea to get her accustomised to it by leaving it out in the house with the door open and a comfortable or well liked cushion inside it.  This way she will be able to go in of her own accord and so will not feel threatened by it.  You never know, she may like it so much that it becomes an everyday cat kennel!

One of the newest styles is a soft cat carrier made in the style of a bag.  These are made from reinforced nylon with handles on the top for ease of carrying.  The advantage of this type of carrier is that it is easy to compact and store when not in use and the market leader in this area is the Sherpa cat carrier.

As you can see there are plenty of different styles of cat carriers and so it will be easy to find one that will suit your purposes.

When you make the decision to go away on holiday then one of the first things that you will need to think about once you have made the booking is what you are going to do with your pets.  Are you going to use a dog kennel, dog sitter or get a friend or member of the family to look after him?  For many people a dog boarding kennels is the only real option if he can’t stay with a member of your family.

Before you sign up your dog for a holiday of his own go and have a good look at the dog boarding facilities available at several different places in your town.  You will find that they can vary quite a lot in what is offered and how much is charged.  When you arrive for your visit ensure that each dog kennel is scrupulously clean with fresh water easily available.  Find out whether they provide bedding and how often your dog will be exercised.  If every dog pen that you look into has a miserable looking dog in it then keep well away.

A quality dog boarding kennels will be happy to answer any questions that you have and will demand that your pet is up to date with all his vaccinations.  This way you can ensure that he is not likely to catch anything from another dog.  If you own cats as well as dogs then be sure to look for somewhere that also does cat boarding as this will stop you from having to drive all over town on the day before you leave for your holiday when you have a huge list of other things to do.

Some boarding kennels for dogs are more like luxury hotels with hydrotherapy pools, treat times and the whole range of dog grooming services from a simple wash and brush to nail and coat clipping.  These places will give you a choice of group playtimes, where your dog gets to play with others who are staying, or individual attention, which is often better for more aggressive breeds or un-neutered males.  They will often also give your dog a bath on the night before he is due to come home so that you get him back smelling lovely and fresh!

Once you have decided which of the dog boarding kennels is for you ask a few people who you see out walking their dogs if they know anything about these kennels as word of mouth is often the best way to find out about the quality of provision.

Though in an ideal world our pets would never be left alone the reality is that they will have to be without their owners at different times and for different lengths of time.  Most cats spend the daytime hours on their own while their owners go to work.  They will either have access to the house through a cat flat or else have a cat kennel in the garden to retreat to should they want to escape the weather or just have a nap in a secure place.  However, if you are going to be away for more than just a day then you will need to think about who will care for your feline friend.

While some people are lucky enough to have friends, family or neighbours who are willing to come in and feed their cat while they are away, many will need to think about using a boarding kennels.

Luckily most towns have at least one boarding cattery where you can leave your cat for as long as you like.  Even somewhere which is basically a boarding dog kennel may have some spaces for cats too.  Make a visit to the cattery before you leave your cat there to make sure that it is up to the standards you require and to find out exactly what level of care is provided.  If you will need cat boarding for several weeks at a time then you should ask about whether they perform cat grooming routines to keep the cat’s coat in good condition.  Ask about their access to veterinary care should your cat fall ill while you are away and find out how much human attention they will get each day.  Some less scrupulous places will just leave them in the kennel and do no more than feed them daily.

To make your cat feel more secure and at home when you leave her, give the cattery her own bed from home to sleep in.  The well known smell will help reduce her anxiety at being left.

If your cat requires a special diet or has health issues then it is very important that these are discussed at length so that you can be confident that she is receiving the best possible care.

Some catteries also take dogs so check that her cage will not be in close proximity to a dog kennel if she is nervous of dogs.