The keeping and running of animal boarding establishments (Catteries and Kennels) is controlled by the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963.

No person may keep a boarding establishment for animals without first obtaining a licence from their Local Authority. The number of dogs and cats that may be accommodated will be specified on the licence along with other specific conditions.

An applicant must not be disqualified from any of the following at the time of application:

• keeping an animal boarding establishment.
• keeping a pet shop under the Pet Animals Act 1951.
• keeping animals under the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954.
• owning, keeping, being involved in the keeping or being entitled to control or influence the keeping of animals, dealing in animals or transporting or being involved in the transportation of animals under the Animals Welfare Act 2006.

• Licence conditions for home boarding (cats)
• Licence conditions for home boarding (dogs)
• Licence conditions for cat boarding
• Licence conditions for dog boarding

There is an application fee which must be paid at the time an application is made.

Full details are available on our fees and charges page.

Where a licence is granted, that licence and any subsequent licence will expire on the 31st December of the year to which the licence relates and must be renewed annually before that date if the premises are to continue as an animal boarding establishment.

Before being granted a licence your premises will be inspected to make sure that certain conditions have been met, you must be able to demonstrate:

• That the animals will at all times be kept in accommodation suitable in respect of construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperatures, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness.
• That animals will be adequately supplied with suitable food, drink and bedding materials, adequately exercised, and (so far as is necessary) visited at suitable intervals.
• That all reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent and control the spread of infectious or contagious diseases, including the provision of adequate isolation facilities.
• That appropriate measures will be taken to protect the animals in case of fire or other emergency, including the provision of suitable fire fighting equipment.
• That a register containing a description of any animal received into the establishment, the date of arrival and departure, and the name and address of the owner will be kept, and that the register will be available for inspection at all times by a Licensing inspector or by a Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner authorised by the Council.
• A licence may be refused or withheld on other grounds if those grounds are such that conditions were not suitable for the boarding of animals.
• Each licence issued is subject to standard conditions (see above) that are imposed on all animal boarding establishments licensed by the Council.
• In addition to the standard conditions a licence may also contain special conditions that are only applicable to your premises.

Receipt of your completed application form and the appropriate fee will be confirmed in writing, and an unannounced licensing inspection carried out before your licence is issued. If you have not heard from us within 14 days, please contact us using the details at the bottom of the page.

You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service.

Any person aggrieved by a refusal to be granted a licence or by any conditions to which a licence is subject may appeal to the Magistrates Courts who may give such directions regarding the licence or its conditions as it thinks proper.

If you do not have a licence or do not comply with any of the conditions, you may be prosecuted, fined up to £5000 and/or imprisoned for up to 3 months, or both.

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the service provider by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice or you can contact us directly. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.

If you wish to complain about the welfare of the animals, nuisance caused by the operation of the boarding establishment etc. or are one licence holder wishing to complain about another use the contact details below.