Boarding catteries · Timaru & Wanaka

Your cat's purrfect retreat

Separate wings away from barking dogs, individual care plans, and a vet team on site. Check dates and get a price in under a minute.

  • See live availability and your cost before you book
  • Complimentary wellness check for every boarding cat
  • Heated, comfortable units in a wing away from the dogs
Check availability No payment needed · we confirm your cat's stay by email or phone
A cat settled in at a Vetlife cattery

Expert care, not just a bed

Our catteries sit alongside our clinics, so your cat is boarding somewhere with veterinary staff on hand.

01

Away from the dogs

Every cattery is in a separate wing, well away from barking. Most units look out on a garden or courtyard.

02

An individual plan

Care tailored to your cat's personality and needs, monitored and recorded daily throughout their stay.

03

Warm and comfortable

Underfloor heating or controlled air conditioning, comfortable bedding, and room to stretch out.

04

Premium nutrition

Quality veterinary food included. Special diets are no trouble, and we can work them into the plan.

While they are with us

Boarding is a good chance to tick off anything your cat is due for. Because each cattery sits alongside the clinic, our vets can carry out a dental, a vaccination, or flea and worm treatment during the stay, so there is no second trip in the carrier. Mention it in the notes on the form and we will confirm the cost with you first.

A cat being handled by a Vetlife cattery team member

Looked after like one of the family

Whether your cat is with us for a weekend or a month, our trained team handle special diets, medication and elderly care as a matter of course.

We monitor every cat throughout their stay, including regular weight checks and a dental check by our animal care assistants. If anything comes up, we tell you, and we advise whether it is worth a look from your vet when you are home.

A cat resting on familiar bedding with toys from home

Settling in made easier

Familiar bedding and a favourite toy help a cat settle faster, so bring them along and we will provide the rest.

If car trips or time away make your cat anxious, say so when you book. Our veterinary team can talk through ways to make it a calmer experience for you both.

Daily rates, including GST

Rates step down the longer your cat stays, and additional cats sharing a unit are charged at a lower rate. Loyalty rates apply for returning boarders — ask your cattery. The booking form prices your exact dates as you fill it in.

Timaru

$26 per day, stays to 13 days

Wanaka

$26 per day, stays to 13 days

Gold units with indoor and outdoor access, or Silver units indoors.

Request your cat's stay

Pick your cattery and dates to see what is available and what it will cost. We will confirm your booking by email or phone. Christmas and Easter book out well in advance, so get those dates in early.

YOUR CAT’S HOME FROM HOME

1 Choose the dates

Each cattery has its own availability, so the calendar updates when you change this.

Select the arrival date

Loading availability…

  • Available
  • Booked out
  • Your stay

2 Tell us about your cat

Feline viruses spread easily in a cattery, so this one is essential. A first course of vaccinations is not complete until the second shot has been given, so a cat or kitten that has only had its first shot cannot board with us. Boosters are due each year. If your cat's records are not held with Vetlife, please bring the vaccination card to drop-off.

What are you bringing from home?

Familiar bedding and toys help cats settle in faster, so bring them if you can.

3 Your details

If your cat needs veterinary treatment while boarding

An initial consultation and any essential care needed to keep your cat comfortable will always go ahead, whatever limit you set. The limit is the point at which we stop and contact you.

Before your cat stays

Two things we need, and two that make the stay easier.

Current vaccinations

The annual cat flu vaccination (FHV-1 and FCV) and the three-yearly feline parvovirus (FPV) vaccine. If this is a first course, the second shot must have been given too.

Flea and worm treatment

Up to date with a reputable treatment. Bring the vaccination card if your cat's records are not held with Vetlife.

Medication in its packaging

Bring anything your cat takes in the original packaging, with dosing instructions.

A blanket that smells like home

Familiar bedding and a favourite toy help enormously in the first day or two.

Common questions

Will my cat be mixing with other cats?

No. Your cat is kept separate from cats of other households at all times. Cats from the same home can share a unit if you would like them to.

Can I bring toys and bedding from home?

Absolutely, and we recommend it. Familiar things from home help a cat settle in much faster. We provide everything else.

What if my cat needs treatment while boarding?

An initial consultation and any essential care needed to keep your cat comfortable will always go ahead, and we will contact you. On the form you can set the point at which we stop and check with you before doing more.

My cat gets anxious on car trips. What can I do?

Tick the box on the booking form and our veterinary team will be in touch to talk through how to make the trip and the stay easier for you both.

What time can I drop off and collect?

Morning and afternoon windows, which you choose on the form. A daily fee applies if your cat arrives before 2pm or stays past 10am, and the estimate on the form shows when that adds a day.

Can I look around before I book?

Please do. Ring your local cattery and arrange a tour to see the units for yourself.

Our catteries

Ring your local cattery and we will show you around before you book.

Timaru

03 684 8181

Wanaka

Gold units with indoor and outdoor access, or Silver units indoors.

03 443 6409

Ready when you are

Check dates, see the cost, and send your request. It takes about a minute.

Book your cat's stay