Boosting your kennel and cattery business

There are approximately 13.5 million dogs in the UK which means that 36% of households own a pet pooch. Between 2010-20, that figure was around 22-26% which demonstrates that we truly are a nation of dog lovers – more so than ever before.

Feline friends aren’t far behind with 29% of all households owning one of the 12.5 million pet cats. That’s a lot of furry feline friends and canine companions out there! These 26 million pets need holiday lodgings when their owners take off on human-only long-haul holidays or staycay closer to home to places where (weirdly!) pets aren’t invited.

So, it stands to reason that the number of registered boarding kennels and catteries must be on the rise too? Surely kennel and cattery owners must be turning away customers like raining cats and dogs, bookings and business must be booming.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. The truth is that there has been a 27% decline in licensed kennels between 2023 and 2024 according to The Pet Industry Federation (PIF). There are many reasons why this may be occurring. Factors such as increasing costs including licences, increased staffing costs, food and equipment. To achieve or maintain a 5-star rating, creates even higher demands the demands are even higher.

The cost of living affecting the UK may also be a contributing factor with many pet owners no longer going away, means less need for boarding services.

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5 ways registered kennels can boost business

What can registered boarding kennels do to stand-out and diversify income?

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1. Partner with Local Authorities

Local councils often need licensed premises to temporarily house dogs that are seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act, collected as strays or involved in legal disputes or welfare cases. By registering as an approved facility, kennels can secure a steady stream of short or long-term placements paid for by local authorities or police services.

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2. Promote biosecurity and professional standards

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how unprepared we were for the impact on the pet population, and currently there are only six designated quarantine kennels in the UK. Licensed kennels can position themselves as the safest option for conscientious pet owners.  In an age of rising awareness about disease transmission such as kennel cough or parvovirus, they should emphasise their strict hygiene protocols, vaccination requirements and isolation facilities for sick animals.

3. Offer customised care plans

Gone are the days of bare-bones boarding. Pet owners look for care providers who will take care of pets like they would their own. From daily walks and playtime, socialisation or solo care to special diets - the demands are high. Many owners will even expect holiday photo and video updates. Offering optional extras (with transparent pricing) or promote caring credentials for pets who need care from qualified professionals can help kennels stand apart from unlicensed home boarders.

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4. Explore partnerships

Team up with veterinary practices and rescue centres to offer discounts on emergency care arrangements during crisis events.

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5. Educate

The Association of Dog Boarders highlights the importance of using licensed operators to ensure the safety and well-being of pets. Kennels should not shy away from becoming a voice for licensed, quality care in order to increase public trust and business credibility.

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A licence to thrill pet owners

While the rise of unregistered, unlicenced and often uninsured home boarders and dog walkers may seem like a threat to licensed kennels, it also presents an opportunity to differentiate and diversify. Licensed facilities that focus on quality, safety and partnerships can not only survive but thrive, helping to ensure that every pet receives the care they deserve.

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The power of partnerships

Cliverton has been proudly working alongside The Pet Industry Federation (PIF), the UK’s leading trade association for pet businesses since2021. We wholeheartedly support their efforts to address the decline in numbers of registered boarding kennels and calls for consistent and meaningful local authority licensing data reporting. Both Cliverton and PIF recognise the role that licensed boarding kennels can play in maintaining pet welfare standards alongside the management of seized dogs and potential zoonotic disease outbreaks.

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How can Cliverton help?

In order to better support our customers, Cliverton have now partnered with Hiscox for the Kennel & Cattery business policy. Hiscox have been able to provide enhancements to the standard cover plus added optional extras.

In order to go a step further and to help members of PIF and LiCKA, Cliverton can now offer a 10% discount, subject to minimum premium requirements.

Visit our web page here or contact our team for further information and to obtain a quotation.

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Sources:

https://www.ukpetfood.org/industry-hub/data-statistics-/uk-pet-population-.html

https://www.ukpetfood.org/resource/paw-some-new-pet-population-data-released-by-uk-pet-food.html

https://www.condorferries.co.uk/pet-travel-statistics#:~:text=A%20study%20of%20dog%20owners,the%20most%20pet%2Dfriendly%20area.

https://helloguest.co.uk/guide/should-your-airbnb-be-pet-friendly/

https://petfederation.co.uk/pet-industry-federation-urges-government-action-on-pet-business-licensing-data-gaps/

https://www.itsallsavvy.com/blog/home-boarding-for-dogs-license-2022/#:~:text=March%2028%2C%202023,within%20the%20pet%20care%20sector.