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the kennels, the catteries & the kennatteries

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The Kennels

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The cat outran the dog,
What fun they had,
In those kennels so bad,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Actually, our dogs (well, your dogs, in fact) have plenty to keep 'em busy ~ no need of the cats, it's true. Dog kennels, dog boarding, dog hotel... and yes... doggy daycare... call it what you will (and you WILL, won't you!), our enclosures (see? there's an endless list of naming conventions) are large, indoor/outdoor affairs with a/c and lots and lots of human and dog-folks all around. And then there's them yards!! Whoooohooo! Take a look at the pics and you'll see what we mean.

Oh, and there are snuggly dog beds, toys, the best quality food, lots of activity and exercise, and every now and then a love-you-to-pieces hug.

Thinkin' of socialising? Well of course you are! How about playtime sharing and even Buddy-Boarding?!

 

We want to tell you the TOOTH

 

The Catteries

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat did a widdle!
Not where you'd expect but on that!
We'd given his litter and we showed him just how,
But he sneered with a turn and then splat!

We couldn't help ourselves ~ one rhyme just wasn't enough.

Smudge Inn, Molly Motel, Chaplin Cabin; three catteries named after our own DKC cats from years gone by. Cat boarding... cat hotel... cattery... call it what you will, our enclosures (having deja vu?) are multi-story indoor/outdoor spaces (with a/c, of course), with configurable partitions to create different sizes depending on need and activity levels, bedding, scratching posts and toys, perching shelves on-high, sunshine and good goooooood food.

Even in the summer heat, you'd be amazed to see how many of our (oops... your) cats love to lounge outside in the shade, gazing as the world goes by.

And yes, we have playtime sharing and even Buddy-Boarding for cats too (in the right circumstances, of course). Talk to us about it.

The Cat Jungle

It's not a BIG BIG BIG jungle, and it surely has NO SNAKES!... but it's a lovely little spot for those of you cats out there who like the outdoors, like trees and other catty things to climb, and who even like to socialise a little with our handlers and other cats.

Yes, a cattery (a.k.a. "cat hotel" for those of you with a taste for luxuriating linguistic expression) can have a jungle. (ROAR!!)

Our jungle is fully outdoors and fully enclosed, so it's safe. All the plants are kitty-kat friendly (of course!), and there's a misting system to help keep everyone cool during the hot-hot-hot weather (though cats seem to love the hot-hot-hot weather regardless!).

And it's even got a bench for you oh-so-brave and adventurous owners to sit on too. 

 

The Kennatteries

The Kennatteries? What's a KENNATTERY, for goodness sake?!

Well... a kennattery is a place where your dog and cat can stay together in the same enclosure! Of course it is!

You see, what good is a pet hotel without the opportunity to cohabitate? Isn't that what YOU do when YOU go to a hotel? (OK, that's just weird, we know.) 

Now, there are some rules (surprised?). First of all, your dog has to have a fairly laid back temperament. (You know... not too much barking at every opportunity because you don't want the cats in the area to hate dogs any more than they already do, right? Right!) Also, your dog has to be a small breed, like in the pictures to the right.

Tough criteria? Hope not! We actually have quite a few customers whose dogs and cats love each other sooooo much, they're very happy to board with us together. Just let us know if you're interested and we'll see if we can make it happen.

P.S.   All Emirates & FlyDubai Platinum Card holders get a 10% discount on all our services related charges ~ Boarding, Relocations and Veterinary! But shhh... don't tell anyone!
 
Should I be worried if my dog or cat has lost or gained weight during their boarding stay?
Answer
<h5>Should I be worried if my dog or cat has lost or gained weight during their boarding stay?</h5> <p>No and yes, depending.</p> <p>A little bit of weight gain or loss is very common. It doesn't happen to all pets during every stay in a boarding facility, but it does happen. Pet owners, understandably, often immediately feel that this must mean their pet has not been taken care of properly, but in fact it is more important to look at the entire context and the extent of the loss or gain.</p> <p>Commonly, pets staying in a boarding facility are not eating exactly as they do at home. They may or may not be eating exactly the same food (depending on the arrangements you've made with the kennel or cattery), and even if they are, they may not be eating exactly the same amounts because, despite every effort to get it just right, human beings differ and the precise amounts they provide may be a little different than you do when your pet is at home. So, all this small change can lead to weight gain or loss, in and of itself.</p> <p>More important and relevant than this, however, is that pets are generally much more active in a boarding facility than they are at home. Now <em>wait</em>! We're <em>not</em> saying that you aren't taking good care of your pet by not giving him or her lots of activity. No, not at all. It's just that in a boarding facility, especially one that has a good number of staff and lots of other animals around, the whole environment is very stimulating and there is a lot of exercise for dogs and lots of other general interest for both dogs and cats. And this keeps them more active and generally more stimulated, even if they're in their enclosures. And this, in turn, often leads to a bit of weight loss.</p> <p>And one more thing: In many cases, a little bit of weight loss for dogs and cats is a good thing and although we have many customers who do worry about this, we also have a great many who are pleased to see that their pet has lost a little weght in our care because, in fact, they came in to us a little overweight.</p> <p>But of course, everyone has a different perception of this, and if the weight of your pet is not medically bad, one way or the other, then we do try to maintain the weight your pet comes in with.</p> <p>This all said, too much weight gain or loss IS a problem and if you feel there has been too much either way, we truly hope you'll talk to us about this. We monitor this aspect of your pet's health very closely, with a weight check when they first arrive for boarding and then regular checking every week, or more often if we perceive a potential problem. And if there is a problem, we always let you know about it while you're away and take action when required by adjusting feeding or even consulting your vet.</p> <p>If you're interested in more insight about this important subject, take a look at our page, "<a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/weight-loss-or-gain-while-boarding" target="_blank">Weight Loss or Gain While Boarding</a>".</p>
Does my dog have to be neutered to board or daycare with you? And can my dog socialise with others if not neutered?
Answer

Nope, your dog does not have to be neutered to board or daycare with us or to socialise with othe

<h5>Does my dog have to be neutered to board or daycare with you? And can my dog socialise with others if not neutered?</h5><p>Nope, your dog does not have to be neutered to board or daycare with us or to socialise with other dogs.</p> <p>But... (isn't there <em>always</em> a "but"?!)... there are some good reasons to neuter, so we'll offer some of them up for you here.</p> <p>We have found that dogs who are neutered tend to socialise better and also buddy-board better. Neutering your dog can help calm down his instinct to dominate, which of course can make being with other dogs a little more likely to be an agreeable experience, as you can imagine ~ once neutered, he'll likely (there are never guarantees!) be more interested in actual play than dominance. From a health point of view, it can also be a good decision to neuter. Spaying helps to lower the incidence of uterine infection and breast cancer in females which, when the latter occurs, is fatal in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. And neutering helps to prevent testicular cancer and disincline males to marking their territory in your home. Finally (well, not "finally" as much as "this is everything we're going to tell you here!), unneutered little 'uns can often be more aggressive, or more easily triggered to aggression, while being neutered can help their (and your) focus on their human family.</p> <p>(Did we mention over-population?)</p>
Do you have a vet on-site?
Answer
<h5>Do you have a vet on-site?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_48.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes! Uh... No! Uhhhh... let us explain.</p> <p>We do not have a vet <em>on-site</em> at our boarding facility in Umm Ramool.</p> <p>HOWEVER... that really should not worry you. Our own vets at <a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic" target="_blank">DKC Veterinary Clinic</a> in Motor City are available to our boarding staff 24 hours a day, every single day of the year, so if anything is ever wrong, we do have the resources that you and your pet need. Additionally, our veterinary clinic is open 24/7. All Day. All Night. Always.</p> <p>Furthermore, in almost all cases when a pet is needing veterinary attention, it is not an emergency situation. So we will be able to book appointments with our own clinic or your preferred vet if you wish, and we will also of course always let you know in advance that we are doing that unless for some reason you are unreachable and it cannot wait.</p> <p>Finally, because of <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too" target="_blank">the way we work</a> on a daily basis, we almost always discover very early if there are any developing problems, which also does a lot to keep your pet well and, most importantly, to avoid emergency situations almost all the time.</p></div>
Do you have a vet on-site?
Yes! Uh... No! Uhhhh......
Is my pet old?
Answer
<h5>Is my pet old?</h5> <p>Don't ya know? You're only as old as you feel! <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_wink.png" height="15" width="15"></p> <p>Cats are generally considered "senior" once they reach 7 or 8 years of age.<br>Dogs are generally considered "senior" from 7 years of age for small breeds and from 6 years of age for large breeds.</p> <p>Now, if your pet falls into the "senior pet" age range, the following issues may arise: diabetes. kidney disease, heart issues, signs of cancer, liver disease, joint problems, neurological conditions, blindness, deafness, and generalised pain issues, amongst others. Or your pet might be <em>perfectly fine</em>, and indeed many many are... so DON'T PANIC (we're just giving you a bit of info, not a warning ~ promise!). It's important to look after your senior pet's teeth because failing or even rotting teeth can cause unexpected and ultimately unnecessary illness too. And then, of course, there's diet, something which becomes increasingly important as your pet gets older. especially if they have any medical issues. Soooooo... what does this all mean? Well, it means you need to just keep an eye on things and otherwise enjoy your pet.</p> <p>When your pet is staying with us, we are happy and able to administer medications prescribed by your vet and to ensure that he's comfortable with extra soft bedding or whatever else might be needed. If he's on limited exercise, we'll make sure he's cared for appropriate, including a quiet rest spot. And we also have a <a href="/what-we-do/dkc-veterinary-clinic" target="_blank">DKC vet</a> on-call at all times.</p>
Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?
Answer
<h5>Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_100.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes!</p> <p>Little birds have to stay in their cages because they can so easily get <strong><em>too</em> </strong>free for their own good, but they nevertheless very often spend all or most of their time in our offices, while in their cages, where there are always staff and customers to experience and interact with.</p> <p>As for large birds (cockatoos, macaws, African greys), if they tend to be very noisy (talkative?) we need to be cautious in our promises to you because we also have to serve our other customers on the phone and in person, as you know, so a really "talkative" large bird can make all that pretty difficult, meaning we might not be able to have them in our offices at all. BUT... DON'T WORRY... no matter what kind of squawker your bird is, all large birds in our care get a lot of time out of their cages and with our handlers, and spend a lot of time in our aviary ~ sometimes inside their cages, sometimes outside, but always given lots of attention. And in our lovely aviary (for both large and small birds), they have plenty of time to check things out and interact with staff, in addition to the regular feeding and bathing times they always get.</p></div>
Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?
Yes! Little birds have to stay in their cages because they can so easily get too free for their own good, but they...
How often will my dog exercise each day and for how long?
Answer
<h5>How often will my dog exercise each day and for how long?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_40.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>From about end of September to April, all your dogs get into our exercise yards at least 3-4 times a day for a good 15-30 minute romp each time, and if we have your permission they'll be playing with other dogs too. For those dogs with especially high energy levels or any good need for more of this time, or if you ask us to, because the weather is nice we just let 'em stay in the yards for much of the day. Our general approach during the cooler times of the year is to have as many dogs out in the yards as much as possible, which is quite a lot of the time.</p> <p>During the hotter summer months, just as when your dog is home with you, we need to be careful about being outside in the heat for too long. So they all still get out 2-3 times a day but the runs in the yards are for shorter periods of time, as we are very watchful to make sure the heat is not having an impact. And of course we don't leave the dogs out in the yards all day at this time of year for the very same reason.</p> <p>This all said, all our enclosures are indoor/outdoor with a/c, and designed so that all the dogs can see each other, intereact with each other in the general environment, and feel part of the community. So even when they're in their enclosures, they're still very active and generally having a very social time. Read more about this: <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too" target="_blank">Love... and other stuff too</a> ~ take a look at the sub-sections called <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too#Socializing-Dogs" target="_blank">Socializing</a> and <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too#Socializing-Dogs2" target="_blank">Socializing ~ Part 2</a>.</p></div>
How often will my dog exercise each day and for how long?
From about end of September to April, all your dogs get...
What are your vehicles like? How will my pet travel?
Answer

We use converted passenger vans (such as the Toyota Hiace) which have been heavily modified for o

<h5>What are your vehicles like? How will my pet travel?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_52.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>We use converted passenger vans (such as the Toyota Hiace) which have been heavily modified for our pet collection and delivery service. Take a look at <a href="/what-we-do/collection-delivery" target="_blank">Collection & Delivery</a>.</p> <p>Now, as we've said, these are people-passenger vans, <em><strong>not</strong></em> cargo vans; this is an important distinction because passenger vans have windows all around the vehicle so that plenty of light gets in, and also high-quality air-conditioning throughout. Furthermore, we've added fans to create even better air circulation.</p> <p>All the seats have been removed, of course, and replaced by metal flooring with embedded hooks, so when we put your pet and her/his travel box into the van, we can use strong ties to secure the boxes in-place.</p> <p>And finally, there's no solid/opaque partition between our handlers who are driving the vans and your pets in the back, which means we always know what's going on and your pets aren't isolated at all during the trip.</p> <p>And just so you know, we transport any animal in these vehicles, not just your dogs and cats.</p> <p>Oh, and one more thing: We do <em>not</em> have "drivers". The same Animal Handlers who take care of your pets when in our care are the ones who will come to your home for Collection & Delivery.</p></div>
What are your enclosures like? What size are they?
Answer
<h5>What are your enclosures like? What size are they?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_34.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>The very best way to answer that question is for you to come meet us and take a look for yourself. In fact, that's what we always really strongly recommend.</p> <p>But that's not always easy to schedule, is it. We know. So you should definitely look at the images <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/the-kennels-the-catteries-the-kennatteries" target="_blank">here</a> and elsewhere around our site, as well as our video tour <a href="/video-tour" target="_blank">here</a>, because there are lots for you see, and this should help a great deal in understanding what your pet will experience.</p> <p>In short, though, our enclosures are like this:</p> <ul> <li>All our dog enclosures have an indoor and an outdoor run, and almost all our cat enclosures do too, and your pet decides where he or she wants to be. Those few cat enclosures which don't have an outdoor run, we try to reserve for cats which need or like to be inside most of the time anyway.</li> <li>All indoor runs are air-conditioned.</li> <li>Cat enclosures are multi-storied, with shelves and trapdoors and bedding and toys and all.</li> <li>All dog enclosures have various types of comfortable, snuggly bedding.</li> <li>Cat enclosures range in size. The smallest space we have is an indoor portion of a run which is L:0.8m x W:0.8m x H:1m. The largest space we have is an outdoor portion of a run which is L:4.2m x W:1.1m x H:2.2m.</li> <li>Dog enclosures also range in size. Our smallest enclosures are 1.5m x 1.5m both indoor and outdoor. Our largest are 2.2m x 1.8m indoor and 3m x 2.5m outdoor. And there are a couple of sizes in between.</li> </ul></div>
What are your enclosures like? What size are they?
The very best way to answer that question is for...
Is the canine cough vaccination absolutely necessary for my dog to board/daycare?
Answer

The canine cough vaccine is an additional vaccination generally needed only for dogs who stay in

<h5>Is the canine cough vaccination absolutely necessary for my dog to board/daycare?</h5><p>The canine cough vaccine is an additional vaccination generally needed only for dogs who stay in a kennels, daycare or any other community of dogs for any period of time. It is often referred to as "kennel cough" because people understandably associate the "cough", and therefore the vaccine, with kennels, but in fact it's an illness, similar to a human cold or flu, which can be caught and spread around in any community of dogs, much like a human cold caught by kids at school or adults in an office environment.</p> <p><span xss=removed data-mce-mark="1">This is because canine cough is airborne and highly contagious, which is why it can spread through kennels quickly, when dogs are in close proximity to each other and are barking and playing and running around. It is also transmitted by bacteria on toys, food bowls or other shared objects. Although highly contagious, it is generally not a very severe upper respiratory infection, causing "only" a dry, irritating and hacking cough. Kennels facilities use the vaccination as a way to limit outbreaks and to prevent the spread of the illness if it happens to be brought into the facility by an affected pet. Most facilities will not accept a dog without this vaccination being up-to-date and it is a good idea to have it administered because it generally either prevents or reduces the severity of the disease if it is indeed contracted.</span></p> <p><span xss=removed data-mce-mark="1">If your dog regularly, or even annually, spends time in a kennels, daycare or dog park (or with any group of dogs in any situation), it's a real good idea to keep this vaccination current, even if not asked for or required by the facility you're using.</span></p>

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