CAGELESS CATTERY What is a Cageless Cattery? The CFA description of an acceptable cattery can be found on their website http://www.cfainc.org/articles/cattery-standard.html. In their description of the cattery, the cages/enclosures are used to describe the living quarters for each cat.
Many breeders, including myself have found this close, shut up environment, to be unsatisfactory. Cats are lively, social animals, and need some space to exercise, visit, play and just be free. Many cats in this environment become lethargic, depressed, and even ill from airborne viruses.
Some of the alternate "Cageless Catteries" which are usually small in number of cats (usually ten or less) may include the house of the breeder, or some of the bedrooms for several cats to live in. Others have a large enough room area to accommodate the needs of all the cats.
When I decided to become cage free, I had an area, which was a double-car garage. This area was remodeled with waterproof paint, flooring and a sink, bathing area. We used a small wire and wooden posts to section off several living areas, with walk-in screen doors. These areas are approximately 8' wide and 12' deep, ceiling to floor, making up small apartments, which house 2 to four cats. There are two male pens, one at each end of the room, which are referred to as their "Bachelor Pads". The pens are equipped with tents, beds, condos, toys, and just about anything I can find for their comfort and amusement.
I have a small previous bedroom which is off the cattery, that I use for the nursery and does have three cages approximately 4' x 4" x 5'. This is where the soon-to-be mothers and resulting litters live for approximately 6 - 8 weeks, occupying the complete room after about 3 - 4 weeks. During this time the kittens are lively and growing under the watchful eye of mom. They are immunized for all contagious diseases before joining the older cats in the large cattery. I hope this information will help you understand the term, "Cageless Cattery" which you will see in prominent use among breeders.
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