FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are a number of things which you must consider before setting up your own Boarding Kennel or Cattery Business.

Firstly, you should contact your local County Council, and find out if you live in an area which is zoned as residential or rural. It is unlikely that you will get planning permission to build a kennels in a residential area. In Ireland each County Council has different guidelines in relation to setting up Boarding Kennels and Catteries, such as planning permission, waste disposal, licensing requirements etc. As a result, we can only give general advice on these topics. If you are planning on building or upgrading a kennels or cattery we would recommend that you contact your local Council in the first instance who can inform you of the requirements in your area. You may also find it helpful to visit established businesses in your area.

Next you should do some market research, and find out if there is business demand for a Boarding Kennels or Cattery in your area. If you have not already done so, you should also look into doing some educational courses in relation to animal care and husbandry. The IBKCA run occasional courses in Canine and Feline first aid and first response, keep an eye on our website for updates on upcoming events.

All Kennels in Ireland, including boarding kennels, fall under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 which sets out the minimum requirements for construction, maintenance, operation and management of kennels in Ireland. Anyone planning to start a kennels should be familiar with the legislation, an accessible version of which can be found here: Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. 

You may also find the UK guidelines, the CIEH Model License Conditions and Guidance for Dog Boarding Establishments to be helpful: https://www.cieh.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=59652 

As there are currently no regulations in regards to catteries in Ireland we recommend that our members follow the UK's CIEH Model License Conditions and Guidance for Cat Boarding Establishment 2013 which can be found here: https://www.cieh.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=59750 

There are also a number of books that provide excellent information on kennel and cattery design for anyone who is thinking of starting a business. We recommend: "Kennel Design: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Perfect Kennels" by David Key and Gwen Bailey; "Essential Kennel Design" by David Key; and "Cattery Design: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Perfect Cattery" by David Key. As these books are quite expensive we suggest that you look first in your local library. 

Finally, we welcome new members who are passionate about animal care and committed to improving standards and providing the highest level of care and service. If you would like to become a member of the IBKCA you can find more information and an application form on our website: https://www.ibkca.ie/become-a-member

Yes! In order to build or open a Boarding Kennel or Cattery business in Ireland, you must obtain planning permission, even if you plan to use existing buildings to run your business. You will also be required to pay business rates to your local County Council. You will also be required to obtain insurance for your kennel or cattery. Your insurance cover should include public liability, insurance cover for employees (if relevant), and also cover for the animals in your care, should any of them fall ill or become injured while in your care.

A 10% discount on business insurance from Pet Business Insurance is available to all IBKCA Members. If you are an IBKCA member and you wish to avail of this discount, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to receive your discount code.

The process of becoming an IBKCA member is pretty straightforward! First, you should read through the IBKCA Code of Ethics (which can be found on the "About Us" page of this website), once you are happy that your business will abide by these guidelines, you can apply for IBKCA membership.

IBKCA membership can be applied for on the IBKCA website, by following the steps on the "Become A Member" tab above. Firstly, you should complete the "Membership Form" on our website, then your membership fee can be paid on the "Membership Payments" page. Payment can be paid via PayPal or Cheque.

Once membership is paid, an official from the IBKCA will be in touch with you to organise an inspection of your premises. See below for more information about your Boarding Kennel / Cattery inspection.

The IBKCA runs regular events and workshops for it's members. In the past these have included Canine and Feline first aid and first responder courses, workshops in relation to animal training, behaviours and caring for elderly pets and/or animals with specific medical needs. We have also run courses for business owners about how best to run your own business, providing an in depth look into digital marketing and business insurance, and much, much more! We hope to run more of these courses in the coming months, keep an eye on the "News and Upcoming Events" page on this website for more information and to keep up to date on our plans!

If any IBKCA members has any suggestions for workshops or seminars which they feel may feel may be beneficial to our Members, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!

You do not require any educational qualifications in order to open a Boarding Kennel or Cattery in Ireland, however, it is advisable to undertake a course in Animal Care and Husbandry. There are many Level 5 and Level 6 FETAC courses available nationwide, which will give you a great basis for understanding the needs of the animals which you will be caring for, as well as a good foundation on the practical business skills which will help you to build a successful and profitable establishment.

The IBKCA strongly advises that you complete a course in Canine and/or Feline first aid and first response prior to setting up your business. These courses are invaluable in ensuring that you have the skills to assist an animal in your care in an emergency situation. However, the IBKCA runs occasional courses of this nature which you would be welcome to attend (whether you have already set up your kennels/cattery or whether it is just in the pipeline). Keep an eye on our website for more information on upcoming seminars and workshops like these.

An IBKCA inspection is pretty straight forward, and nothing to be nervous about! You will be contacted in the days before your inspection to arrange a time for our inspector to arrive with you. When they arrive, they will want to see all parts of your premises and will ask you about your business, the set-up, the day-to-day running of your business and will help to advise you on what changes could make to ensure that your Boarding Kennel or Cattery meets the high standards set out by the Association.

The inspector will have an Inspection Feedback Report with them, which they will fill out as they speak to you and look around your business. The main purpose of this inspection is not only to establish if the Boarding Kennels or Cattery is eligible to be a member of the Association, but also to provide the business owner with vital feedback, advise and support on how they could improve their business and potentially make it a more successful one. They will complete this Report in details when they get home and return it to you by post in the days following your inspection.

Their visit will take no more than one hour and you do not need to do anything to prepare for your inspection, we just want to see how your establishment is run from day-to-day, this way we can get a clear picture of what you could do to improve your business in a way that would benefit you and your clients best!

Provided the IBKCA inspector is happy that your Boarding Kennels or Cattery meets the criteria set out by the IBKCA, and once they feel that your Boarding Kennels or Cattery is of the highest standards and provides the best possible care to the animals, they will issue you with an IBKCA Membership Certificate there and then! You may then benefit from all of the advantages and privileges available to IBKCA members, your Boarding Kennel and/or Cattery can then also be listed on the IBKCA website as an approved establishment.