What catteries cost in Australian cities
Most catteries charge per day, and several say per calendar day, so the arrival day and the departure day are both counted. Prices below are for one cat in a standard room.
| City | What we found |
|---|---|
| Sydney | A Bondi Junction vet clinic's cattery charges $25 a night per cat. A Redfern vet clinic's cattery starts at $45 a night. |
| Melbourne | A Fitzroy North vet hospital charges $33.50 a night, $39.50 in school holidays and from December to mid-January, plus $5 a day for cats on medication. A Port Melbourne resort lists rooms from $28 a day. |
| Brisbane | The two catteries we checked list starting prices only: from $27.50 a day in Gumdale and from $26 a day in Eagle Farm. |
| Perth | A Malaga cattery charges $30.50 a day off-peak including GST, with a 2-night minimum. The City of South Perth's facility in Como charges $37 a day including GST. |
| Adelaide | An Adelaide cattery charges $36.50 a day on weekdays, $39.50 on weekends and $47.25 on public holidays, or $61.90 a weekday for two cats sharing. A Montacute resort charges $33 a day in low season and $37 in high season. An Adelaide Airport cattery's standard loft is $30 off-peak and $34 peak. |
Two of the Sydney prices are vet clinics that board cats. We did not find a dedicated Sydney cattery that publishes its price.
Christmas minimums and the F3 rule
Catteries fill over Christmas and many set a minimum charge. The Montacute resort charges at least 10 days for a Christmas booking and 5 for school holidays and Easter. The Adelaide Airport cattery requires 7 days for any booking that includes 18 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, and 4 days for one that includes 25 to 30 March 2027. If you are away for four nights over Christmas, a 10-day minimum more than doubles the bill.
Vaccination is the other gate. The Perth, Port Melbourne, Gumdale, Montacute and Bondi Junction pages all ask for a current F3 vaccination, and the Malaga cattery wants to see the record before your cat arrives, not on the day. The South Perth facility says boosters should be done two weeks before boarding. If your cat is not up to date, book the vet first.
What a cat sitter costs
A Petme cat sitter visits your home, feeds your cat, cleans the litter tray, checks water and spends time with them. In a capital city that typically costs $30 to $50 a visit, and $22 to $38 in a regional city. Owners pay a 0% booking fee on Petme, so the sitter's rate is the whole bill.
- One visit a day for 7 days in a capital city: 7 visits at $30 to $50 comes to $210 to $350.
- The same week at the Malaga cattery, charged per day with no peak loading: 7 days at $30.50 is $213.50, or 8 days at $244 if it counts both the arrival and departure days.
- Two visits a day for a cat that needs medication twice daily: 14 visits at $30 to $50 comes to $420 to $700.
For one cat, the costs are close. For two or three cats the visiting sitter often comes out ahead, because a sitter's visit covers every cat in the house while a cattery charges per cat. Ask the sitter how they price extra cats before you book.
Which one suits your cat
Cats are territorial, and many are calmer when they stay in the house they know. A visiting sitter keeps your cat on its own food, its own litter and its own sleeping spots, with no car trip and no other boarders nearby. That suits shy cats, older cats and cats who hide for days after a move.
A cattery can be the better choice for a cat that needs supervision for most of the day, for example after surgery, because staff are on site. It also suits owners whose home cannot be accessed while they are away. Some cats cope fine with a cattery, especially if they have stayed there before.
If you choose a sitter, ask how long each visit lasts, whether they send a photo after each one, and which emergency vet near you they would call. The Petme Protection Plan can contribute up to $32,000 toward eligible vet costs during a booked sitting. Cat sitters in Australia lists sitters by city, and the pet sitting cost guide for Australia covers the other services.
Cattery or cat sitter: FAQ
How much does a cattery cost in Australia?
Catteries we checked in October 2026 charged about $25 to $47 a day for one cat in a standard room, depending on the city, the day and the season. Many charge per calendar day and add a peak rate or a minimum stay over Christmas. Check the cattery's own price page before you book.
Is a cat sitter cheaper than a cattery?
For one cat the two are close: a Petme cat sitter typically charges $30 to $50 a visit in a capital city, while catteries we checked charged $25 to $47 a day. With two or more cats, a visiting sitter is often cheaper because catteries charge per cat, so ask the sitter how they price extra cats.
Does my cat need an F3 vaccination for a cattery?
Most catteries we checked require a current F3 vaccination and ask to see the certificate. One Perth cattery wants the record before arrival, and a council facility in South Perth asks for boosters two weeks before boarding. A cat sitter visiting your home does not board your cat with other cats.
Do catteries have a minimum stay at Christmas?
Many do. One Adelaide cattery charges at least 10 days for a Christmas booking, and another requires 7 days for any stay that includes 18 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. A short Christmas trip can therefore cost as much as a long one, so ask before you book.
How often should a cat sitter visit?
Most healthy adult cats do well with one visit a day. Kittens, cats on medication and cats that eat several small meals usually need two. Tell the sitter your cat's routine so they can match it.
