Summer is coming and, if you are planning a holiday, it’s time to think about how your cat or dog will be cared for while you are away. If there isn’t someone trustworthy you can ask to feed and exercise your pet, not to mention giving them the companionship they need while you are gone, you will need to find a kennel or cattery where your pet can be looked after for the duration of your holiday.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to identify a good kennel or cattery, says Alan Rossiter, a vet at the Blacklion Pet Hospital in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Better again, he says, is to visit the premises. “Go and have a look – if you don’t like the look and feel, don’t go there.”

Either on the phone beforehand or when you visit the kennel or cattery, have a list of questions ready to ask the owners. “Find out what they feed the pets,” says Rossiter. “It’s best to bring your own food. For dogs, ask how much exercise they get, how often are their kennels cleaned out and how often are they taken out to the toilet.”

When checking out a holiday home for your pet, it’s not just the questions you ask that are important, but the questions the business owner asks you. “The person running the business should always ask pet owners questions about their pet, including name, sex, age, diet, exercise, health and medical treatments, and character,” says Eva Gruntoradova, the manager of the ISPCA’s National Animal Centre in Keenagh, Co Longford. “They should require an up-to-date vaccination card and a contact number for you. These questions are a sign of a responsible owner who cares about the best interest of the animals, customers and their business.”

A reputable kennel may also insist that your dog has been wormed and may require them to have been neutered.

When you visit the premises, check that it is airy and warm, without having any draughts or being too hot. It should also be dry and bright, with plenty of natural light.

“The premises must be odourless and clean, with no sign of old faeces or urine,” says Gruntoradova. “Animals in the care of the kennel or cattery should appear stress free and healthy, and be provided with cosy beds and rest areas, an accessible source of clean water and toys or other sources of mental stimulus. Animals should have access to the outdoors and dogs should be walked at least once a day.”

Expect to pay between €8 and €12 per day for care of a cat and enquire about discounts if you are leaving more than one cat to be minded. For dogs, the cost of kennels varies between €10 to €20 per day, with most kennels charging €14. Discounts for stays of a week or longer may be possible.

If you can’t find a good kennel or cattery in your area, you could check out petsitting services. These services will visit your home up to three times a day while you are away, feed and play with your pet, and take your dog for a walk every day. Many petsitting services will also water plants, turn lights on and off, and bring in post and newspapers so it seems as though your home is occupied while you are gone.

Rossiter says petsitting services can be preferable to kennels, for dogs in particular. “Provided they will get adequate exercise and be let out to the toilet enough, with petsitting, your pet isn’t going to have to mix with ‘strange’ animals and isn’t going to go through the stress of moving to a strange environment,” he says.

Petsitting companies should visit your home before you go away and make a thorough assessment of your pet’s needs. They should also be insured and have properly drawn-up legal contracts for you to sign.