All catteries in England have to be registered and inspected by their local council to receive a licence and, since 2019, a star rating.

To gain Five Stars a cattery must meet the highest criteria laid down by DEFRA regarding the facilities, management and welfare conditions for boarding felines. This includes but is not limited to the size and temperature of the houses, the food served, the amount of interaction the cats receive, the training of staff, the cleaning procedures and the monitoring of boarders' health and wellbeing.

Premises awarded Five Stars must have a proven track record and score low in all risk assessments. 

To make sure standards don't slip, each premises has spot inspections throughout the year.