Cat Boarding Near Belfast International Airport: What to Know Before You Fly

If you’re flying out of Belfast International Airport, the last thing you want on travel day is a long detour across the city to drop your cat off before you can even head to departures. It’s one of the most common reasons families first come to us: we’re based in Aldergrove, genuinely close to the airport, which means boarding your cat doesn’t have to mean adding real time, or stress, to your journey.

Why location matters more than people expect

It’s easy to underestimate how much a cattery’s location affects the actual experience of a trip, not just the drive time. A cattery on the far side of Belfast might look fine on paper, but if it adds forty-five minutes each way around the airport run, that’s real time lost at both ends of your holiday, and real stress if you’re cutting it close on a departure time. Being based in Aldergrove means we’re a natural stop on the way to or from the terminal rather than a diversion, which is exactly why so many of our regular customers are people who travel through Belfast International several times a year.

Getting here

We’re based at 24 Crookedstone Rd, Aldergrove, just a few minutes from Belfast International Airport. We’re happy to talk you through the best route when you book, particularly if you’re travelling at a busy time of day.

Timing your drop-off around a flight

Our opening hours for drop-off and pick-up are Monday to Friday 10.30am–3.30pm, Saturday 10.30am–1.00pm, and Sunday 11.00am–12.00pm. If you have an early morning or late evening flight, it’s worth planning your cat’s drop-off the day before rather than trying to fit it in immediately before departure. This also gives your cat a calmer, unhurried introduction to their pen rather than a rushed handover on your way to catch a plane. We do ask that you check our closed dates before booking: we’re closed for drop-offs and pick-ups on 1 January, 12 July, and 25–26 December, and operate restricted 11am–12pm hours on a handful of other holidays through the year, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, both dates that come up often for travellers.

Booking around peak holiday periods

Airport travellers tend to book in clusters around school holidays, and summer in particular. If you already know your dates, it’s worth booking well ahead rather than waiting until closer to your flight. We go into this in more detail in why summer dates fill up fast. For anyone booking a longer trip, a fortnight or more abroad, our long-stay boarding service is built specifically around that kind of extended absence.

What to sort out before you fly

A little preparation goes a long way, especially when you’re also juggling your own travel admin. Before your flight:

• Confirm your cat’s vaccination is up to date. See our guide on cattery vaccination requirements in Northern Ireland
• Book your cat’s stay as early as you can, particularly for peak travel dates
• Pack enough food and any medication for the full length of your trip, plus a buffer in case of delays
• Leave us an emergency contact who can make decisions if you’re unreachable mid-flight or on a connecting journey
• Double check our opening hours align with your travel times, and plan drop-off the day before an early flight if needed

What happens if your return is delayed

Flight delays and cancellations happen, and we understand that travel plans occasionally shift by a day either way. If your return is delayed, contact us as soon as you know; we will always do our best to extend your cat’s stay to cover the gap. It’s far easier for everyone if we hear from you directly rather than finding out on the original pick-up day, so keep our number handy while you’re travelling.

Not just for holidaymakers

While plenty of our airport-adjacent bookings are families heading off on holiday, we also look after cats for people relocating abroad, business travellers on longer trips, and anyone with a connecting journey through Belfast International who needs somewhere properly reliable for their cat in the meantime. Whatever the reason for your trip, the same private pens, the same daily routine, and the same person, Primrose, looking after your cat throughout.

If you’re planning a trip through Belfast International Airport and need somewhere calm and convenient for your cat, get in touch through our contact page or give us a call to check availability.