Accepting pets in a holiday let is a good way to increase bookings. According to Bristol's Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, 26% of UK households owned cats and 31% owned dogs. This equates to over 10 million owners of both cats and dogs and a massive opportunity for cottage owners to generate more rental income from their property.

The benefits of accepting dogs is well documented, but what about taking a cat on holiday? After all, they are also part of the family and incur costs (and possibly distress) if left in a cattery.

So should you allow cats in your property? We asked Dylan (and owner Vanessa Warwick) for some useful advice.

Should i allow guests to bring cats?

Dylan says:  Yes, catty guests should definitely be allowed to bring their pets (humans) on holiday.  We get very stressed when we are separated and catteries can cost a lot of money, so, as we are important members of the pack (family) we should definitely go on holiday.  My Mynwood Cat Harness ensures that I can be kept under control at all times, and stay safe, both inside and out.

What extra facilities should I provide?

Dylan says:  Please provide a water bowl.  A catty treat on arrival would be a welcoming gesture and make me feel special.  Advise guests to bring their own basket, litter tray, feeding bowls, and food.  These will help us settle in quickly and feel at home.  My owners have a teflon covered sofa (from David Phillips Furniture) which is perfect for pampered pets, as it cannot get marked or scratched.  Canine and feline friends should be restricted to the downstairs of the property.  Provide a vacuum cleaner that is specifically for pet fur, as this can cause allergies for other guests.

What about damage and cleaning?

Dylan says:  Us cats are very clean and generally do not make a mess or a smell.  However, I recommend that holiday lets owners take an extra deposit to cover additional cleaning ... just in case.   We should also be charged an extra £10 - £20 per week as we are adding to wear and tear of the property.  Tom cats and Queen cats should not be allowed, as toms can spray and queens can howl for a mate when in season, so it is probably best only to bring neutered and spayed cats.

Dylan is a 2 year old spotted Bengal Tiger cat, and is the mascot of Property Tribes, co-founded by his owners and holiday let enthusiasts Vanessa Warwick and Nick Tadd. See more about Dylan and Property Tribes.

Find out more about Cat Jackets.