Terms and conditions for boarding with Megalong Valley Cat Retreat (MVCR).

Opening hours:

Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday) 9am -11am All visits are by prior arrangement only

Closed every Wednesday and Sunday

Closed every NSW Public Holiday and make up days

Private tours of the facility are by prior arrangement only during school terms and are conducted independently of boarding (i.e. not on the day of arrival for boarding or departure).

Check ins and Check outs

Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday) 9am -11am

Any check-out after these hours will incur an extra night's fee.

The office is closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and all public holidays and make up days.

Check in appointment time must be confirmed at least 48hrs prior to check in (or by 4pm Saturday if drop off is Monday).

Any last minute changes after this confirmation may incur an administration fee. Please note, this refers to time of appointment, not date- please refer to separate items refering to changes of dates and cancellations.

Health and Medical Information

(i) All guests must be desexed.

(ii) Vaccination requirements: All guests must be fully immunised to a minimum of F3 and up to date with boosters at least two weeks prior to boarding with us. It is essential that a copy of the current vaccination certificate is received by us prior to boarding. Should a guest arrive without the required vaccination certificate, admission will be automatically be refused.

(iii) Worm, flea and tick treatments:

For the benefit of all guests, it is a requirement that all guests be treated for worms, fleas and ticks prior to boarding. If any sign of the above conditions are noted during boarding, guests will be treated and the cost of any such treatments will be charged to the owner.

(iv) Ailments and pre-existing medical conditions Owners must advise of any known pre-existing ailments, medical conditions and prior injuries at the time of booking, including any vet treatments received in the previous 6 months on the booking form or in writing prior to boarding. This may include but may not be limited to kidney disease, liver disease, allergies, special dietary requirements, etc. A letter may be required from your vet confirming that the guest is fit for boarding for the duration. Any potential guest who is experiencing symptoms (which may include but not be limited to, sneezing, coughing, weeping eyes, nasal discharge), prior to or on the day of arrival, will be refused admission. MVCR reserves the right to refuse admission of any cat that has been previously diagnosed with a contagious illness including FIV or cat flu. Any damages incurred as a result of the owner failing to disclose this information, including associated costs will be born by the owner, including any and all compensation sought by the owners of other guests.

(v) Medications: MVCR can administer medications (excluding injections) between usual operating hours (7:30am - 4:30pm each day) at a fee of $5 per day per guest. Confirmation by the owner or vet that medications can be received during these hours is required as well as confirmation that the guest is compliant with direct oral administration of medications without risk of injury to staff. Preferably, medications can be given in their food.

(vi) Arrival in an appropriate secure cat carrier is a requirement of all guests. The carrier is to remain at MVCR for the duration of the stay for the benefit of safety and ease of transport of guests from their car and within the cat house as necessary, or if for any reason transport of guests from the MVCR is required.

(vii) In the unlikely event that a guest requires veterinary consultation and treatment during their stay at MVCR, I give consent for my cat to be taken to the nearest available vet at Blackheath, Katoomba or Leura at fee of $50-$100 per trip (depending on location). All vet fees will be charged to the owner. You (or your nominated authorised person) will be contacted when possible before any veterinary treatment is adminstered. The decision to seek veterinary consultation is at the discretion of the directors of MVCR and any decision of the director of MVCR and Veterinarian regarding any treatment of your cat will be final. You authorise your nominated vet on the booking form to be contacted for relevant information to faciliate diagnosis and treatment. In the event that you or your nominated person cannot be contacted, you consent for the amount of $500 (minimum) and a maximum amount (amount noted on your booking confirmation) to be spent on veterinary care until such time that you can be contacted ( this maximum amount can be changed on the customer portal prior to boarding). Any related charges incurred will need to be paid by the check-out date.

(viii) MVCR is not responsible in any way for any loss, accident, sickness or death which may occur through any circumstance. Should you have any concerns about your cat's welfare at collection or after their stay, you should inform us immediately at, or within 24 hours of, collection. The owner releases MVCR and it’s employees from all liability and costs for injury, illness, death, loss or damage of any kind whatsoever that may occur to any animal in the care of MVCR.

(ix) In the unlikely event that after admission a guest displays symptoms of a possible contagious illness, at the discretion of management they will be placed in a special quarantine bay as a precaution with appropriate infection control procedures undertaken and the owner informed as soon as possible. The quarantine bays are in a section isolated from other guests and are of an equal standard and size to other accommodation onsite, however they do not have views and the affected guest will not have access to larger shared play areas. Appropriate veterinary advice will be sought as necessary and the owner informed.

(x) The guest's owner will notify MVCR at the earliest point of making booking if the guest has any behavioural issues such as anxiety, aggression or excessive vocalisation. MVCR reserves the right to decline admission of any guest for any reason with or without justification.

(xi) I understand that it is common for cats to be at risk of losing weight when away from home due to the associated stress and possibly not eating the same amount of food as at home. I accept that this may occur and is not due to lack of food provision or care of my cat by MVCR.

Bookings and Payments:

See website for current rates

Minimum stays:

Off-peak season: 2 nights

Peak season: 5 nights

Christmas and Summer School Holidays: 10 nights All boarding charges are per calendar night and based on checkout during regular check out times prior to 11am. Later check out times may be negotiable in certain circumstances with adequate notice but will incur an extra night's fee.

Peak periods:

All NSW public holidays and long weekends, All NSW school holidays including private schools, commencing from the day school breaks up until the day students return. For 2025, dates are 1/1 – 31/1, 11/4 – 28/4, 9/6, 27/6 – 21/7, 26/9 – 13/10 & 12/12 – 31/1/26.

Deposits:

Peak periods: 50% deposit is requried and is to be received at least 30 days prior to the commencement date (minimum $50). Bookings may be cancelled if deposit is not received.

Non-peak periods: No deposit required.

Balance:

Peak periods: Outstanding balance can be paid onsite no later than at check-out or prior by online transfer.

Non-Peak periods: Outstanding balance can be paid onsite no later than at check-out or prior by online transfer.

Discounts:

Stays of 30 days or more: 5% discount

Seniors Card: 10% discount all bookings

All discounts are applicable to any stay throughout the year except to those within the peak christmas holiday period.

Policy for cancellations and/or changes to bookings

Peak periods (booking as a part or whole falls within these dates):

Bookings cancelled with less than 30 days notice prior to check-in will receive the 50% deposit in the form of credit for future booking valid for 12 months. If stay is shortened for any reason after the commencement of booking refund credits are not given for the non-boarding nights.

Non-peak periods (booking as a whole falls within these dates):

If stay is shortened for any reason a refund will not be given for the non-boarding nights, but a credit for these for a future booking.

Personal items:

Guests are welcome to bring their own favourite food/treats. However, there will be no discount given. If own food is brought and requires any preparation above and beyond the usual preparation, a fee of $5 per day will be charged. Guests are welcome to bring their own items such as favourite bedding , toy and brush (clean and flea free). However, MVCR is not reponsible for the loss or deterioration/destruction of personal items.

Other:

-Details (name, phone and email) are to be provided to MVCR of a reliable alternate contact person who will be available to respond to attempts to contact in the unlikely event of an emergency. If the owner expects that another authorised person will be collecting their guest at check-out this must be communicated at time of booking or at the earliest possible time directly with MVCR and their details provided in writing. MVCR will not release a guest to anyone other than the owner or nominated authorised person.

-The guest's owner consents for MVCR to take photos and use them for the purposes of care and record-keeping and for use on the website and/or social media (deidentified) on an opt-out basis. If you do not wish photos to be used on the website or social media this must be indicated in the booking form or in writing before boarding.

-Visitors, guests and associates, enter MVCR at their own risk. The directors of MVCR are not liable for any loss, injury, damage or death to any guest, visitor, employee or any loss or damage to their property

-The guest's owner accepts that, in the unlikely event of a bushfire or other emergency, the management of MVCR will be in consultation with relevant agencies such as the local RFS, FRNSW, local council and other authorities and may be ordered to, or at their own discretion decide to, evacuate MVCR guests (in their individual carriers in appropriate vehicles) to the nearest evacuation centre. Owners would be notified in such instances.

-If for any reason, guests are not collected within 2 weeks of the check-out date, MVCR has the right to give them to an appropriate organisation.