Longcroft cat hotel in Moray granted planning permission

Posh dinners served in porcelain bowls await the cats of Moray as the newest Longcroft “cat hotel” gets set to open.

Abi Purser set up the London-based boutique hotel chain in 2010 after being unable to find suitable accommodation for her rescue cat, Norman, while she was on holiday.

She wanted to “rip up the rule book” when it came to catteries.

Now the luxurious getaway is coming to Garmouth following approval by the council earlier this month – making it the first of its kind in Scotland.

Abi shared details on what the four-legged guests should expect when the hotel opens – which could be as soon as summer 2026.

At a starting rate of around £25 per day, cats will be staying in thermostat-controlled suites, each with bespoke furniture and an exercise area.

The building is being transported from Chichester in West Sussex by lorry to its new location on South Road in Garmouth after the retirement of the hotel’s previous owner.

Abi added: “It’s quite sustainable – we’re not throwing anything away.”

To get the repurposed building up to scratch, the team is going to “get their marigolds on and give it a good clean”, Abi added.

Once the dismantled hotel has arrived in Moray, Longcroft use local tradespeople to rebuild it. She described it as “the most complicated flat pack you could ever imagine”.

When the hotel gets up and running, it will be the first in Scotland. Abi said that it was not just the location they looked for, but the individual themselves.

The Moray woman running the boutique accommodation will be doing so out of her own back garden.

Owners can arrange stays for their pets by appointment only to avoid disrupting their neighbours.

The local cat lover stood out to Longcroft and has undergone training from Abi and her team.

Abi said: “We chose her, really, to fly the flag for us in Scotland.”

A typical day for a Longcroft cat will include breakfast, lunch and dinner, all served in porcelain bowls in “meticulously clean” suites.

Nap time and exercise are also part of the all-inclusive stay.

Each guest even leaves with a goodie bag, so they have a nice dinner and treats to come home to.