How do Holiday Premium and Peak Period Rate work?
Some sitters add optional percentage rates for public holiday dates and the school holiday schedule. If a sitter has set one, CatsOnly highlights possible Holiday Premium or Peak Period Rate days in the booking date picker and includes the rate in the estimated total before you send the request.
The dates below are the Holiday Premium dates and Peak Period Rate schedule CatsOnly currently recognises for bookings.
Holiday PremiumPeak Period Rate
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
How CatsOnly chooses between them
CatsOnly combines England and Wales bank holidays with a small set of extra holiday dates, such as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. These are treated as public holidays.
There are two holiday rate types:
- Holiday Premium applies to public holiday dates. It recognises that sitters may be working on a recognised day off.
- Peak Period Rate applies to the school holiday schedule, when availability can be tighter because more owners are booking at once.
If a date is both a public holiday and part of the school holiday schedule, CatsOnly shows it as a Holiday Premium date and applies one holiday rate only:
- If the sitter has set a Holiday Premium, that rate applies.
- If the sitter has not set a Holiday Premium but has set a Peak Period Rate, the Peak Period Rate can apply.
- If neither holiday rate is set, no holiday rate is added.
Holiday Premium dates
CatsOnly treats England and Wales bank holidays plus the extra listed holiday dates as Holiday Premium dates.
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 January, 3 April, 6 April, 4 May, 25 May, 31 August, 24 December, 25 December, 26 December, 28 December, 31 December |
| 2027 | 1 January, 26 March, 29 March, 3 May, 31 May, 30 August, 24 December, 25 December, 26 December, 27 December, 28 December, 31 December |
| 2028 | 3 January, 14 April, 17 April, 1 May, 29 May, 28 August, 24 December, 25 December, 26 December, 31 December |
Peak Period Rate schedule
2026 Peak Periods
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| February half term | 14-22 February |
| Easter holiday | 28 March-12 April |
| May half term | 23-31 May |
| Summer holiday | 23 July-31 August |
| October half term | 24 October-1 November |
| Christmas holiday | 19 December-3 January 2027 |
2027 Peak Periods
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| February half term | 13-21 February |
| Easter holiday | 27 March-11 April |
| May half term | 29 May-6 June |
| Summer holiday | 23 July-31 August |
| October half term | 23-31 October |
| Christmas holiday | 18 December-3 January 2028 |
2028 Peak Periods
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| February half term | 12-20 February |
| Easter holiday | 8-23 April |
| May half term | 27 May-4 June |
| Summer holiday | 24 July-31 August |
| October half term | 21-29 October |
| Christmas holiday | 16 December-2 January 2029 |
Note: School holiday dates can vary slightly by local authority. The Peak Period Rate automatically applies to bookings that fall within the dates listed above.
Before you send the request
Check:
- The start and end dates are correct.
- The estimated total includes any listed holiday rate.
- The service type still matches the care your cat needs.
- Any holiday-specific access, feeding, medication, or home-care notes are included.
If the timing matters for your booking, message the sitter before they accept.
If the price needs changing
The sitter can propose a new price before you pay. If they do, the proposed price replaces the automatic estimate for that booking.
Do not pay the difference outside CatsOnly. Keeping payment in CatsOnly keeps the booking, payment, refund, and support context together.