Very sick cat after stay in Boarding Cattery?

Question

My previously healthy indoor living 3 year old cat has come back from a 9 day long stay at a boarding cattery with vomiting (green fluid) and diarrhoea. She is now staying at the local veterinary hospital on a drip and antibiotics (as a precaution). The vet examined her and said that she had a slight fever and abdo discomfort and was dehydrated, but otherwise not too bad and she thinks that my cat will get better - She is fully up to date with her vaccinations.

The vet couldn't tell me what the problem is or whether it is a virus or bacteria.

Has anyone any experience of d & v illnesses running trough a boarding cattery and if so, what was the illness? This cattery is attached to a veterinary surgery (not my vet) and is clean and insists on seeing vaccination records.

The cattery have said that there haven't been any other cases of d&v, but I'm not sure if I believe them.

Answer 1

I'd at least send them the bills for your current cat's vet visit.

:( evil.

Answer 2

Sue their arses. How dare they lie to you in such a way. It was probably looked after badly or mistreated.. Poor thing..

Answer 3

you should try to find people in the area who have used the same cattery in the past, and see if they have had any problems. your cat obviusly picked up this illness in the cattery, so you wuld expect them to do something, even if it is pay your vets fees. ask your vet to run tests to find out exactly what has caused this. hopefully the cattery will buck up its ideas and no other cat will have to suffer. i hope your puss gets better soon!!

Answer 4

There is no way of knowing what the problem is. Sending a cat to a boarding facility is just as bad as sending a child off to pre-school for the 1st time. Different/unfamiliar germs.

If the animals are not kept separate & hands not disinfected between each cage, there is always the chance of spreading germs.

You *should* most certainly bring the situation to the notice of the boarding facility ASAP.

It is also possible that someone falsified their vaccination certificates.

Answer 5

I think you answered your question.  That would p*** me off to no end.  I would check with your vet and see what your recourses could be.  And then present them with the bill.  Or take them to small claims court.  You are one of those people that take pet ownership very seriously, and I'm sure when you left her she was fine.

I would also check into their history if you can; this is just terrible.  It's your worst nightmare.  I hope things work out ok.  Good luck.

Answer 6

I would ask the boarding place if at anytime your cat was caged or played with any other of the cats there.  Ask what type of cleaning products were used around your pet..

Answer 7

Ask your vet to do a "pooh sample" so to find out what she has......

The cattery is not going to admit if there have been anymore sick cats, So i would take it to your local paper and also get your local council to do a spot check (they would licence the cattery)

Hope you cat gets better soon xx

Answer 8

Hi i have worked in a good boarding cattery for over a year now. We have never had cats get this from our cattery and the cattery where you cat has been sounds very good specially as its attached to a vets. Your cat may have picked up a virus from somewhere she should still be insured our cattery insures the cats a further 24 hours after they have left. Hope she gets better soon im sure she will be fine and that what ever she has will pass.

Answer 9

Green vomit in cats is bile. That poor cat is throwing up her own bile! I would sue the c**p out of that place!!!!! I hope she makes it through - She's in my thoughts and prayers. In the meantime, get some solid statements from your vet on what could have happened (what she could have contracted) while in there and get yourself an attorney. You could save a lot of other pets by doing this! Good luck!!!

Answer 10

nope, but my dog stayed in kennels for a week and came home with awful kennel cough bless her.

Answer 11

Get a note from your vet explaining the condition of your cat and what treatments were required. Make sure all details of your cat's condition are documented, and take this information to the cattery along with your receipts from both from vet and the cattery.

Tell them that there is a direct correlation between the time spent at the cattery and the sickness afterwards and that if they do not refund you both the expenses for the stay at the cattery (that made your cat ill instead of keeping her safe) AND your veterinary bills, you will sue.

Problems:  This is not foolproof because you have the following unknowns:

- Both bacterial and viral infections are contagious, but since you don't know which she has (and you will probably never find out) you may have difficulties convincing them that there IS a direct correlation between the stay and her illness;

- You may have signed a contract with the cattery indicating their terms of liability. Review any and all documents from the cattery which explain their responsibilities and obligations, as you may have very well already signed a contract saying that they are NOT responsible if your cat gets sick once she gets home.

In either case, you should STILL demand the money and if they refuse to pay both the bills, then ask that they only pay for the cattery since they broke their obligation to keep your cat safe... If they still refuse to pay after that, tell them that you are going to write a strongly-worded letter to your local newspaper telling the story and demanding an investigation into their cattery.  IF they STILL don't provide you with compensation, SUE.

If you don't react, other animals will get sick - and may die.  Don't believe a word from the cattery.  If they actually care about animals, they will react appropriately to prevent further infection.

Good luck to you and your kitty!