Does a Cattery have a higher chance of having upper respiratory?

I dont think so.  Serious catteries do always have possibility to isolate the sick in another room, or at worst, in her own cage.   They see their cats several times every day, plays with them etc. So they do usually notice all unwelcome changes practically at once.

This preparadness is one of the normal standards for them.

They are also very anxious to take care of health, and also, they do have good cooparation with their vet.

So they dont wait if it will be better, they do consult the vet. At least per telephone.

But in an unserious cattery, a kitten mill, yes, surely different things may happen. And happens.

Back yard breeders may be almost serious and thus entirely acceptable, but may also be almost kittens mills... So here it differs.

I dont know the situation in USA to say it is entirely not acceptable, but I didnt never heard such here in Sweden.  So I would suspect something not entirely kosher, as they say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levi68 

I know in our Humane Society, we often get upper respiratory. Most times, it's starts with a cat who, under stress developes symptoms and then it spreads. Considering a cattery has a higher than normal cat population and that some "exotics" are more sensitive to stress, would one expect to see this?

Thanks!

I would say no because we're dealing with healthy cats to begin with (at least the catteries I know). Also health is tightly monitored, new cats are from respected catteries and/or quarantined when brought in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levi68 

So, a breeder that puts in her contract "as the new owner of this kitten, I understand that stress related issues such as, coccydia, upper respiratory are common with new kittens and they will not be cause for refund of vet bill". Then has you initial it, would be a big red flag that they are byb or mill...

This is not something I've seen before, I and others I know have a contract guaranteeing good health.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levi68 

 So, a breeder that puts in her contract "as the new owner of this kitten, I understand that stress related issues such as, coccydia, upper respiratory are common with new kittens and they will not be cause for refund of vet bill". Then has you initial it, would be a big red flag that they are byb or mill...

This is what happened to me when I picked up my $1000 Devon Rex whom she handed over very sick with upper.

Unfortunately, I had already paid the day before.

 

As I understand it, such a clausule may have some point, if it talks about URI  appearing in the new place, after several days, as a reaction to the new milieu and the stress.

Yes, I can even see some point.

But handing over a sick cat is apparently the URI catched at the breeder.

The cat CANT be handed over sick. It shall be vet checked and shall be entirely healthy.

Unless the parts agree the cat isnt not entirely healthy and the new owner wishes to cure it.

This way you can probably go forward.  Although you must probably have a lawyer with you.

Although, if it goes word against word...   it will be a maze.

The easiest solution may be you ask to leave back the kitten, minus perhaps 100 dollars if they insists..

Not happy, but what to do??

Good luck!
 

I don't have experience with catteries but I think that in any situation with multiple cats there is a higher chance of URI to go around. In a good cattery I would expect them to treat any URIs promptly and separate the cats as soon as any symptoms appear but I still think it is possible. Also kittens are more susceptible to that sort of thing. However I do not think a good breeder should send a new kitten home with a URI.

I have had an infection go around with my own cats, but because I took them to the vet promptly and they were treated with antibiotics (and everyone got Lysine) only a few caught it, they recovered fairly quickly and it did not get too bad (basically just sneezing, a little crustiness around the nose and some appetite loss) or get passed back around. However, the more cats I think the harder it can be to contain something like this.

Poor little guy, hope he feels better soon.

I don't let mine go so soon after neutering, I get them done 2 weeks before rehoming so they are fully recovered before moving in with their new family.

Paying prior to arrival is not uncommon at all, it's the handing over of a sick kitten that's the problem.

Just wanted to add, it is also possible one of the kittens could have caught something at the vet's office, there is always a risk that they could be exposed to something while there and if they are getting s/n the stress could make them more susceptible. I've had cats get sick after coming home from the vet, either from catching something there or the stress causing symptoms to flare-up from something they already carried. However if she had that in her contract it sounds like she might have had something going around her cattery.

The smoking is definitely something that can make them more likely to be susceptible to URIs or aggravate the symptoms if they already have a URI. Not good for their little lungs to be breathing. :( My mom used to smoke and I always worried about the effect on the animals...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levi68 
So, who should be responsible for this? I think she should because he was handed over sick.
 

I'm sorry, I know this is going to sound awful. but you did accept a sick kitten and sign a contract saying she's not responsible for any vet bills.
 

I guess you are asking about breeding catteries.  In the UK in all decent boarding catteries cats from different households do not mix, there are sneeze guards between the runs and one cleans one's hands between pens.  Each pen is also cleaned with an effective disinfectant between different cats.

And with breeding catteries, really what you are looking at is a multi-cat household situation and if a virus does get in then yes, it will spread.  Pedigree cats don't usually go out and about, breeding ones most certainly not (except for BYBs) so the cats don't have such a good immune system as your average moggie.  Viruses can get in by going to shows (lots of apparently perfectly healthy cats are shedding viruses - the FAB did a study some years back), one might have an outdoor cat as well, and of course visiting the vet can be a risk if someone has an unwell cat there.  And unless breeders have their own stud(s) who doesn't get any outside queens and don't send any queens to an outside stud, going to stud is another way a virus can get into a breeding cattery.

However, no kitten should go to a new home unless 100% well and no recent history (past couple of weeks) of illness.  In the UK kittens registered with the GCCF are at least 13 weeks old and have been vaccinated before going to new slaves, and that greatly reduces the chances of stress making them ill.  They also come with 4 weeks pet insurance, which means if they are ill (and they can get upset tummies easily) some of the costs might be covered - there will be an excess to pay.

Some reading:

http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/infosheets/cat_flu/catflu2.html

He looks horrible.....poor little guy.  To be in that bad of shape he had to have been sick for a while.  It is unconsciable that someone would send a kitty out to a home in that condition. Honestly, I don't know why you took him. I can understand having driven 3 hours but the only way she will stop selling sick kitties is to refuse to take him. 

At this point, you are fully responsible for the kitty as you signed a contract saying you understood you were taking a sick cat. 

Has your vet recommended a nebulizer treatment?  That may help clear him up as well. 

Poor little guy. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Levi68 

I suppose I will never know...but I'd bet that even if I demanded my money back, she didn't have $1000 sitting around to give to me.

 

Probably not since funds tend to go right back into the cattery, but an arrangement could have been worked out. But what's done is done, it's nice to see him looking healthier in the new pics, really is very cute