Cat flu after cattery stay

Hi Newbie to the site here. Hoping I can get some of your opinions on what has happened to my little guy.

So I have two cats Toby (Cameo DSH polydactyl) and Kumba (3 legged DMH tabby). When we go on holiday they go to the same cattery, really fancy, they have large pods instead of cages and a big play area where the cats are let out individually. It is quite expensive but worth it for my babies. In the past the staff there have been awesome, they really care about the cats and once when Toby got a UTI when we were away they were really great taking him to vets and gave me updates everyday.

So I dropped my cats off at the cattery as we were going on a 3 week trip. My first thought when we got there is that the owners have changed and the staff were all different. No one checked their vaccination card (they just had yearly booster vaccines a month prior to going in) even though their system should have shown they were due for vaccination. The cattery lady came to take them and I asked if I could settle them in (always have done in the past) and she seemed a bit surprised but it was fine. I explicitly asked them to contact me if there were a y issues or take to vet as I'm fully insured. Got them settled in and went on holiday.

While I was on holiday I rang them once a week to see how they were. The first week I rang another older lady was looking after them and she said they were getting on well. The second week I rang the older lady seemed weirded out that I was ringing again to ask if they were alright. I explained it was because Toby had previously had a UTI and I just like to know how they are doing. Third week my Mum rang as I was in an area where I had no phone and the older lady said "I only just rang her a few days ago (it was actually a week) and they are the same as before". Basically she made the impression it was very busy and we shouldn't keep ringing. I became concerned when I was on their website and saw that a lady left a 1 star review that day saying her cat got flu and fleas in the cattery.

When I went the pick my boys up the younger lady was there again. I asked her if I could come through and help get my boys (again always fine in the past) but she said no its fine. Then as we were leaving she said "oh we've had a bit of an outbreak of cat flu. Kumba seems fine but Tobys been sneezing a bit you just need to keep an eye on them and make sure they are eating". I just came off a 27hr flight and I'd had some sleeping tablets so I didnt hang around to ask questions, I just wanted to get home.

Well once we are home I noticed Kumba (not Toby) seemed really ill, he sneezed over 25 times in 1 hour and sounds strange but knew he was sick because he always gets really clingy when he's sick.

Took him to vet and he has cat flu.
No fever but raspy chest according to vet. She put him on antibiotics for prevention of secondary infection (especially since don't know how long he was sneezing for) and told me to monitor him at home and bring him back for recheck.

Anyway my husband is really upset that he got sick. I'm upset too but from what I understand its not totally preventable but I was a bit cross they didn't tell me he was getting sick before we got back. Also they thought it was the other cat that was sick (who seems fine) so I'm wondering if they got them mixed up?

Anyway today the young lady rang me as a courtesy call to ask how they were. I told them unfortunately Kumba had cat flu and he had to go to the vet and is on antibiotics. She seemed really surprised to hear it and a little upset. I told her I know it is just one of those things and thanks for looking after them as I don't want her to feel bad. Then she said well hopefully he gets better soon and hopefully we'll see you again soon.

Sorry for the essay but I'm so confused about this. Given the above what I want to know is:

1) Is it reasonable for me to ask once a week how my cats are doing?

2) Is cat flu preventable in catteries? Does it mean their hygiene is not good? how common is it?

3) Do you think they should of told me my cat was getting sick and keeping a record of how long he's been sick for?

4) Your general thoughts on the situation!

I'm not normally a complainer (ever) but I want to email them about it. Unfortunately I just have no idea what to say because I don't know if cat flu is just part and parcel of them going to thr cattery. Also I don't want the younger girl to get in trouble because she seemed good and caring.

Anyway Kumba is going back for a recheck tomorrow but he seems much better. He has been spoilt with lots of cuddles. He is sleeping on my pillow at the moment as he always does when feeling fragile.

Sorry for the long post but I feel upset about what happened and I think someone elses opinion would really help. Thank you

1) Absolutely! Huh, I'd be tempted to call daily, they should know that these are your fur kids and happily give you the latest. Weekly is beyond reasonable.

2) Not really preventable, but I have to say that it was caused by taken in a sick kitty, allowing him/her to be in areas where the virus is passed on to others, it really depends on if this is often or rare for them. Not a cut and dry answer on that.

3) Absolutely! 

Thoughts on this, I would be speaking to someone in management about your experience. You have been happy before when they've stayed, but to me if there are unfamiliar faces who seem to be giving substandard care, I'd want to know about this immediately if it were my business.

Let her know now you feel leery of bringing them again.

Thank you so much for your reply and advice catwoman. It's good to have my thoughts confirmed from another cat mum. You see I'm very protective over my fur babies and sometimes I don't know when I'm overreacting. Although I'm pretty sure that's never as I would do anything for them , but sometimes non cat people don't "get it" if you know what I mean

Stress is the number one contributor to illnesses such as URIs, so I'm not surprised he came down with one after being at the cattery. After all, you'd left him in a strange place with new people, sounds, smells, and routines. 

To answer your questions:

1. No, it's not unreasonable for you to call and ask how your kitties are doing. 

2. No, it's not preventable, but there are things that can be done to cut down on the likelihood of your cat getting it. However, even with totally sanitary conditions, due to the stress factor, your kitty might have gotten sick any way. 

3. Yes, they should've kept a record of how long he'd been sneezing and informed you. 

I would email them and let them know he was sick, he was taken to the vet and is improving, but going forward, it would be a nice practice for them to monitor the cats better and include a daily check up sheet noting any changes in health or litter box habits just so you'll know if you have to take them to the vet for something like this again.

Your kitties were boarded there for three weeks and one got sick and they didn't tell you about it. I would be very upset if that had happened to mine. Secondly, you gave them Vet info and they did not call to ask you if you'd want them to be taken in as one is not well. I do agree stress does bring up colds and such but given they had stayed before, I have to say, your kitty shouldn't have gotten sick, especially if he is young. This is a cattery not a shelter. They should not be letting in sick or unvaccinated kitties.  And it seems as that someone else;s cat has gotten sick and even fleas. Did you happen to check yours for fleas.

Parssta said:

1) Is it reasonable for me to ask once a week how my cats are doing?

2) Is cat flu preventable in catteries? Does it mean their hygiene is not good? how common is it?

3) Do you think they should of told me my cat was getting sick and keeping a record of how long he's been sick for?

4) Your general thoughts on the situation!

I'm not normally a complainer (ever) but I want to email them about it. Unfortunately I just have no idea what to say because I don't know if cat flu is just part and parcel of them going to thr cattery. Also I don't want the younger girl to get in trouble because she seemed good and caring.

Anyway Kumba is going back for a recheck tomorrow but he seems much better. He has been spoilt with lots of cuddles. He is sleeping on my pillow at the moment as he always does when feeling fragile.

Sorry for the long post but I feel upset about what happened and I think someone elses opinion would really help. Thank you

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Hello Parssta, welcome to the cat forum.  I am very pleased that Kumba is improving.

1.  I think it perfectly reasonable to ring up weekly to enquire about your cats.  In the event you were completely justified in doing so.

2.  I am a human doctor, not a vet and any advice that I give about cats should be checked by your vet.  However, I understand that cat flu is spread by direct transmission via infected food bowls or by inhalation of infected droplets.   The two most common viruses causing cat  are Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) or Feline Calcivirus (FCV) and the incidence of infection by either of these is significantly (but not completely) abolished by early vaccination. 

From your experience with the cattery, under its new management, they may have not checked all their boarded cat's vaccination certificates - and excluded any who are unvaccinated - thus allowing a carrier cat to be boarded. 

Carrier cats, or those suffering from cat flu, can cause spread of infection by contaminating food or food bowls.  Poor hygiene in the form of inadequate cleanliness of food bowls can therefore contribute to infection. 

A  cat coughing or sneezing may cause fine droplets of infected saliva or nasal secretions to be inhaled by neighbouring cats,  and cats who are boarded close together are therefore more likely to contract cat flu.

3.  Yes they should have let your mother know if Kumba was sick.  The should also have kept records that Kumba was sneezing.

4.  I would be most reluctant to use this cattery again.  I am not saying that this particular cattery allows any of these contributors to cat flu to flourish, but spread of infection is more likely if they ARE present and  cat flu is commoner in poorly managed catteries.   Cat Flu is most definitely NOT part  and parcel of going to a cattery .

With all best wishes, and keep up those cuddles,

Geoffrey