Huge vet bill after cattery

[wrinkledstocking]

My cat went in cattery for two nights for first time….came home ate , then had supper sick..didn’t eat for two days ,wouldn’t touch a thing ,tempted her with Everything,not interested…vets visit, pills still not eating ..which anyway eneded up two days one night in vets with 2x X-rays bloods ,pain relief, ,drips etc..was blocked colon….HUGE bill ..well due to put her in same cattery agin…had booked this ages ago before all this malarkey ..question is has anyone else had similar experience ,do I put her in the cattery agin and hope for the best…Need to go abroad to empty a property I’m selling so HAVE to go unfortunately.
stressed up to the eyes about it…

It's hard to tell due to your writing style but are the two things connected? Surely it was just a coincidence?

What was the cause of the blocked colon, did it have anything to do with the cattery?

A cat sitter would almost certainly be less stressful for the cat.

I wouldn’t. We have never used catteries (we just pay someone to come in twice a day to feed them and pay them a bit of attention).

Definitely try a cat sitter. They're such sensitive little critters and some just don't cope well with cattery. Mine certainly wouldn't.

I think if the cattery stressed your cat then it could well cause health issues, especially if eating/drinking was affected.
I'd seriously consider getting a pet sitter to visit your home to feed the cat while you are away, maybe even a neighbour would be happy to do it for you.
If that isn't possible then I'd ask the vet if there were any supplements to prevent the blocked colon reoccuring, you could try giving cat milk, cat soup, lick e lix etc while she's in the cattery to make sure she's getting plenty of fluid. Also try zylkene, feliway and blankets from home with your scent on them.

Did the vet tell you the likely cause of the blockage? They must have said something about it and also discussed preventative measure going forward. A blocked colon could have been building up over a period of time due to impacted stool, a hernia or foreign objects for example. Surely your vet told you.

It’s much less stressful for your cat if you let them stay in their own environment and have a trusted family member or friend come to feed them etc.

There are also great cat sitters out there who can do that too. Do some research on local Facebook pages or ask at your vets for recommendations.

We use the cat in a flat app (we don't live in a flat) cat sitter comes in twice a day, we've found one that's actually a vet nurse at the practice we use. I think catteries are very stressful for cats

Many cats are terrified out of their own home. Your cat likely shut down, and didn't drink or move for 2 days - leading to significant constipation. Try to get a cat sitter next time if possible.

Have you told the cattery?
I am surprised they will board her again after that history.

Did they say she had eaten/had a drink?
Did she poo there?

As a kennel owner, I would expect to be told about the problems you have had with her.
I wouldn't accept a dog in if they had such problems and would suggest they look for an alternative provision.

I cat sit via Cat in a Flat a lot, I would 100% suggest get a cat sitter next time. All my cat clients are far happier in their own homes, I would never put my own cat in a cattery. Either one that can stay over if you’re worried about her still being ill, or one that can visit multiple times a day. I’ve just come back from a trip and had a cat sitter stay in our house with my cat for a week and the cat looks visibly disappointed to have us back!