Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

My cat has escaped from the cattery

77 replies

TheHallouminati · 24/08/2018 15:34

I left my boy in a cattery last thursday to go on holiday. I had a phonecall from the owner of the cattery on wednesday to say that he had clawed his way out of his enclosure in the night. He was spotted that wednesday but ran as soon as he saw humans.
He was adopted by me nearly two years ago- I had very little information on his previous life but he has always been fairly timid of humans and I suspect he was a stray as he spends most of his time outdoors and is a prolific hunter.
The woman who owns the cattery has been putting food out for him but he's not been seen since the morning he was discovered missing and he's not eaten any of the food. They've also been in touch with the local vets as he is chipped but there has been no news. I don't know what to do. The cattery is 9miles away from my home so there's no way he would have made his way home.
I've just unloaded the car after driving home and I've got to head over to the cattery to try and find him myself. What else can I do?

OP posts:
Pissedoffdotcom · 28/08/2018 11:10

Definitely sounds like he escaped earlier. How dare she just shrug this off. I'd want them closed down tbh sod anything else.

I believe the idea of the hoover bag contents is to attract your cat to a familiar scent whilst hopefully deterring other animals because of the human scent. No idea if that is true, but it can't hurt to try.

queenrollo · 28/08/2018 11:11

I am not one usually for naming and shaming when there are other ways to deal with an issue like this but I am afraid that in this instance it sounds very much like they are doing this simply for the money. I would out them and let other people then make an informed decision about whether they want to continue to use this company.

There is no way that my cats could escape from the cattery we use. And if, heaven forbid, it did happen I know that the owner would be out night and day and in all weathers trying to coax my cat back.

It sounds like the people at yours don't actually care very much that this has happened. I also don't think they are being honest about when your cat escaped. Have they shown you the enclosure and how the cat managed to do it?

0range99 · 28/08/2018 18:13

I would name and shame too. They are not being very helpful from the sound of it and don't seem to care about the crap security.

I would be really annoyed if I put my cats in a cattery which someone else's cat had escaped from and I didn't know.

MarthasGinYard · 28/08/2018 18:21

Op

This is truly awful

How on earth does a cat 'claw its way out' of a bloody cattery

The one we us has two kind of shell layers around it.

Hugely negligent

Please warn potential boarders

Keeping everything crossed

Get in touch with local protection league and all local vets

Plaster on social media photos etc

Hope you're re United very soon Thanks

Wolfiefan · 28/08/2018 18:25

I am so sorry. Have you told local rescues and vets? Is the cat microchipped? Could you leave out your cat's own litter tray somewhere near the cattery?
I would approach the press if the cattery owner doesn't pull their finger out. Other cat owners need to know this is not a safe place to leave their cats. Bloody awful. Cats shouldn't be able to claw their way out. No way.

Maybugger · 28/08/2018 18:29

Cattery owner's reaction regarding when your cat escaped sounds suspicious - just wondering if you actually saw the hole the cat escaped through? Did cat actually escape or did it die and she's covering up?

MarthasGinYard · 28/08/2018 18:30

I'd also drop in on spec to examine the escape site get pics if possible

Speak with person who discovered escape and any see any entries of incident reports.

Lynne1Cat · 28/08/2018 18:32

put up flyers (with his photo and details on) around the cattery, on lampposts, in letterboxes, door to door. Contact RSPCA, and any cat shelters.

AJPTaylor · 28/08/2018 18:50

Bet it went missing earlier and they called you when they had given up in it coming back.

Aprilshowersinaugust · 28/08/2018 18:58

Please name and shame them. We put our husky in kennels with strict instructions to keep her on a lead. They didn't and she was fine, luckily, I posted on a review that they ignored my instructions as we could have lost our ddog. Other owners need the heads up imo.

HuggedtheRedwoods · 28/08/2018 19:35

I know you are trying to keep them onside but I think its past that, they have let you down badly and dont sound especially concerned about the devastation caused. I would be naming them now, if nothing to else to let other cat owners of potential issues. It always possible this has happened before if they aren't properly secured pens.

Still keeping fingers crossed for you all.

Vinorosso74 · 28/08/2018 19:51

Firstly, I'm so sorry this has happened. I would be devastated too (our lad is currently at the cattery while we visit family).
I would report to whoever gives catteries their license. I know they should have one but no idea who provides them (sorry not v helpful). They can inspect catteries; I know they need evidence of boarders vaccines etc but would assume they need to be happy the premises are safe and fit for purpose.
I think it is wise not to name and shame on here but they need to be honest with you. If not well Google reviews, social media etc.

EachandEveryone · 28/08/2018 23:48

Can you say the area?

BackToTheFuschia7 · 29/08/2018 01:55

This is disgusting. So hope you manage to find him which there is a chance of, so please don’t give up hope either.

Please also name and shame. It’s not spite or revenge - it’s a kindness to other pet owners who need to know to avoid them. Weirdly I know of a kennels who did the same thing - lost a dog, didn’t inform owners immediately. Absolute madness. I would be apocalyptic with anger that they hadn’t given you the chance to search as early as possible.

Chelonia · 29/08/2018 02:33

Vet nurse here. This is absolutely appalling and should never happen. Contact animal control and local council who issue licences to operate. Also contact ALL vets in a 10 mile radius of the cattery - you can find a list on the RCVS website using the Find A Vet function. Make a FB post with photos of the cat and go into a few clinics and ask the receptionist / person who maintains the clinic FB page (most practices have one) if they'll share it on their page and if they will then message it to them there and then (go in the middle of the day though not busy evening surgery time!)
Also put printouts of your wanted poster in the local farm supplies shops and post offices. Good luck, I really feel for you x

KittyLover91 · 29/08/2018 12:12

Im absolutely raging for you!!! Fingers crossed you have your baby back soon xx

MarthasGinYard · 29/08/2018 22:56

Keep checking bk to see if any newsSad

cushioncovers · 30/08/2018 07:36

Keep thinking of you op. I'm so furious on your behalf 😢🤬

MrsMozart · 30/08/2018 08:27

Popping in to see if there's any news.

Still have all crossed.

Sakura7 · 30/08/2018 09:05

Oh I would be absolutely furious. You poor thing, when you put your pet in a cattery or kennels the bare minimum you expect is that they'll be kept safe. Don't give up hope though, cats often show up after going missing. Really hoping it's works out ok.

Also, Chelonia's advice above is excellent, get the word out and you have a chance of finding him.

MarthasGinYard · 01/09/2018 12:43

Any news Op

There is another thread where this has happened

It's absolutely shocking

These places need closing down

theliverpoolone · 01/09/2018 22:58

Would you be able to say what County/area this is? I use a cattery occasionally and am hoping it isn't this one! Really hope you find your cat.

HuggedtheRedwoods · 03/09/2018 22:17

Hows the search going Hallouminati?

Original poster
TheHallouminati · 03/09/2018 22:48

Hi all.
Thanks for the kind wishes, it means a lot. We are in Somerset for those of you who are worried. The cattery I used is a shell type. He managed to get through three doors.
The cattery have put lost posters and leafleted the surrounding area and there have been several sightings although I've never managed to see him.
Until tonight. He's never been hugely affectionate, he was a rescue cat and once we adopted him it became clear that he had previously been stray. So when i saw him tonight he was a bit jumpy. I managed to get close and stroke him but he then began hissing and spitting which he's never done before. Tried to get hold of him but he ran. He seems healthy and has not lost any weight so either he's hunting well or being fed by locals.
Feeling quite despondent really. He has always has something of the wild about him and if we'd have allowed him, he probably would have spent all his time outside. Now he just seems like he's gone totally wild. I'm not even sure that he'll be the same again. I'm still going to try my best to capture him though.

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 03/09/2018 22:51

Oh OpThanks

Certainly not the outcome you hoped for yet

At least you know he's ok though

Thinking of you