DCat bit the cattery owner :(

[violetbunny]

DCat is in the cattery until 31st Dec while I'm away on holiday visiting family (none of us are in the UK). I just had an email from the cattery owner that DCat has been very aggressive since he arrived, he has been attacking other cats and just attacked and bit the cattery owner. Apparently the owner had to break up Dcat's attack on another cat, and DCat scratched the owner's legs and gave him deep bite on the arm. Owner is currently at the urgent doctor's getting treatment. Apparently he was wearing heavy gloves and DCat still managed to bite him

The owner ideally wanted me to collect DCat ASAP as he needs to be isolated from other cats. They issue is the cattery is completely full so nowhere to isolate DCat, other than the tiny wee pen he sleeps in at night. (During the day the cats roam around a large open area, but DCat is no longer allowed to do this because of the threat to other cats). He can put DCat in his own room but not for a few more days as there isn't one available until then.

We are staying at my Mum's so DP has offered to fly back from where she lives (about 8hrs drive / 1hr flight from where we live) on Boxing Day to collect DCat. My mum seems to think this is madness as he's "just a cat", but I'm just worried that DCat is clearly miserable and stressed out, otherwise he wouldn't be acting so aggressively. When he's at home he's happy and affectionate so I think he's just terrified so is lashing out 🙁

Feel a bit like I can't win, because if no one collects DCat I will be worrying about him for the rest of our time away. But also don't want to put out DP or my family either. (I could also fly back home myself but then I think Mum would be super annoyed...!)

Not really sure what I'm asking, just wondered if any cat owners might sympathise, given my family seem to think I have nothing to worry about as he's "just a cat"... !

Here is the obligatory pic of the biting offender...

@Fluffycloudland77

www.thegrovecathotel.co.uk/index.html

I would book myself into this place.

That looks great! I'd happily book myself in there! 😂

We've used a cat sitter when we've gone on holiday before. She comes in twice a day and feeds and plays with them. The cats are still free to go in and out using a cat flap and have the run of the house too.

Does the owner do vaccination checks and vet checks before they come in if they're all going to mix? What do they do if cats fight and get injured?

The cat shouldn't be allowed to be mixing with other cats. That's a very bizarre cattery. No wonder he's unhappy!

We did consider a catsitter and have used one for short trips before, but for various reasons we didn't think it was the right choice for them for the length of time we are away. We are going away later in the year and will be getting a house sitter who can keep a close eye on them. It's very clear that the cattery isn't the right fit for DCat.

Our cats are only a year and a half old so we haven't had much experience with catteries, we did visit several in person before we booked and this one seemed like the best, it seems we just made a mistake. I came on here because my family weren't being supportive in us going back home to get him, now I feel under attack from other posters for even having booked here in the first place.

So thank you to everyone who has been supportive but I think I'll be leaving this thread now, I feel bad enough already about the situation DCat is in and my family thinking we are ridiculous for collecting him, I don't need to feel under attack for having booked there in the first place as well, it's not constructive

I have never heard of a cattery where the cats roam and can mix with other cats.

It's a recipe for disaster.

The only ones I have ever used, all cats have their own rooms.

It's no wonder that your cat is unhappy. Mine would be attacking every cat.

My cat hates all other cats. We had to stop sending her to a cattery as she became very distressed and went on hunger strike.

@Fluffycloudland77 that looks amazing. My girls cattery isn't quite as posh. But I'd happily book my self in as well. They are loved there and that's what matters.

I used to have to put my cat in the cattery every christmas because we were always visiting family and it ruined the whole festive period for me every year as I was always worried sick. So don’t worry OP I would also be collecting him!

After a few years I thought right I’m not doing this anymore. And now I just pay someone to come into the house 3 times a day to feed, water, have a quick play with him and just check everything’s okay. 3 visits of about 30 mins may not sound that much but he prefers it so much more just being in his own home - I’d rather him be unsupervised in his own territory rather than supervised in a place he doesn’t know or like iyswim.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using a cattery OP. I'm far more relaxed when my two are in the cattery than at home with a vet sitter. Though she's excellent. It's just an odd set up from a British point of view. I'm sure he'd be fine in a cattery that doesn't mix them up!

This does seem strange. Never seen a cattery that would allow cats to share with other cats they don’t know.

My pair got stockings last year in their cattery.

Gaps between each pen so the cats aren't too close to each other which stresses them out

It’s not just to keep them apart, the gaps have to be a certain distance to prevent passing disease or infection.

With o/p’s set up if one cat is carrying something, say fiv, or another virus of some sort, even simple worms and fleas, that set up would have them all infected.

It’s obviously the way it’s done over there. It just seems madness to us.

But as @Toddlerteaplease says, the cattery works perfect for them so would agree don’t feel bad - you need to find what works for DCat!

I’ve heard of it abroad but in the uk it’s all individual pens. Horses for courses and all that.

There’s no need to kick op when’s she’s down, she went through hell and high water to find that cat when he was lost earlier this year.

Gosh my cats would hate that, does sound a very unusual set up. Hopefully him biting is just a stress reaction to another kitty

Hope you get them sorted and settled and it doesn't disrupt your holiday too much

violetbunny just in case you do come back to this thread, it sounds like you did your very best to make sure your cats were happy and safe. Sadly it didn't work out but I feel you have taken a bit of a bashing on this thread which isn't fair!! You obviously care very much for your pets and have made a responsible decision in collecting your cats early. We have a couple of cats and a house sitter worked out very well for us earlier in the year.

Enjoy the rest of the Christmas holiday 🎄💐

Oh and to the poster who shared the link to the posh cat hotel ........ wow, it looks amazing (though I'm not sure one of our cats needs any encouragement to watch (catch and eat 🙈) birds!!!

You're doing the right thing by getting him collected. You werent to know that he would react like that but you will know for the future that its not the right environment for him. Hope you can still have a good time this Christmas

There is also a luxury cattery near me with cat suites.

clydevalleycathotel.com/about-us/

We all get it wrong sometimes, this hasn't worked out but you are remedying it as fast as you can, hope it doesn't spoil Christmas too much. We use a mixture of cattery / cat sitter too, depending on the length of stay, how far away we are, availability.

I know pretty much everyone has said it, but this set up is an awful idea and asking for trouble! My extremely docile cat who avoids confrontation at at costs would also bite\attack if cornered.
Cats are quite territorial so I'm not surprised.

My very docile Persian is absolutely fine with other Persians being in her house. But a visiting moggy in the garden resulted in a punctured eyeball and a week at the vets.

That set up seems like it would possibly be okay for dogs but for cats??? And even for dogs and insurance nightmare every time any dog attacks another. It's crazy! Almost every cat in that cattery must be seriously stressed out!

My cat is tiny. 7 years old and looks like a kitten still but she'll run straight outside and see off any cat or dog who dares to go even near our garden fence. She's not aggressive, she just sits there and creeps them out stares them out until they leave. If I put her in an area with loads of other cats god knows what she would react like.
I'm very surprised anyone would think a set up like that would work.

OP, at least you know to go elsewhere next time.

OP, I don't think anyone is having a go at you for sending you cat there. How would you know? Especially if it's the norm there and you've only had cats for 18months.

But are they having a go at the people who own it? Kinda. Yeah. As a vet nurse, the owner should know this stuff surely? I would assume cats aren't different from country to country? Whether a cat says meow, miau or miaou, surely they all react the same ways to other cats in their vicinities?

This is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard!!! What kind of mad cattery is this? No cattery ever let's cats mixing this. My cat would attack anything that moved. A normal cattery is one where they have their own sleeping area and runs and absolutely no mixing. I mean they vould catch anything from the other cats its massively unhygienic for a start. Dont go back there.

Glad dh is going home as this sounds like hell for the very vast majority of cats. There is no way a cattery that does this has any understanding of cat behaviour and cats' needs at all.

I don't think people are criticising you OP, it's just, through British eyes, it's a very bizarre set up and not something you'd ever see here.