How often is it reasonable to ask for updates from a cattery?

Kittyquestion12 · 2026-02-01T09:53:49+00:00

We usually have a cat sitter if we’re away for a few days, but decided a cattery would be better/safer as we’re away for a bit longer. But I’ve got terrible cat mum anxiety. Our cat is quite sensitive and I’m worried about how they’re doing. I’m used to twice daily updates from the cat sitter inc videos… I don’t want to hound the cattery staff who I’m sure are busy looking after the all, but would it be reasonable to ask for an update a few times?

WonderingWanda · 01/02/2026 09:56

I don't ever ask for updates but our cattery did give me a midweek update the first time our cat was there just to reassure us they are doing ok. Maybe once would be ok but its really not normal practice at the catteries I've used.

Realistically, are you going to cut your holiday short if they day your cat seems a bit fed up? If you cat was unwell and not eating they would contact you for advice.

gototogo · 01/02/2026 10:03

I’ve never heard of such a thing, they contact you if there’s a problem otherwise you don’t hear anything, they are professionals. My dcat was always fine despite hating going in, was all for show, ddog was similar, protesting in the car park but lapping it up there (persuading owner to let him in her house!)

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/02/2026 10:06

I've never had an update form a cattery, I've never even considered it.
Including from the cattery that I spent 30mins apologising to my cat for leaving her there! 😂

I drop in and feed my neighbours various animals and always send 'proof of life' photos, but a cattery they're literally trapped, they can't go anywhere and get lost or anything, so I've never worried.

Original poster

Kittyquestion12 · 01/02/2026 10:26

Ok this is helpful to know as to what’s the norm! It’s all new to us - and I felt so bad driving away 🙈 I’ve read about people cats being so stressed they’ve become ill and never been themselves after being in the cattery, which I think has fed into my worry!

OP posts:

user1471548941 · 01/02/2026 10:43

My cattery don’t give updates, they’d be fine if I called them midweek however to check in.

But, my cats are happier in the cattery than they are at home with a sitter. My stressy ginger lovebug assumes his Dad (my DH) has abandoned him and it causes all sorts of issues…. This logic doesn’t seem to apply when they go to the cattery, together, to the extend that they go when DH is working away, to prevent expensive, stress induced wee issues 🙈. The cattery owned knows them, has built a bond with them and spends time with them every day, insists on giving them goodbye cuddles!

Not all catteries are created equal, but we’ve found a good one, built a bond with them and it gives us peace of mind in the long termb

Original poster

Kittyquestion12 · 01/02/2026 10:48

user1471548941 · 01/02/2026 10:43

My cattery don’t give updates, they’d be fine if I called them midweek however to check in.

But, my cats are happier in the cattery than they are at home with a sitter. My stressy ginger lovebug assumes his Dad (my DH) has abandoned him and it causes all sorts of issues…. This logic doesn’t seem to apply when they go to the cattery, together, to the extend that they go when DH is working away, to prevent expensive, stress induced wee issues 🙈. The cattery owned knows them, has built a bond with them and spends time with them every day, insists on giving them goodbye cuddles!

Not all catteries are created equal, but we’ve found a good one, built a bond with them and it gives us peace of mind in the long termb

That’s what I’m m hoping that we’ll find somewhere she doesn’t mind going to and then we’ll have peace of mind when we’re away. She seems to get into scraps/injured often at home by other cats, so it just feels more risky/bigger responsibility for pop in cat sitter for her to stay home if it’s more than a few days. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

OP posts:

Smartiepants79 · 01/02/2026 11:07

Never really. My current cattery maybe sends one or two messages over a fortnight. No other cattery I’ve used has ever sent any.

SheSpeaks · 01/02/2026 11:10

If the cat has escaped, is sick, injured or dead, or if the cattery burns down and has to rehome all its residents.

Really that’s it, and I have had much loved cats all my life.

YouKnowIThinkAboutYouAllTheTime · 01/02/2026 11:14

It depends on the cattery. My friend runs one and sends a photo/video and little update every day/every other day.

Toddlerteaplease · 01/02/2026 13:48

I usually check she’s settled. Then they post pictures on Facebook. I have complete trust in them to tell me if there is a problem. They know her well. They texted to tell me they were so proud of how confident she’d become. 🥰

gototogo · 01/02/2026 13:52

To be honest leaving dcat with her supposed owner (adult dsd) was far more risky as she would forget to feed the cat, the cattery was safe and reliable

mondaytosunday · 01/02/2026 14:00

Twice a day updates? Whoa! When I have sitters (I use Trustedhousesitters.com) if they send me a pic or two every couple days that’s fine. I always assume everything is fine and dandy unless I hear otherwise.
They are not going to do this. And won’t it increase your anxiety if for example they are late or miss a day? No news is good news.

mrsdolittle · 01/02/2026 14:14

My Dcat is currently at the Cattery - been there a week so far - another week to go. I haven’t had any contact from them and wouldn’t expect to unless there was a problem.

That said, I will probably email them later just to enquire about her welfare.

Thing is she is very timid and I think spends most of the time hiding in her little house at the back of her run. So there won’t be any news as such.

I know she is pretty miserable but she is warm and well fed and if she needed medical attention she would get it. She just needs to sit it out until we can collect her. Then she can be absolutely furious with us for days yet delighted to be home at the same time!!!!!

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 01/02/2026 14:23

The cattery i use will send a daily video on WhatsApp of my cat.

Original poster

Kittyquestion12 · 04/02/2026 22:17

mrsdolittle · 01/02/2026 14:14

My Dcat is currently at the Cattery - been there a week so far - another week to go. I haven’t had any contact from them and wouldn’t expect to unless there was a problem.

That said, I will probably email them later just to enquire about her welfare.

Thing is she is very timid and I think spends most of the time hiding in her little house at the back of her run. So there won’t be any news as such.

I know she is pretty miserable but she is warm and well fed and if she needed medical attention she would get it. She just needs to sit it out until we can collect her. Then she can be absolutely furious with us for days yet delighted to be home at the same time!!!!!

Yes i suspect this is the same with ours. I just feel so guilty at the thought of her being there miserable/unhappy! But im glad she’s safe at least.

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TheCurious0range · 05/02/2026 21:41

There's a cattery near us that has a live video feed for each cat! We've never used it it's very expensive, and we luckily live in the same road as our vet and one of the vet nurses offers very reasonable cat sitting

Esthai · 05/02/2026 21:50

Used to look after my in laws cat when they were away. One time, I couldn't figure why she kept leading me to her food bowl and looking at it mournfully, when it was full. This went on fora week. She wasn't eating much, but I saw the odd mouthful being chewed. I don't know how much she normally ate.

In laws came back. "Oh no! You've been giving her the food she doesn't like and won't eat!"

After a horrified silence I observed that she would eat it when she got hungry enough.

Who keeps cat food their cat won't eat in the house?! More obviously displayed than the food it does eat?

There's a lot to be said for the view that the cat is better off in a cattery than with an inept sitter. (I am allergic to cats, I don't dislike them, but I do gently avoid them, so am rather clueless about cat-care.)