Cattery advice please

[Tiggy's Mum]

  everyone, will definitely take their toys then as I think it will help to have familiar smells and it will also keep them occupied.  I think you're right MM, you can add a second carer to the chip details but you can't do that online only over the phone so if I remember in time I'll do that.  If not, the online changes you make yourself are instant so I can change my details to a c/o address and phone number.

[alisonandarchie]

Archie went into a cattry last summer that was great. They provided scratching posts, so do check unless you would feel happier with your own. There was also quite a few toys. They kept classical fm on as well ; the cattery was kept spotless and Archie did not pick anything up.

[swampmaxmum]

last time we all went to France, I gave my french holiday address to both the Petlog people and their french equivalents. You could give the cattery's address as well as your own contact details as well for peace of mind.

[Millys Mum]

I make up trigene in a spray bottle, like what you would mist plants with. For that kind of wooden toy i would spray and leave to dry. You cant wipe it but surface spray would disinfect it, it looks varnished? so germs shouldnt get in it as such. Same for a scratching post, you cant scrub but can spray and leave to dry. Its only them who will come into contact with it.

Im sure you can add a second address/number to chip records 

[Team Svartalfheims]

Mine have only been to a catteries on very odd occasions in the past but all the catteries they have been to have said they will not allow cats to wear collars whilst there (as a safety thing). I'd definately change their microchip details whilst you are there if you can just for the peace of mind. If they are in a normal pen at the cattery they should be provided with a scratchpost (mine always have in the past) although it does always worry me for the reason that you say that it cannot be properly cleaned.

[Kirst]

My cattery refused to take my boys unless they were fully vaccinated , and I had to produce the documents to prove it too!

They were fine about me taking toys , and when I went to pick them up they came home with more toys than they went with!

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

They shouldn't be at much risk of catching diseases as they won't be in contact with other cats.  Yes there is airborne stuff etc, but there should be sneeze barriers between pens and such like, combined with good general hygiene measures from the staff. which mean the risk is minimal.  I take loads of toys and one of their cat trees when my boys go to the cattery.  They've never caught anything!

[Tiggy's Mum]

Oh Helen, its worse than taking a kid to playschool on the first day isnt it .

Yep   

It's not a FAB cattery, the closest FAB cattery is over an hours drive away from me.  It's very nice though - purpose built, very clean, spacious, high security etc and it says they have FAB trained staff.  The boys are vaccinated against flu and enteritis but not Leaukemia as they don't come into contact with other cats as they're indoor/catproofed garden only.  Are there any other diseases that they're at risk of catching ftom other cats in a cattery situation?

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Oh Helen, its worse than taking a kid to playschool on the first day isnt it .

Yes i would change the mirco-chip details for that week (i've never thought of that before)
Yes i would put collars on then
I think that toy should be ok to take

Are you using a FAB cattery ?

[Tiggy's Mum]

The boys are booked in to a very nice cattery for a week while I'm on holiday, I've been thinking about what to take for them and have a few questions on hygiene etc

I want to take their peek-a-prize which is basically a wooden box with holes in with toys inside.  Will it be OK to take it?  With the shape it is it would be impossible to clean it afterwards and am worried about infections/disease that it might harbour.  I also want to take a mini scratching post and their Ikea tent but obviously the same applies in that they're not washable.  Would you only take washable stuff to a cattery?



I've got petlog premium with their microchips so can change the address instantly online myself so am thinking of changing the address and phone number to the cattery's details while I'm away. Is this a good idea - I can change the details back as soon as I get home with them.  They don't normally wear collars in the house, only in the garden since they've been going out and I take them off straight away when they're in as it ruins their beautiful fur! Should I put a collar and tag on them while they're in the cattery?

Any other tips?  It's been ages since I've used a cattery as Tiggy always had a family member or pet sitter to look after her.