Most catteries provide excellent care and a home from home for the cats entrusted to them. However, just like with any business, there are catteries that fall short of the high standards you expect when paying for a service. It's not always easy to know what warning signs to look out for when visiting prospective catteries, but stressed cats are a good indicator that something's not working as well as it should.
So, when you're visiting a cat boarding facility in addition to checking out the cattery bays, exercise runs, feeding and handwashing stations and cleaning logs, be sure to observe the behaviour of the cats already boarding there. It's normal for new cats to show some signs of stress while they are adjusting and settling in, but if several cats appear stressed, it's best to strike that cattery off your list. Here are three signs of stress to be on the lookout for:
Obsessive-Compulsive Grooming
Yes, cats like to keep themselves clean, but when grooming takes on obsessive-compulsive traits, it's a sign of stress and anxiety. If you notice cats repeatedly engaged in grooming one area of their body, you're witnessing obsessive-compulsive grooming. They will clean a single area, often their abdomen or paw, until it's bald and the skin is raw.
Hiding
Cats can be private creatures, but if you notice many of the cats at the cattery are hiding, ask the staff to explain why this is the case. Seeing how staff respond to concerns you raise is a good way of determining if your concerns are valid. Happy cats will be relaxing, napping in the sun and playing with their toys, while stressed cats will be hiding at the back of their bay or behind bedding.
Displaying Aggression
Cats can remove themselves from situations they feel uncomfortable in when they are at home. However, it's not possible to simply go into the garden or another room when boarding at a cattery. If a cat feels frightened or stressed when they are in a cattery bay, they can display aggression in lieu of being able to remove themselves from the threatening environment. Signs of aggression to look out for include hissing, clawing, back arching and circling as you get close to their bay.
Catteries offering a high standard of care will have procedures in place for helping new cats to settle in, such as giving new cats more one-on-one time with cattery staff. Check what procedures are in place at the cattery you're interested in. Badly run catteries are the exception rather than the rule, so you can feel confident your cat will be happy and looked after if you take a little time to ensure your chosen facility puts the well-being of their boarders first.
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