Cat boarding experience....not good

[Grateful for Hope]

I went to NY last week to celebrate my oldest grandbaby's birthday (he turned four) and to look for potential rentals in the Orange County, NY area in preparation for my layoff this year. I want to move back to NY to be near my two daughters who live in that county.

I placed Spidey and Jake in the boarding place they were in briefly in late January. At that time, it was a pleasant experience as the staff loved the boys, and they had the cat room all to themselves.

Well, this time, I reserved the room about two weeks in advance for a week. When I got the boys there, however, I found that the room was already occupied by three other cats. I told the staff member that this would not work out for my cats, and requested that they be placed in the "adoption room" which I knew was also used for boarding.

I was told that the boys should be ok. I stayed for about 45 minutes and observed them. There was one cat there (a very cute two-year-old female) who followed Jake around the entire time I was there. Meanwhile, Spidey made himself busy using all three litter boxes he found there (I figured he was marking his territory).

I decided that the boys might be ok, and left.

I called over the weekend, and was told that they were doing fine. But, when I called on Monday, I was told tha the boys were "spraying" (they are neutered), and that they had to move them to the adoption room. I asked that they have the cat tree in with them as the room is not nearly as nice as the main cat room. This request was denied as they did not want their cat tree sprayed on. I wondered how they knew it was my cats that were spraying as there were five cats in that room.

Turns out there were no additional issues, and they came home the following Saturday very,very tired (they laid around all day Sunday).

I am pretty angry about what transpired. First of all, I don't think there is any proof that my kitties were doing the "spraying", and, I don't think they should have been "punished" the way they were by being placed in a stripped down room with no place to lay comfortably.

I was also told by the staff person who helped me pack them up that they were not as bad as her manager said, and that if she got another job, it would be because of said manager. This person really liked both kitties, and clearly felt badly that they were treated the way they were.

I don't think I can do anything except never leave them there again, but, I am still quite upset about how they were treated. They are young...but they are very, very nice boys, and they have NEVER eliminated outside their litter boxes here at home.


:grr:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. If there is any way that you can leave your boys at home and have someone

stop into care for them it might be a lot better.
They would be in familiar surroundings and feel more comfortable.
I have heard that if you make sure to leave enough food and water you can even leave them for a few days without anyone stopping in.

I am sorry this was such a disappointing experience for you and the boys.
I guess the manager of this place is not to be trusted in the future.

Perhaps you can make private arrangements with this person who seemed to like Spidey and Jake to come to your house.

[Grateful for Hope]

2. BL...I wish I could have

but, I live in a place where I have not made any friends, and, I still can't leave them out in the apartment unattended.

Which brings up another point. Spidey is very trustworthy, and I leave him out all the time when we go out. But, Jake is incorrible. He has not listened since I adopted him in mid-November, and, I was hoping that, since he is turning 1 year next month, he would grow out of his defiance. He has destroyed carpeting, and he is beginning to destroy screens and furniture.

He has not..and, now we are finding him hanging from our 8th-story screens, and no amount of discipline or distraction deters him. I am actually thinking of getting him declawed...something I have NEVER considered for any of the cats I have had through the years. But, I have never seen a cat like this before.

He is very tiny (very delicate boned)...and, I wonder if this is one of the reasons he is so defiant.

He is very loving with us, so I don't think he is unhappy.

And, this is the guy who proudly walks on the leash. Go figure.

Thank you for your input, and, I wanted to add that, when I move back to NY, you might have a visitor at some point!

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I would LOVE to meet you and Jake and Spidey!!!

Do you think those claw caps would help to keep Spidey from scratching stuff...just for his own safety, especially after what you said about the screens?!!

I would definitely say you would have to close all windows except for a small crack if you leave them alone.
Can you leave them in just one room with everything they need available?

What about getting that one person who liked them to help take care ofthem if you have to go away again?

If you move back to NY,where would you be moving? As my name discloses, I live in Brooklyn.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. You know, I forgot about those claw caps

Thanks for reminding me! I am still so upset about that experience (also under pressure at work). Thank so much again!!!

And, great idea about asking Kerry to watch over my little ones (she does love them)....thank you!!!

It would be Orange County (I hope). It is about 50 miles from NYC...but not so far when you consider 87 (Thruway) and how open it is up there. And, I have family in Brooklyn...and, more than that, I am looking forward to meeting you, BL. It is pretty much a given that I will be moving back "home", and, I envision that you might even like visiting the southern-most Catskills too!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I will absolutely be coming to visit you guys when you return to NY!!!!

and we can certainly meet in Manhattan for lunch while you are in mid-move!!!!

[Grateful for Hope]

8. Thank you, BL, and YES!! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I just noticed your new icon image. It is adorable.

[Grateful for Hope]

7. Thank you! n/t

[IndyOp]

9. Jake is 11 months old? You have a teenager!

No wonder he is incorrigible. Kitties (less than 6 months) are mischievious but not outright defiant, but once they reach 6 months (until they turn 12 or 14 months) some cats go through serious teenage defiance phase. Lots of exercise, consider Feliway (calming) spray, lots of toys.

I am sorry they had a rough time at the 'kennel' -- but it may have been better that they were in a separate space than in the cat room. I feel really uncomfortable with the idea of having them in a room with other adult cats who they don't know. It is little solace, I know, but maybe better they were in the uncomfortable adoption room than that they might have wound up being in a cat fight. That was what flashed into my mind when I first read your post...

No matter how unpleasant the adoption room was they did have each other -- way better than being alone in a strange place. :)

[Grateful for Hope]

10. You always have such good things to say, IndyOp

I agree that they were better off in the adoption room. I just wish they had listened to me when I first brought them in.

So, Jake is a teenager. This does make sense, and, I think it will help me to cope with him. Spidey is only two months older than Jake (approx.), and he didn't go through this, but, I am thinking that Jake may be more typical.

Thank you very much for your wise words!

[Patiod]

11. Consider clipping his claws

We taught our Little to put up with having her claws clipped by reserving cat treats for claw clipping time only. Now, as soon as I'm finished with her claws, she runs straight for the kitchen, and then we play a chase-the-treat-down-the-stairs game.

I am a rank amateur where cats are concerned, but I have learned that cats ARE trainable, they just have to feel that the reward is worth whatever is being asked of them.

They have special scissors at the pet store or vet that make it relatively easy and painless for all involved. Clear claws make it easy to see the little veins that feed the claws, so you know exactly where to quit (unlike dogs with black claws, where only the blood lets you know you're clipping too short).

[Grateful for Hope]

13. Clipping is a good idea

We have been clipping his claws, but, probably not often enough.

I ordered SoftPaws today (got them in black for both boys as their paws are white and their coats are black).

I am going to post pics of them once we get them on.

:)

[CountAllVotes]

12. you might try looking for a "pet sitter" next time around

I know there are people out there that do this for a living. They'll come to your house while you are away and tend to your pets (feed and change the litter box).

I've been lucky enough to never need to hire someone to do this. I've left my cats "home alone" as long as 4 days but never any longer than that.

I've been certain to leave lots of food and water and I have 3 litter boxes for them as well.

I hope this helps. Nothing is worse that having an un contented cat! :(

:kick: