04/04/2025
‼️𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 😭
If a cat dies while in a boarding facility it's heartbreaking and raises a lot of questions—was it natural causes, neglect or unintended accidents? Pet boarding operators / cat hotel operators have a duty to care for their animals, so if something went wrong, the owners deserve answers.
Such incidents can be heartbreaking for the pet owner and also raise concerns about the facility's standards. If it referred to negligence, the owner could have a solid case to pursue. But that shouldn’t have happened — natural or otherwise — without an open line of (careful) communication from the cat hotel operator, after the fact.
Sometimes cats can have some hidden sickness like heart problems. No one knows about it.
Cats are excellent at hiding sickness, and underlying diseases such as heart disease (as many as 1 out of 5 hypertension in cats can be due to HCM, for example) can remain hidden until something precipitates a crisis. The boarding stresses, or being in a new place, could be enough to tip a cat over the edge.
If the cat hotel operators did nothing wrong and it was simply a tragic medical event, it is still heartbreaking but not necessarily negligence. Hopefully, this was handled compassionately by cat hotel operators and communicated adequately to the owner.
❓𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸:
✅𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀
Encourage pet owners to take their cats for a vet check-up before boarding, especially if they are older or from breeds prone to heart disease (like Maine C***s, Ragdolls, or British Shorthairs).
If possible, recommend a cardiac screening (ultrasound or ECG) for at-risk cats. Many heart conditions (like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM) go undiagnosed until an emergency occurs.
✅𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Require a detailed intake form that asks about any known medical conditions, previous reactions to stress, and past veterinary visits.
If a cat has a history of stress-related issues (panting, hiding, not eating), consider recommending shorter trial stays before extended boarding.
✅𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀
Quiet Environment: Cats get stressed easily, so reducing noise levels in the boarding facility (no loud barking dogs nearby or loud meowing from other cats) is crucial.
Use Pheromones: Diffusers like Feliway can help reduce anxiety in boarding areas.
Gradual Introductions: Let the cat settle in their carrier first before putting in a cage / hotel room. Rushing into a cage / hotel room can trigger panic, especially in a nervous or sick cat.
Limit Handling: Keep interactions minimal unless necessary. Let the cat adjust at its own pace.
✅𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀
Train staff to recognize early signs of distress, including:
Heavy breathing or open-mouth panting
Hiding excessively or refusing to move
Lethargy or weakness
Sudden aggression or extreme fear reactions
If a cat shows any of these signs, stop all handling immediately and monitor closely. If symptoms persist, call a vet.
✅𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
Staff should be trained in pet first aid and CPR to handle emergencies before a vet can intervene.
Have an emergency vet contact on file and a protocol for rapid transport if a cat collapses or shows distress.
❓𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲?
➡️Immediate Response
If a cat passes away, keep the body in a cool place (not frozen) until the owner decides on the next steps.
Contact the owner as soon as possible, explaining what happened honestly and compassionately.
➡️Offer an Explanation
If the death was sudden and unexpected, suggest a necropsy (post-mortem exam) to determine the cause. Some owners will want answers, while others may decline.
If there were signs of illness beforehand, document everything carefully and share with the vet and owner.
➡️Support for the Owner
Offer emotional support, acknowledging their grief.
If possible, provide resources for pet loss counseling or memorial options.
➡️Facility Review & Improvement
After any incident, review what happened and update protocols if needed to prevent future cases.
Conduct a staff debrief to discuss what was done well and what could be improved.
‼️𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
While sudden deaths from hidden conditions can’t always be prevented, these steps can reduce the risk, improve response times, and handle incidents with care. A boarding facility that prioritizes transparency and pet well-being will build trust with pet owners, even in difficult situations.
