Dear Future, Current, and Past Clients,

I feel I owe you an explanation regarding a situation with one of my clients. At the time, I was unable to publish my response because my Meta accounts were blocked, and I still don’t have access to all of them.

Let me start with a brief explanation of what a cattery is. Every cattery and breeding program deals with living creatures, often newborns—kittens, puppies, hamsters, birds, etc. Just like human babies, young animals are vulnerable and can be affected by various viruses and bacteria. Breeders do their best to prevent and control infections, but challenges can arise despite our efforts.

Now, let’s discuss the case involving my client, whom we will call Gabriela. Gabriela reserved two kittens from different litters—one Blue Somali and one Fawn Abyssinian. The kittens were vaccinated and neutered/spayed on schedule. Throughout the waiting period before their release in October, Gabriela remained in regular contact with us.

During a routine vet visit, it was discovered that the Fawn Abyssinian (Fawnie) had a missing toe due to syndactyly. This condition can occur due to external factors affecting the mother cat during pregnancy, such as prolonged sun exposure, proximity to a working microwave, or trace metals in kibble. Neither of Fawnie’s parents have this trait. Gabriela was informed by phone, and a $500 discount was offered. Since Fawnie was a pet-class kitten, this minor deformity did not impact her ability to walk or jump and was barely noticeable.

The kittens left the cattery in perfect health, showing no signs of stress. As per our contract, Gabriela had 82 hours to confirm their health with her vet, which she did. Her vet confirmed that both kittens were in good condition. She also had their fecal tests done, which later returned negative.

A few days later, Gabriela informed me that the Blue Somali kitten had diarrhea. We discussed dietary adjustments and possible remedies before her vet visit. After that, I didn’t hear from her for a month. In December, she reached out, stating that the kittens had tested positive for Tritrichomonas foetus. I immediately consulted my vet, who confirmed the diagnosis based on the test results Gabriela provided. He prescribed Ronidazole, which I purchased from him and sent to Gabriela. However, she refused to use it, claiming her research suggested it was toxic for cats.

Concerned for the kittens’ health, I also ordered immune-boosting supplements and vitamins from Amazon and had them shipped to her. A few days later, Gabriela informed me that the kittens had also developed ringworm. It’s important to note that ringworm typically manifests 14–21 days after exposure, meaning they were likely infected after leaving our cattery. Despite this, and even though it was not our contractual responsibility, I still purchased antifungal medication from my vet and sent it to her.

To resolve the situation, I provided three options:

• Return the kittens to the cattery for a full refund, with transportation covered by us.

• Have the kittens stay at the cattery for treatment, then return them to Gabriela with negative test results, with transportation covered by us.

• Keep the kittens with Gabriela, who would treat them with our support (medications provided by us).

However, Gabriela proposed a different option: a full refund, reimbursement for all her vet bills, and keeping the kittens. This was not acceptable.

As I mentioned, kittens are living beings. While we take responsibility for Tritrichomonas foetus, it’s important to understand the source. The mother of the Blue Somali kitten came from a Montreal cattery. We got her during the Winter . Since the day we got her, she had persistent loose stools, but testing never revealed a clear cause. She was otherwise healthy and enjoyed playing in our Garden catio. After Gabriela’s kitten tested positive, we discovered multiple negative reviews about that cattery, mentioning similar cases of Tritrichomonas foetus. As a result, we immediately spayed, treated, and rehomed the mother. All our cats were tested and, if necessary, treated and spayed.

Currently, I have two major concerns:

• Gabriela is still not treating the kittens properly, which could be considered animal neglect.

• My competitors—other breeders of the same breed—are exploiting this situation by spreading false information online. Some have even resorted to threats, harassment, and insults, going beyond ethical and legal boundaries.

In summary: Issues can arise, especially in sensitive industries like ours. However, we have done everything in our power to resolve this situation, support our client, and ensure the well-being of our kittens.

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