We’ve had our house cat now for 11 years. For about 3 years worth of vacations we farmed her out to a “catery” so she’d be properly fed and cared for while we were gone.
That was the worst thing we could have done, as this place also boarded dogs. The last time we did this the dogs were barking up a storm, and our cat was scared to death. Actually quite traumatized.
She also hates going to the Vet, there’s something about the odor. Our dog we had years ago was the same.
My point is, these shelters are no different. It’s gotta be pure terror for these animals. Was this cat neglected by a previous owner, or just scared to death from having to be in a shelter? I’d say the latter. Cats are solitary animals that can fend for themselves quite well when free.
Put a human in a cage next to caged wild cougars on one side and a hungry grizzly bear on the other, and I betcha that human would look neglected too after a long stay.
> That was the worst thing we could have done, as this place also boarded dogs. <
Very good point. The pet boarder near me does it right. Cats are in one building. Dogs are in a separate building.
We use a “cats-only” vet. Solved a lot of fear and fear-peeing problems.