Write Down What You Are Seeing, Starting Now
Memory blurs quickly when you are worried, so begin a simple written note: when she came home, what she has eaten and drunk since, what the litter tray shows, and the specific signs that concern you — sneezing, watery eyes, hiding under the bed, sleeping far more than usual, or turning away from food she normally loves. A change noticed on the day of return that fades over two days of rest tells a different story from signs that begin midweek or keep building, and that timeline is the single most useful thing you can hand a vet. Note also anything she brought home, such as leftover food or a report card from the cattery, before details get thrown away.
Call the Cattery With Questions, Not Accusations
Ring the cattery while your notes are fresh and ask factual questions: did staff notice anything about her eating, energy, or litter use during the stay, was she housed near a cat that became unwell, and did anything change in her unit, food, or routine? A well-run cattery keeps daily notes and would rather hear from you promptly — your call may also alert them to check on other recent guests. Stay courteous and specific; you are gathering the same facts they would want if the roles were reversed. If they gave a written stay report, compare it honestly with what you are seeing at home and note where the two accounts differ.
Give Her a Quiet, Normal Few Days at Home
Set her world small and familiar while you watch: her usual food at the usual times, fresh water in its usual place, a clean tray, and her own bedding, with visitors and enthusiastic children kept at bay. Many cats come home from boarding overstimulated or short on sleep and simply need two quiet days to eat, groom, and rest back to themselves, so do not keep waking her to check her or offering a parade of tempting foods that muddies what her appetite is really doing. Weigh what she eats in rough terms — most of her bowl, half, almost nothing — and record it on your timeline each day.
Know the Signs That End the Watching Period
General information only goes so far, and some signs should move you straight to the vet rather than to another day of monitoring: refusing food for a full day, repeated vomiting, breathing that looks laboured or noisy, extreme lethargy where she barely responds, straining in the litter tray, or any sign that is clearly worsening instead of easing. Kittens, elderly cats, and cats with ongoing health conditions have less reserve, so lower your threshold and call sooner for them. When you ring, your written timeline, the cattery's answers, and her vaccination history are exactly what the vet will ask for first — having them ready shortens the path to proper advice for her.
Close the Loop Once She Is Herself Again
When she has recovered — whether that took rest alone or a vet visit — write the outcome at the end of your timeline: what the signs were, what the vet said, and how long it lasted. Tell the cattery the outcome too; good businesses record it against future stays and it may genuinely help another owner's cat. Then decide calmly what it means for rebooking: a mild, quickly explained upset after an otherwise well-run stay is different from poor communication and signs that were missed. Her KinsLe Pet Passport is where the paperwork side of all this lives — her records and history together in one portable packet, ready for the vet visit this week and the boarding questions next time.