WCC Blog

Kittens & Transport:
What You Must Tell Their Owners

Kittens & Transport: What You Must Tell Their Owners

Number 1 priority these days in catteries? Prevent the consequences of stress. This is of the utmost importance for kittens. Especially when they are leaving your cattery to go to their new owners’ place.

Stress and its consequences…

Stress leads to production of cortisol that decreases the efficiency of the immune system. Potential consequences? Upper resp, diarrhea, urinary problems, skin issues even… No doubt, it can dramatically impact the kitten’s health.

Something we should always try to prevent!

Fortunately there are a few things that can be done to prevent this from happening during the transport to the kitten’s new home:

  • Make sure the kitten did not eat right before leaving. Especially when it is going to be a long ride home;
  • Cats live in a world of odors: in the carrier that will be used, put a towel or something that belonged to the kitten and that carries its familiar scent. If you provide the carrier, you can even make sure that the kitten has spent some time inside before leaving your cattery;
  • Use pheromones inside the carrier. It is recommended to put some (there are sprays and wipes) inside 15 minutes before leaving.

What are YOUR tips on the matter?

Those are simply tips that can help you win big here. And we believe it is something important to discuss with the new kitten owners beforehand. It should be one of your priorities, not a simple point of detail.

About the author:
Emmanuel Fontaine
Emmanuel Fontaine
Emmanuel Fontaine graduated from the Toulouse Veterinary School in 2004 and carried on his studies at the Alfort Veterinary School (Paris) as trainee Vet in the domestic carnivore unit of the Reproduction Department. From 2005 to 2001, he worked at the Centre d’Etude en Reproduction des Carnivores (CERCA) (Research Centre for Reproduction in Carnivores), a unit specializing in pet breeding assistance. Emmanuel Fontaine is also qualified from the European College for Animal Reproduction (ECAR) and wrote a PhD thesis on the use of GnRH agonists implants in small carnivores. He joined Royal Canin in September 2011 and now works in Scientific Communication in America.