Cattery Health: The Screening Protocol Every Cat Breeder Should Follow

A well managed cattery relies on a delicate balance: several breeding cats and young kittens share the same space, and without a rigorous health protocol, this creates fertile ground for the rapid spread of infectious disease. Unlike a cat living alone, the density and proximity found in a cattery setting amplify every health risk, which is why a structured screening approach matters at every stage of the breeding cycle.

This article draws on the recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), and peer reviewed veterinary publications.

1. Before Breeding: Retrovirus Status, a Non Negotiable Priority

FeLV and FIV: What the Leading Veterinary Guidelines Recommend

The AAFP's 2020 guidelines on feline retroviruses, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, are unambiguous on this point: only healthy cats with a known retrovirus status should be used for breeding, and the FeLV/FIV status of every cat in a cattery, whether breeding or not, should be documented.

The protocol recommended by the AAFP for a cattery is precise:

• Test every cat with a combined rapid FeLV/FIV test when screening is first established
• Retest negative cats no sooner than 60 days later, to catch any false negatives linked to a recent infection
• Remove any infected cat from the cattery immediately
• Apply this same protocol to any newly introduced cat, and to queens sent elsewhere for mating

The AAFP guidelines also note that vertical transmission of FIV, from queen to kittens, has been demonstrated experimentally, although it appears rare under natural conditions, which is reason enough to exclude any FIV positive queen from breeding, and to consider spaying if her health status allows it.

Why the 60 day window matters: a recently exposed cat may show a false negative result if tested too soon after exposure, before the infection becomes detectable. This two step protocol, rather than a single test, significantly reduces this risk, an important point for any cattery that regularly introduces new animals, whether through outside matings, acquisitions, or shows.

2. A Risk Factor Not to Underestimate: Cattery Specific Circumstances

The AAFP guidelines explicitly identify several breeding practices that facilitate the spread of infectious disease, including retroviruses:

• Group living and mingling of kittens with older cats
• Close contact between cats during mating
• Introduction of new cats to the cattery
• Sending queens to other catteries for breeding

Each of these circumstances calls for heightened vigilance rather than excessive confidence in an animal's apparent health status.

3. Protecting Kittens From Birth: The Role of Colostrum

Like puppies, kittens are born with very limited immune reserves. The scientific review Nutritional and Functional Properties of Colostrum in Puppies and Kittens (Satyaraj et al., 2013, published in Animals) notes that during the first two weeks of life, kittens and puppies are particularly vulnerable to dehydration, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and infectious disease, with colostrum playing a central role by providing both the immunoglobulins needed for passive immunity and the energy essential for neonatal survival.

Practical recommendation: making sure each kitten nurses effectively within the very first hours after birth remains one of the most decisive preventive measures, even before any later screening protocol.

4. Infectious Diseases to Watch in a Cattery

Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper)

Caused by the feline parvovirus, this is one of the most contagious and potentially fatal diseases in cats, particularly in kittens that are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated. A rapid feline panleukopenia test (FPV Ag) delivers a result within minutes from a fecal sample, without waiting on a laboratory. The virus is extremely resistant in the environment, making it a major cross contamination risk in a cattery setting, where a single confirmed case can require a full disinfection protocol and a fallow period before reintroducing unprotected animals.

Cat Flu: FHV-1 and FCV

The feline upper respiratory infection complex is mainly caused by two viruses, feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV). An important point for breeders: after an initial FHV-1 infection, the virus remains latent for life in the majority of cats, with possible reactivation during periods of stress, and whelping is exactly one of the situations most likely to trigger reactivation in an otherwise apparently healthy queen, directly exposing her litter.

FCoV and the Risk of FIP

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is extremely common in cattery settings, spread mainly through the fecal oral route via shared litter boxes. In the vast majority of cases, it causes a mild intestinal illness. The risk, documented in the ABCD's reference veterinary literature, lies in an individual, unpredictable mutation that can lead to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a serious disease whose diagnosis requires a full clinical evaluation, since a fecal antigen test alone cannot diagnose it. A rapid feline coronavirus test (FCoV Ag) can help monitor viral circulation within the cattery.

Feline Giardiasis

This intestinal parasite, common in group settings, can be carried without visible symptoms, with often intermittent cyst shedding, which is why a reactive feline giardia test (FGia Ag) at the first sign of digestive illness is more reliable than clinical observation alone.

5. Building a Coherent Cattery Health Protocol

In summary, a rigorous screening protocol for a responsible cattery rests on four pillars:

1. Known retrovirus status for every cat: initial FeLV/FIV screening, with a retest at 60 days for any negative animal, in line with AAFP recommendations
2. Monitoring colostrum intake in the first hours of every kitten's life
3. Heightened vigilance during stress periods (whelping, weaning, introduction of a new animal), which are prime conditions for latent viral reactivation
4. Reactive screening at the first sign of digestive, respiratory, or ocular symptoms, rather than relying on clinical observation alone, which can miss asymptomatic carriers

This protocol complements, and never replaces, the guidance of your treating veterinarian, but it forms the foundation of serious health management, one that your breeding cats, your kittens, and their future owners deserve.

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Our Tests Related to This Protocol

All our tests can be run directly in the cattery, with no laboratory equipment required, and results in 5 to 15 minutes.

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Sources and References

• Little, S., Levy, J., Hartmann, K., Hofmann-Lehmann, R., Hosie, M., Olah, G., St Denis, K. (2020). 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP): catvets.com
• Satyaraj, E. et al. (2013). Nutritional and Functional Properties of Colostrum in Puppies and Kittens. Animals. Accessed via NCBI PMC.
• European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), resources on FCoV and FIP
• Cornell University Feline Health Center

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This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace veterinary consultation. Any test result, positive or negative, should be interpreted together with your treating veterinarian.