This is not an article about the need to vigorously disinfect all your luggage during a normal cat inn trip. If you suspect the resident cat has an infectious disease while traveling or at home, please contact the inn and veterinarian individually.
At a cat inn, you will come into contact with multiple resident cats and the environment, so if you have a pet cat at home, it is reassuring to make it a habit to wash your hands and organize your belongings after returning home. Since the spread and disinfection methods differ for each infectious disease, do not use large amounts of chemicals on your own.
- Wash your hands before leaving your accommodation
- When you get home, separate your belongings at the entrance.
- I don’t hug my cat right away.
- Do not take shared tools home
- Avoid excessive disinfection
- If there is something unusual about the cat while traveling or at home
- Check after returning home
- Summary
- Reference materials
Wash your hands before leaving your accommodation
Wash your hands with soap and water after touching cats, eating utensils, toys, the floor, or near the litter box, before eating, and before leaving the inn. Avoid bringing your face close to the resident cat, feeding the resident cat from mouth to mouth, and forcing the resident cat to lick its wounds.
If cat hair gets on your clothing, use adhesive cleaner in the areas specified by the inn, and do not vigorously brush it in common areas.
When you get home, separate your belongings at the entrance.
Separate washable clothes, shoes, bags, cameras, and souvenirs. Temporarily keep your pet cat at a distance so that it doesn’t get into your travel bag.
Wash clothes normally according to the washing instructions, and remove dirt from shoes and bags using a method that suits the material and dry them.
I don’t hug my cat right away.
When you get home, wash your hands and change your clothes if necessary before interacting with the cat. You may react to the smell of the inn’s cats, causing you to become alert or check your luggage. Don’t force yourself to sniff, just wait for the cat to approach you.
Even if you have multiple cats at home, do not leave your travel bag in a place where cats gather.
Do not take shared tools home
If you borrow cat toys, dishes, blankets, or brushes from the inn, return them to the inn. Also avoid bringing cat toys from home, sharing them with multiple resident cats, and then reusing them at home.
There is no need to bring cloth or baskets as photo accessories.
Avoid excessive disinfection
The effectiveness and safety of disinfectants vary depending on the target pathogen, concentration, contact time, and material. Do not use products with strong scents or multiple disinfectants on the floor or luggage that cats lick.
If the inn informs you of a specific infectious disease, confirm the name of the disease, the date of contact, and the extent of contact, then inform the veterinarian about the situation of the cat and receive instructions.
If there is something unusual about the cat while traveling or at home
If you receive a notice from your hostel about an infectious disease or parasites, or if the cat changes in appetite, energy, skin, excretion, etc., inform your veterinarian of the travel history and date of contact.
If you have a fever, skin symptoms, diarrhea, etc., please consult a medical institution and inform them of your history of contact with animals.
Check after returning home
- I washed my hands before leaving the hotel and after returning home.
- Separate clothes, shoes, and bags at the entrance
- Do not force your belongings near the resident cat
- Do not bring home shared cat supplies
- Do not use large amounts of drugs on your own
- Travel history can be communicated to veterinarians and medical personnel in the event of an emergency.
Summary
When you return from the cat inn, carefully follow the normal hygiene practices of washing your hands, changing your clothes, and organizing your belongings. Only when you suspect a specific infectious disease should you consult a veterinarian or medical institution based on the information provided by the inn.
