As mentioned above, if you have a choice, only repot orchids when new roots are just beginning to form. Cattleya species often grow shoots and roots only once a year. Different species do this at different times, because Cattleya species are spread over a wide range of tropical climates. Hybrids are all over the calendar.
Older roots do take up some water, but they are not as good at it as new roots. Disrupting a Cattleya at the wrong time of year damages many of the already-inefficient roots, and the plant will be at a disadvantage trying to survive until it decides it's time to grow again.
People are showing Cattleyas in bloom now because most of them grow from spring through summer, mature the growth, and then make flowers. Some species and hybrids flower as soon as the new growth is mature. Others wait until fall, winter or even the next spring.
Are you sure your previous Cattleya died because of your repotting method? That alone isn't usually enough to kill one. What happened?
For your three plants, the trick will be to keep them alive and as happy as possible until they decide to grow roots. Give them some water, and then let them dry out. Treating the roots with KelpMax once your growing area is nice and warm will also help.
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