Lindsey, if you google "control of flowering in cattleyas" you get information about photoperiodism. Also - the book Home Orchid growing by Rebecca Tyson Northen has a very nice article under that title, talking about short day plants, long day plants and how one can control flowering by manipulating light hours.
Here is a picture of my younger Cattleya skinneri alba 'Debbie' in Spring 2004, showing the buds breaking through the dry sheaths.
I had the plant for about 5 years when it finally decided to "talk"
