Cat coming into a veterinary, cattery Cat coming into a veterinary, cattery or rescue situationor rescue situation

• Strange cat basketStrange cat basket• Car/van journeyCar/van journey• New peopleNew people• Other animalsOther animals• Handling/trappingHandling/trapping• ProceduresProcedures• ConfinementConfinement• No control over their environmentNo control over their environment• Strange smell/sights/noises.Strange smell/sights/noises.

StressfulStressfulStress and fear prepare a cat to react appropriately to any Stress and fear prepare a cat to react appropriately to any

unpleasant situation by running away or hiding. The stress unpleasant situation by running away or hiding. The stress subsides once the danger has been overcome. subsides once the danger has been overcome.

However, if there is nowhere to hide or run to, or no way to change However, if there is nowhere to hide or run to, or no way to change the the ongoing stressful ongoing stressful situation then this can cause:situation then this can cause:

• Elevation in blood glucoseElevation in blood glucose• Elevation in blood pressureElevation in blood pressure• Increased heart and breathing rateIncreased heart and breathing rate• Dilation of pupilsDilation of pupils• Reduced gastrointestinal functionReduced gastrointestinal function• Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite• Change in grooming habitsChange in grooming habits• Increased susceptibility to diseaseIncreased susceptibility to disease

Aim to minimise Aim to minimise • the initial stress of being brought in the initial stress of being brought in • ongoing stress by making the cat feel ongoing stress by making the cat feel

secure in its confinement, understanding secure in its confinement, understanding and reducing stressing factorsand reducing stressing factors

Cat Friendly PracticeCat Friendly PracticeTo improve the care of cats in veterinary practiceTo improve the care of cats in veterinary practiceCat friendly facilitiesCat friendly facilitiesSeparate cats and dogs Cat friendly handlingSeparate cats and dogs Cat friendly handlingCat friendly attitudeCat friendly attitude

HospitalisationHospitalisation• Quieter areaQuieter area• Cage design – wide front not too Cage design – wide front not too

deep so accessibledeep so accessible• Right height for lifting in and out and Right height for lifting in and out and

cleaningcleaning• Not facing other catsNot facing other cats

Furnishing the cageFurnishing the cage• Somewhere to hide – box, igloo Somewhere to hide – box, igloo

style bed, vetbed, warm. style bed, vetbed, warm. • Cover front with towelCover front with towel• Active warmingActive warming• Bag type beds/hiding /handlingBag type beds/hiding /handling• Away from foodAway from food• Room for litter tray/ typeRoom for litter tray/ type• Toys.Toys.

Hide, Perch and Go - BCSPCAHide, Perch and Go - BCSPCA

www.spca.bc.ca

Encouraging eatingEncouraging eatingEatingEating• Increase palatability – add flavours, increase fat/protein content, Increase palatability – add flavours, increase fat/protein content,

warm, change texture and consistency, favourite foodwarm, change texture and consistency, favourite food• Tempt by smearing food on paws or face – kick start eatingTempt by smearing food on paws or face – kick start eating• Remove uneaten food after an hour (except for secret eaters)Remove uneaten food after an hour (except for secret eaters)• Tempt with hand feedingTempt with hand feeding• Small frequent mealsSmall frequent meals• Shallow food bowlsShallow food bowls• Towel over cageTowel over cageDrinkingDrinking• Water fountainWater fountain• CleanClean• Away from food and litterAway from food and litter• Avoid competitionAvoid competition

Handling and examinationHandling and examination• Less is moreLess is more• Calm and soothing, talk and strokeCalm and soothing, talk and stroke• Look past the catLook past the cat• Let it settle, limit peopleLet it settle, limit people• Avoid sharp sounds and bright lightsAvoid sharp sounds and bright lights• Quiet areaQuiet area• Avoid sudden movementsAvoid sudden movements• Examine with the cat facing awayExamine with the cat facing away• Do least invasive procedures firstDo least invasive procedures first• Towel or rubber mat for gripTowel or rubber mat for grip

Cattery standardsCattery standards

Principles apply to Principles apply to rescue, cattery and rescue, cattery and quarantinequarantine

• Keep cats safe from Keep cats safe from escapeescape

• Keep cats safe from Keep cats safe from physical harmphysical harm

• Reduce risk of spread Reduce risk of spread of diseaseof disease

• Prevent cats from Prevent cats from becoming becoming bored/stressed.bored/stressed.

Keep cats safe from escape and Keep cats safe from escape and physical harmphysical harm

• Sound construction and repairSound construction and repair• Safety corridorSafety corridor• Temperature controlTemperature control• Somewhere to hideSomewhere to hide• Mesh sizeMesh size• Smooth surfacesSmooth surfaces• Collars offCollars off• Electrical wiring etc.Electrical wiring etc.

   

                                     

Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of diseaseTransmission of feline viruses in order of Transmission of feline viruses in order of riskrisk

Highest riskHighest riskDirect cat-to-cat contactDirect cat-to-cat contact PreventionPreventionAvoid communal runs Avoid communal runs

Avoid large rooms/areas where cats from Avoid large rooms/areas where cats from different  homes are put in together  different  homes are put in together 

Don’t let cats touch or sniff each Don’t let cats touch or sniff each other in adjoining pensother in adjoining pens

Separate units for cats from different homesSeparate units for cats from different homesUnits separated by full height solid barriers. Units separated by full height solid barriers.

Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of diseaseTransmission of feline viruses in order of Transmission of feline viruses in order of

riskrisk22ndnd highest risk highest riskContaminated secretions from eyes, saliva, tears, Contaminated secretions from eyes, saliva, tears, urine, faecesurine, faeces

PreventionPreventionProvide individual cleaning utensils for each unit or disinfectProvide individual cleaning utensils for each unit or disinfectbetween use, or bothbetween use, or both

  Wash and disinfect units between cats and allow to dryWash and disinfect units between cats and allow to dry

Wash and disinfect feed bowls and litter trays with an appropriate Wash and disinfect feed bowls and litter trays with an appropriate safe and effective disinfectantsafe and effective disinfectant

Wash hands/gloves between handling cats or cleaning out units. Wash hands/gloves between handling cats or cleaning out units. Plastic aprons.Plastic aprons.

    Wear wellington boots and plunge into disinfectant solution inWear wellington boots and plunge into disinfectant solution incorridor between entering each pen corridor between entering each pen

Finish one pen before moving on to another and follow the same order each dayFinish one pen before moving on to another and follow the same order each day

Provide isolation and barrier nursing for cats showing any signs of diseaseProvide isolation and barrier nursing for cats showing any signs of disease

Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of diseaseTransmission of feline viruses in order Transmission of feline viruses in order

of riskof risk33rdrd highest risk highest riskAerosol transmissionAerosol transmission

Fine particle aerosol transmission Fine particle aerosol transmission from breathing in and out does notfrom breathing in and out does notnormally occurnormally occur

Sneezed macro-droplets can travel overSneezed macro-droplets can travel overa distance of approximately 90 - 120cmsa distance of approximately 90 - 120cms

PreventionPreventionFull height solid barriers or gapsFull height solid barriers or gapsGGood ventilationood ventilation

Reducing stress/boredomReducing stress/boredom

Runs, shelves, windowsSomewhere to hideChoice of environment

Routine/predictabilityFeed home foodHome beddingCalm and quietRecognise each cat’s preferences

Monitor eating/drinking.

Principles of good cattery Principles of good cattery designdesign

• Accommodation – sleeping accommodation and runAccommodation – sleeping accommodation and run• Sleeping accommodation, warm (cool), dry and secureSleeping accommodation, warm (cool), dry and secure• No contact between cats (unless from same home)No contact between cats (unless from same home)• Communal exercise areas not acceptableCommunal exercise areas not acceptable• No contact with animals outsideNo contact with animals outside• Safe from injury or escapeSafe from injury or escape• Ease of cleaning and disinfectionEase of cleaning and disinfection• Isolation facilityIsolation facility• Separate food prep and reception areasSeparate food prep and reception areas• Designed for outlook, shelving etc Designed for outlook, shelving etc

to minimise stressto minimise stress

FAB helpFAB Boarding cattery manualFAB Rescue manualFAB Feral cat manual

Cat health informationwww.fabcats.org

Cat Friendly PracticeWellCat for life

Cat Group informationwww.thecatgroup.org.uk

‘‘Understand that most cats are pessimists – Understand that most cats are pessimists – they assume the worst will happen. Try not they assume the worst will happen. Try not to confirm it for them’to confirm it for them’