3/8/2018. Acknowledgements. Who is here today? Today. Socialization. The Fear Factor

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1 Helping shelter staff achieve fast and appropriate outcomes for cats who are not obviously socialized: the Feline Spectrum Assessment (FSA) Margaret Slater, DVM, PhD Senior Director, Research & Development Strategy, Research & Development ASPCA Acknowledgements Amanda Kowalski Emily McCobb Emily Weiss Katherine Miller Susan Britt Jesse Winters Kathleen Makolinski Laurie Garrison Natasha Drain Today When to use FSA? What is FSA? How does it help cats in your shelter? How might you use it in your shelter? Who is here today? Rescue or shelter? Municipal or private or both Have some behavior or enrichment for cats now Do Return to Field Have Barn cat or Working cat program Transfer cats Hold times for strays: none, 1-2 days, 3 or more days The Fear Factor Feral? Semi-socialized? Socialized pet? Socialization Level of fear/comfort with humans: Least Socialized extremely frightened of humans and unaccustomed to their close proximity Most Socialized extremely accustomed to interacting with humans and very comfortable with them NOT adoptability or aggression How do we tell the difference? 1

2 What are some specific cat behaviors you or your organization uses to identify socialized cats? What is the Feline Spectrum Assessment Validated tool to help identify more and less socialized cats 4 interaction items Done in a typical shelter kennel Within first 3 days About 3-5 minutes per cat up to 5 times What DOESN T predict socialized cats Vocalization: Aggression: Cage messiness: Licking lips or nose: Meow/purr vs. hiss/growl Paw raise, swat, lunge Litter box dumped, torn up bedding Not helpful as socialized How it works Cats > ~6 months old Apparently in good health Four interactions to promote behaviors in cats Greet Crack cage door Interactive string toy Wand tool Blinking with eye contact: Not helpful as socialized What does FSA look like? Measurements One and done behavior check list Four or more behavior check list Other more subtle behaviors for points Scoring and guidance of interpretation of results 2

3 One and Done Behaviors Rub any part against any place Knead At front of cage Plays with string Touch bars, toy or wand Chirp Tail up at end of assessment Four or More Behaviors Yawn Groom/shake Approach toward front of cage Sniff Roll Reach Standing or still moving around in the cage Behaviors that earns Points Assessment Room Morning DAY 2 Affiliative Greet Didn t eat during the night Lick lips/nose Crack door Attention to toy > 50% Head facing front Toy Affiliative during press - Wand Sniff wand - Wand Morning DAY 3 Not making eye contact Greet Not alert Crack door Withdraw or at back Crack door Affiliative Toy Head not in back of cage - Wand Affiliative during stroke - Wand Sniff wand Wand Safe and comfortable room to house cats Enough light to make observations Windows should be covered Limited noise and distractions Cleaning Protocols Feeding Procedure Spot cleaning (unless cage is quite dirty) Cleaning should be AFTER morning assessments And BEFORE afternoon assessments Important that the cats have ONE HOUR to rest and recover before beginning assessments Fed every EVENING while enrolled in the FSA Important for Scoring on DAY 2 AM Recommend using standardized size bowl Both Dry and Wet food Extremely/Unlikely to be Socialized are more likely to eat overnight on their first night (DAY 1) 3

4 Equipment Needs The essentials: Clipboard White noise machine (if needed) Assessment Tools Interactive Toy Made out of nonporous material Easily disinfected Stop watch or clock with second hand Food bowls and dry and wet cat food Stool on wheels - optional This is a Swiffer duster handle with duct tape Sticky surface to attach string Assessment Tools Wand Assessment Item Stable pole at least 2 feet long Who thinks they may be able to do this? Chat with your neighbor about barriers Non-porous Easily disinfected Small size rubber spatula with a rounded tip Why consider FSA? It is prudent to have a validated scientific tool to back up that gut feeling that the cat is feral or socialized but frightened Provides the highest probability for live release and successful outcome for that cat Identifies which cats likely to flourish when given some behavior modification or location change Improves the flow of cats through the shelter First Day: Wand 4

5 Helping cats in your shelter The checklist of behaviors can be used to help staff with socialized cat behavior The wand tool can be used to safely interact with cats Elicits the most responses from cats In less than 3 days, cats can be identified as likely more socialized, likely less socialize, or not clear A plan can be put into place to get that cat to his/her outcome Evaluation in other shelters 7 shelters around the US 77 cats were evaluated starting on day 1, 2 or 3 Cats ranged from more socialized to extremely unlikely to be socialized Based on Checklists Based on Points 18 FSA Results from All Beta Test Shelters 8 FSA Results from All Beta Test Shelters or more one and done 0 extremely unlikely to be socialized Likely to be socialized AZ NC MI WA CO MO MD AZ NC MI WA CO MO MD What they noted Some socialized cats were very hissy or aggressive Some socialized but not healthy Some not healthy enough for RTF Disposition options less socialized cats: Altered and returned (RTF) Held for behavior modification Moved to a different type of house and given a bit of time Barn or working cat program Euthanized when no other options were available or for medical issues 5

6 Disposition options more socialized cats: Moved to adoption right away Held before adoption Transferred to other agencies for adoption Euthanized for behavior or health issues Now, what are YOU going to do with this info? Major Barriers or Challenges in your organization Facility People Options for disposition Capacity for care and level of organization of shelter Other? Regroup and Share Ideas Facility People Options for disposition Capacity for care and level of organization of shelter Let s divide and problem solve! What are you going to take home? Remember, this is on ASPCAPRO.org 6