Improving Cat Space for Adopters and Felines

Transcription

1 Improving Cat Space for Adopters and Felines Kit Jenkins, PetSmart Charities GOALS: Create cat adoption spaces where Potential adopters will want to spend time Cats can be seen as individuals Cats can be seen as potential family Always keeping CAT priorities in mind Safety Sanitation Sanity This is about human behavior. In cat adoption areas 1. How do we want people to feel? 2. What do we want them to experience? 3. What do we want them to do?

2 It s also about cat behavior. 1. When cats feel safe, they behave more naturally. It s also about cat behavior. 1. Feel safe 2. When cats have opportunities to behave naturally, we can recognize them more easily as individuals. It s also about cat behavior. 1. Feel safe 2. Opportunities to behave naturally 3. When cats can safely act like cats, in a positive environment then we can picture them at home, as family.

3 Quick word association CHECKLIST In your cat adoption areas, what do people See? Smell? Hear? Feel? FEELING Okay Comfortable Cheerful Interested Informed Focused on cats NOT Okay Overwhelmed Hopeless, sad Frustrated Anxious to leave Confused

4 Immediate reactions, positive and negative, are strongly cued by sensory impressions. Address the senses = improve the reactions. Okay Talking cats Normal air flow White noise or subtle, soft music Normal voices Neutral SOUND NOT Okay Yowling cats Barking Loud voices Loud music Loud fans Clatter Lots of echo SOUND TIPS Ideally, should be neutral (not noticed at all) Reduce or eliminate barking exposure. Relocate, turn off, or turn down loudspeakers and phones around room. Any music should be neutral, white noise or easy listening (turn off at night). Replace loud fans -- negative value. Address needs of vocal cats.

5 Okay Clean: cats, surfaces, air Normal litter box Neutral SMELL NOT Okay Ammonia (strong urine) Old feces, diarrhea Strong chemicals Garbage Mustiness Perfumes/cover-ups ODOR ISSUES Ideally, should be neutral (not noticed at all) Don t cover bad smells; eliminate them. Remove morning garbage from room. Spot clean regularly and dispose of major waste outside of room. Introduce fresh air whenever possible. Keep air moving, but quietly. Evaluate chemicals if you can smell it 15 minutes after use, too strong or inadequate ventilation. Okay Individual cats Clean: surfaces, lighting, cats, objects Space Color Texture SIGHT NOT Okay Clutter Crowded Dirty: surfaces, cats, objects Dark Sterile, institutional

6 VISUAL PRIORITIES The cats are the primary visual target. Clutter is the enemy. Clean is important. All storage should be out of sight. Open is good. Stark is not. Color is crucial, but too much hides the cats. Light helps enormously: warm, bright, no shadows, no glare. Natural light is a major bonus. INFORMATION Okay Neat, descriptive kennel cards or notebook Posted adoption package deal Available assistance NOT Okay No info about cats Cryptic, limited, or non-helpful info Info obscuring cat Lack of info about adoption process/how it works GLAD TO MEET YOU Seeing a cat is one thing. Meeting him is another. A good public kennel card includes Name & physical description History/observations related to personality, needs Internal info can be on the back, smaller, coded Don t hide the cat. Keep it simple for impact. A notebook or wall board can be a good alternative. If so, include photos. Post info about adoption process, including how to visit with a particular cat and what is included in cost. Be available. Where is your cat adoption area?

7 CHECKLIST In your cat adoption areas, are your cats able to Feel safe? Behave like cats? Be seen as individuals? Be protected from disease? CAT ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES Safety Ability to make choices: up, under, in, behind, away Non-threatening environment: sound, smell, sights Light without being over-bright Sanitation Everything can be sanitized Not overcrowded Clean air Sanity Things to do & watch Socialization: when I want to Minimal moves Putting it all together

8 COLOR IS CRUCIAL And there are easy ways to add it. Paint Fabric Collars Toys Don t go overboard gotta see the cats!

9 Ah, the wonder of fleece!

10 But beware of clutter! Leave room for the cat, bowls, & box.

11

12

13

14 PASTEL Pale, calming Cool emotions Possible baby or institutional connections Can disappear against white or in dark areas

15 HYPER- BRIGHT Trendy, active Hot emotions Possible get moving connections Best in very small amounts, dark areas PRIMARY Classic, cheerful Daytime/warm emotions Possible childhood connections Works in any light, small to medium amounts AUTUMN Deep, rich, settled Evening/warm emotions Possible home connections Best in bright light against white; possibly depressing in dark areas

16 LIGHT CHANGES RESPONSES

17 Rolling banks, same size kennels what s the difference?

18 San Diego Humane Society Bow Valley Humane Society Canmore, Alberta Michigan Humane Society

19 Wake County SPCA Raleigh, NC Victoria, TX Pet Adoption Center HUMAN BEHAVIOR 1. How do we want people to feel? 2. What do we want them to experience? 3. What do we want them to do? Remember: Address the senses = improve the reactions

20 CAT PRIORITIES Safety Ability to make choices: up, under, in, behind, away Non-threatening environment: sound, smell, sights Light without being over-bright Sanitation Everything can be sanitized Not overcrowded Clean air Sanity Things to do & watch Socialization: when I want to Minimal moves CAT PRIORITIES Safety, Sanitation, Sanity Remember: Cats feeling safe behave naturally. People respond. It isn t about what you CAN T do for them. It s about what you CAN do.

21 Webinars on a variety of topics: KIT JENKINS Program Manager for Agency Enhancement kjenkins@petsmartcharities.org 1/ x2837