Behavior Training: Shelter Cat Class

Dumb Friends League - Behavior Department Behavior Training: Shelter Cat Class Updated 2/2011 Page 1 of 24

Kitty Komfort Missed Shift If you can t make your shift on a particular day, or you know that you need to miss a future shift, leave a message at this number: (303) 751-5772, Ext. 7913 If you are going to be gone for more than one week, please also contact Jasmin at Ext. 7246. Page 2 of 24

CONTENTS Shelter Cat Class 1) Program Overview 2) Frustration 3) Fear 4) Depression 5) Stimulation Eating 6) Safe Handling 7) Adoptable Cats 8) Getting Started 9) Getting the cat 10) Feed sheets and Needs Attention slips 11) URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) 12) Returning Kitty to a clean kennel 13) Interacting with Patrons 14) Kitty Komfort categories / Chameleon Samples Page 3 of 24

Kitty Komfort and Feline Enrichment Program Overview Kitty Komfort and Feline Enrichment is a volunteer program that provides extra care both for cats that have been displaying behaviors that indicate they may be starting to deteriorate emotionally (followed by physically) and for environmental enrichment for all cats at the shelter. Whether a cat has been relinquished by an owner or has come through lost and found, it will find the shelter a stressful environment. A cat s physical health is affected by its emotional health. A stressed cat in a crowded environment is much more likely to become ill. While the shelter staff does everything possible to calm frightened kitties and to stimulate bored, frustrated kitties, the cats often need more time and attention than employees are able to provide. The staff s main responsibility is the physical well-being of the cat: health exam, vaccinations, clean, dry and safe kennel, proper food, and clean water. Many shelters, including the Dumb Friends League, have identified four categories of behavior that indicate that a cat might be at increased risk of emotional and physical decline. The categories are: Frustration, Fear, Depression, Stimulation Eating (StimEat). These four categories are defined by specific behaviors and have specific plans for volunteers to use to help the kitties. We have many tools and techniques to help frustrated, fearful, and depressed kitties. They can be as simple as a rolled up towel for the kitty to hide behind, a surface tor scratching, or stinky food to whet a kitty s appetite. One of the tools is a commercial product called Feliway. Cats have scent glands that emit pheromones. Scent glands in the cat s feet may warn of danger, anal scent glands communicate information about health and sex. Glands on the face are used for marking areas where the cat feels comfortable. Cats will not urine-mark a place that has been face marked. Therefore, the synthetic face pheromone in Feliway can be used to help correct urine-marking. At our shelter, Feliway is used for its ability to calm kitties as well as its ability to attract kitties. Appropriate surfaces to spray Feliway are a scratching surface, a towel or blanket used by the volunteer during a session and later put in the kitty s kennel, bedding that s already in the kennel never directly on the kitty. Page 4 of 24

Frustration Symptoms of frustration Pacing Yowling Pawing anyone who walks by Ideal placement would be in a colony Unaltered males, cats that are contagious or that don t get along with other cats are not candidates for a colony. Recommend: Interactive play Kennel Enrichment Toys to chase (balls, round toys)toys to swat (rings attached to kennel bars) Toys to hunt (mice) Scratching surface (with Feliway) No tiny or sharp items and No yarn or string left in the kennel Page 5 of 24

Fear These are cats that try to hide under their blankets or in their litter boxes, are wide-eyed or tense in their kennels. They may be backed into the corner and may not want to come near you when you open the kennel. Kennel placement should be high. If you encounter a fearful kitty in a lower kennel, you can submit a Needs Attention slip (See Page 15). Kennel Enrichment: Scratching surface with Feliway. A small piece of carpet fastened to the cat s cage door Two or three drops of Rescue Remedy in water. Hiding place You can fold/roll a towel to create a little wall for the cat to hide behind and still be visible to patrons. Go to the patron side of the glass and reward the cat for looking at you or at potential adopters. Drop a high value treat from the kennel opening. Page 6 of 24

Depression These cats are usually asleep and may not wake easily when you try to interact with them. Or they may be sitting huddled with eyes focused down. They often look ungroomed and their food bowls may appear untouched. (If a cat hasn t eaten, urinated or defecated for a few days, it should be enrolled as a StimEat. If you are working with a depressed kitty that has been eating but didn t seem to have eaten anything that day, you can try enticing the kitty to eat. Take the kitty s food bowl to the visiting room. You can also try some of the techniques recommended for StimEat cats. A depressed cat may benefit by being placed in a colony. Cats that are contagious, unaltered, or that don t get along with other cats are not candidates for colony placement. Recommend: Petting Brushing Interactive play Sometimes a depressed kitty likes to be wrapped in a small, soft blanket or towel and cuddled. Allogrooming Dab your finger in the water bowl so it is moist and groom the kitty with your finger in the motion that a mother cat grooms her kittens. Kennel Enrichment Hiding place Scratching surface with Feliway Plush toys Toys to swat (rings attached to kennel bars) Page 7 of 24

Stimulation Eating (StimEat) A cat that is frustrated, or depressed may lose its appetite or stop eating completely. When a cat stops eating, its health can deteriorate quickly. Cats whose feed sheets have been marked as no eat or have eaten very little for the last few days are the highest priority. Another sign is no stool or urine output for several days. Recommend: Talk softly to kitty. Stroke kitty. Cats will usually find wet food, warm food and stinky food more appealing. Sometimes a change of style of feeding dish may help. (Try putting food in a paper tray, plastic dish, ceramic dish, or even offering it directly from the can, since some cats may have been fed this way). Some kitties are social eaters and will only eat when a person is present. A cat may take small bits of food offered on tip of finger or spoon. Putting a morsel of food on the floor near the kitty or on the kitty s nose or paws may stimulate its appetite. Warming the food in a microwave for a few seconds will get the aromas moving After you have finished your session, make notes on the feed sheet about what the cat ate and any particular circumstances. If you have leftover food to leave for the cat, note on the feed sheet and put foilcovered can in the cattery refrigerator and mark with cat s information and the date. It is very important for everyone who works with kitties to be alert for cats that aren t eating. A Kitty Komfort volunteer should scan the feed sheets of all cats in the individual kennel areas for cats that should be enrolled as StimEat. If a cat has had a few days of No Eat and no output, it should immediately be enrolled in StimEat. Use a Needs Attention slip, or use Chameleon to enroll the cat. When a cat starts to eat regularly, we ll graduate him from StimEat and put him on a Depression status. Therefore, he ll still be getting extra attention and continued monitoring. Page 8 of 24

Review of DFL Safe Handling The following information will help you sort out body postures generally consistent with the various emotional states of cats. Cats that are relaxed and feel comfortable with their surroundings commonly display the following postures: A meatloaf position with the front legs doubled under themselves and the back legs directly underneath, or even more relaxed, stretched out behind him Heavy eyelids with a soft look to the eyes or eyes that are shut without being scrunched closed A loose mouth with no tension noted in the muscles of the head A tail that is motionless and loosely carried Engaged in play, grooming, restful sleep or slow and relaxed eating Kneading Cats that are questioning the safety of their surroundings will commonly display the following postures: A ready posture with feet planted firmly beneath them Skin that ripples when touched Body that becomes firmly planted upon an attempt to pick up Ears that pivot to allow for detection of sound from all directions Eyes that are open with partially to fully dilated pupils Closed mouth with tension radiating from the jaw through the whiskers to the muscles on top Flicking tail Cats that are definitely not feeling comfortable with their surroundings will commonly display the following postures: In motion to get away from where they are currently Frantic movement, attempting to avoid touch from people or other perceived threats Skin that ripples with any sensation near the skin surface Fur standing up for the length of the body Ears pinned down to head or flat out to the side (called airplane ears ) Eyes that are wide open with fully dilated pupils Open mouth with a full display of teeth or panting and drooling Whiskers pinned back Rapidly flicking tail Page 9 of 24

Watch the head Offensive attack Defensive attack Body postures or behaviors that cannot be interpreted in only one manner include: Purring can indicate contentment, stress or attempts at pain relief or stress reduction Rolling onto the back, which can be used to gain the best defensive position for a fight or to get in a fully relaxed, whole-body stretch, depending on activity of the front legs (i.e., relaxed, reaching) Rapid eating and/or rapid grooming, which is generally consistent with displacement behavior, but it could be the cat s normal tempo of life If you are bitten Cat bites are often small, deep puncture wounds. Bacteria from the cat s teeth can get trapped in the wound and cause a serious infection. Any cat bite is serious and must be reported immediately both for your well-being and for the safety of anyone else who may handle the cat. You should go to the behavior department or to any staff member for help. We also strongly suggest that you seek medical attention. If you are scratched If a cat scratches you intentionally, you need to make the behavior staff aware of the cat s behavior. Whether the scratch is intentional or accidental, if the skin is broken, you need to report this to a staff member. Cat scratches also can cause serious infections if not treated properly and immediately. Page 10 of 24

Adoptable Cats Sometimes during high occupancy, some of the healthy cat colonies are used for TLC cats. A sign will alert you if the healthy colony is being used for TLC cats. Use visiting room 4, 5 or 6 for these TLC kitties. When the shelter is open, please tell someone at the Cat Adoption desk what visiting room you are using for Kitty Komfort. When the shelter is very busy and every visiting room is used for patron visits, please work in the colonies. If you are working with URI cats, some of your cats may be located in Cat Holding C (CHC) or in a URI area in Foster Care. If you do not know where a cat is located by its kennel #, ask a staff member and they will be happy to assist you. During high occupancy periods, URI in the shelter is more prevalent. Room usage in the back of the house may also change from healthy to URI. Always be observant of signage before entering a room to work with cats. Page 11 of 24

Getting Started After you have clocked in on the time clock, come to the Behavior Department in the basement. Go to the Kitty Komfort notebook in the West Obedience Room to see what cats you have been assigned. Put your initials by your name so staff knows you ve checked in. Look for the report Beh Kitty Comfort Daily Rounds QS. This will show where your kitties are located, what the behavior subtype is, and what the priority is. Page 12 of 24

Daily Rounds Sheet Finding your Kitty Komfort cats. The order to work cats is: 1. healthy single kennel (QC01 QC30) 2. healthy colony (QCA, QCB, QCC, QCD, QCE)* 3. single TLC kennel (QT01 - QT24) 4. TLC colony (QTA, QTB, QTC, QTD) Be sure to take the Daily Rounds Sheet with you. You will want to look up the cat in Chameleon by it s A number. There are computers available in the behavior office, but you may use any computer. (IDs and passwords vary in different departments. Check with department staff if you don t have the correct information.) Once you know the cats you ll be working, stop at the enrichment center which is located at the bottom of the staircase. You can choose some enrichment and food from the cabinets or the electrical closet outside of the behavior department. There are grocery baskets to carry your items. If you are the only Kitty Komfort volunteer during your shift, you can take the KK shopping cart up to the healthy cattery. There are also freshly laundered soft toys located in tubs under the folding table in the laundry. Any towels and blankets that you will need for your shift are also available in the laundry room, located in the hallway between Health Care and Surgery. Page 13 of 24

Getting the Cat Get the cat s attention before opening the gate by talking calmly and softly. Avoid using S sound. When you open the gate, do not block the opening with your body. A fearful cat that sees its escape route blocked may attack. Allow the cat to come to you. Give the cat the opportunity to check out your fingers before you pick him up. Don t rush. Rushing will raise the cat s anxiety level and make him less likely to accept handling and more likely to become fearful or aggressive. If a cat doesn t seem to want to be handled, leave him alone. Keep your body slightly angled away from the cat initially Allogroom before picking him / her up Control the cat s head and neck before you lift him from the cage. You will need to turn the cat s rear end toward you to accomplish this. Remember that the cat will feel safer in a firmly held position left hand controlling the head and neck, right elbow supporting/gripping the hindquarters, and right hand controlling the front feet. Always control the cat s neck and head, no matter how sweet or small he may be. Supporting a cat s weight solely by the scruff of the neck is unacceptable. Try to keep the cat s line of vision away from other cats. Some cats are cat reactive. Some cats respond well to the KK volunteer doing the slow blink soft eyes to the cat. Some respond positively to air kneading to the cat. Page 14 of 24

If you are transporting the cat out of the immediate room where he is kenneled, use a carrier. DFL cat carriers open from the top (like a picnic basket). Use the green carriers for the healthy cats and the beige carries for TLC cats. Load the cat into the carrier head first. If the cat resists going into carrier head first, try putting the cat in rear first. While supporting the back end and grasping the rear legs with one hand and grasping the front paws with the other hand, set the cat s rear into the carrier and close the lid quickly. Or you can support the back end with one hand (holding the back feet) and control the head by holding the scruff. Lower the cat s rear into the carrier and close the lid quickly. Some kitties are able to open the lid. Do not leave a kitty in a carrier unattended. You can take the cat into one of the visiting rooms. Use rooms 4, 5, or 6 for TLC kitties. (If the shelter is open, let someone at the Cat Adoptions Desk know that you are using one of the visiting rooms. Let them know when you re finished using the room for the day.) If the shelter is open and all the visiting rooms are being used for patron visits, please work with kitties in the colonies. Put an I m out being Kitty Komfort-ed. I ll be back soon. sign on the kennel in case someone needs to find your kitty. The signs are on the KK cart. Don t over stimulate the cat. Playing roughly with the cat by waving your hands at him or teasing him is likely to make your job harder. Some cats respond negatively to too much petting. If the cat s skin starts to ripple, the tail starts to twitch, or the cat rolls onto its back and exposes its belly, the cat may be over stimulated. Let the kitty have some space. Always work with healthy cats first. Work with TLC cats last and do not return to the healthy cat area. Use sanitizing spray to disinfect the room and the carrier after each cat. Bleach spray is most effective if it is allowed to soak for ten minutes. Wysiwash is a disinfectant that can be wiped off immediately after spraying onto the surface. Clean carriers are stacked to the left of the Cat Adoption Desk. Carriers on the floor behind the Cat Adoption Desk are always dirty. Wash or sanitize you hands between each cat you handle. Page 15 of 24

Feed Sheets and Kennel/ Animal Cards Feed Sheet You can make notes on the feed sheet Needs Attention Slips If a cat has a problem that might pose a danger to itself, staff or volunteers, alert a staff member immediately. If you suspect a cat that isn t already in TLC (or other URI area) may be getting ill, notify a staff member immediately. For less urgent problems, you can use a Needs Attention slip. Slips are located in the behavior office and in the West Obedience room. Put the completed slip in the behavior office. Don t forget to include a reason for a Grooming Request (matted fur behind the ears, nails need clipping, ect.) When describing a cat s behavior, be as specific as possible. Instead of saying that the kitty seems fearful, describe the kitty s behavior: When I approach the kennel, kitty retreats to the back corner and would not approach me. Page 16 of 24

URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) Minor Symptoms Clear nasal discharge Sneezing with clear nasal discharge (no blood) Watery eyes and clear discharge More serious symptoms Green or yellow discharge Sneezing blood Yellow discharge from eyes Bad nasal congestion (cat may be mouth breathing) Mouth ulcers Lethargy Loss of appetite There are a variety of causes for URI. It can be very serious for cats whose immune systems are compromised, such as old, young and stressed out cats. Hand-washing and sanitizing surfaces are important to keep the healthy cats healthy as well as keep from introducing a second contagion to cats that already have URI. There is a sink located in each of the catteries. The best way to remove contagions from yourself is to wash your hands (and arms) with soap and water. Using a spray or pump sanitizer is an acceptable alternative. Giardia Giardia is a protozoon, single-celled parasites that live in the small intestine. They symptoms can be foul-smelling diarrhea that is soft and watery, mucous and greasy. The diarrhea may be intermittent. A cat may have vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy. Giardiasis is diagnoses with a fecal sample. It can be difficult to diagnose because the cysts are small and can be shed intermittently. Giardiasis responds well to treatment and usually doesn t progress to serious complications unless the animal is immune-compromised. Cats at greater risk of contracting giardiasis are outdoor cats, strays and shelter cats. Humans are susceptible to giardiasis, but it is unknown if the strain that infects cats also causes symptoms in humans. Cats that have been diagnosed with giardia should be isolated. Gloves should be worn to clean the litter box and the kennel. Proper hand-washing and sanitation will reduce the risk of spreading it to other cats. Taking a Fecal Sample Fecalizers are located in the healthy and TLC catteries as well as the Kitty Komfort cart. Collect a sample from any animal that has diarrhea or whose feces appears abnormal. You can check in Chameleon to see if a sample has been collected Page 17 of 24

already that day. It should also be noted on the feed sheet if another volunteer or staff member had taken a sample already. If you are unsure, ask a staff member to help you look in Chameleon. Instructions for collecting a sample are in the bin with the Fecalizers. Try to get a sample as free of kitty litter as possible. After you have collected the sample, use a permanent marker to write the animal s A#, date and kennel # on the outside of the container. Bring the container to the Health Care department. If someone is working at the microscope, ask if you can leave it on the counter near the microscope. If no one is at the microscope, put the sample in the refrigerator in the bin marked fecal samples. If you take a fecal sample, you need to put a Medical note in Chameleon. If you are unsure how to do this, have a staff member assist you. Page 18 of 24

Return kitty to a clean kennel If your kitty s kennel is soiled, please clean it before returning kitty. Scoop the litter, (be sure to record this on the Feed Sheet), remove and replace any soiled bedding, spray the cage with sanitizer if necessary. Always wipe the surface after the sanitizer is applied. If you should need to clean a kennel that a kitty is in, be sure to spray the sanitizer on a paper towel. Do not spray directly into the kennel near the kitty. Wysiwash Wysiwash is a disinfectant that can be wiped off immediately after spraying onto the surface. Towels, Blankets, Toys Any towels or blankets that you use in your session with kitty can be placed in the kennel with the kitty or should be taken to the laundry. Anything taken to the laundry should be placed in a plastic bag. These bags are located in the catteries. Any toy that cannot easily be laundered or sanitized can also be left in the kennel with the kitty. You can wash or spray Wysiwash on any toy that has a hard surface. You should discard any food or disposable utensil that the cat touched (even if it didn t eat anything). Sanitize grooming equipment by spraying with Wysiwash. Clean towels, blankets and washable plush toys are located in the laundry. Feliway and Rescue Remedy Feliway: Use a couple of sprays on a surface such as a towel used as bedding. Rescue Remedy: Use two or three drops in a bowl of water. You can also put a drop or two on the back (not in the ear canal) of kitty s ears and massage it in. Page 19 of 24

Interacting with patrons If you are working in a healthy cat colony, you may invite one or two patrons into the colony room with you. You should ask the patron, Are you planning to adopt today? before extending the invitation, and you need to remain to supervise. Be sure to show the patrons where to sanitize their hands when they leave. If you are in a TLC colony, also ask the patrons if they plan to visit with any cat from the healthy side. If they say yes, please explain that they should visit with the healthy cat first. They can arrange to do this at the adoptions desk. Be sure to explain that adopting is first come, first served. This means that they must be signed in either on the touch screen at the kiosk (if this is their first visit) or at the adoptions desk if they are already in our database. A patron who gets to pet a kitty may be very disappointed if the kitty is adopted by someone else because he/she didn t know the procedure. Never take a cat to a visiting room for a patron to visit unless you check first with a counselor to be sure it is the proper time. If a patron wants a declawed cat, someone at the cat adoption desk can print a list of declawed cats for the patron. If patrons ask questions that you can t answer, direct them to the cat adoption desk. Even if you are able to navigate the Chameleon database, there is some information that we do not share with patrons. We never reveal the name or address of the relinquishing owner. We do not tell patrons what the disposition is of any cat that is no longer at DFL (whether the cat has been adopted or euthanized.) Cats that are on hold for a patron will have a hold card stapled to the animal card. These holds are for patrons who have visited with a cat and would like their family to visit. Any patron who is interested in a cat on hold should ask at the adoption desk. The League has purebred waiting lists. Sometimes a purebred cat is not available for general adoption until the PB hold expires. Sometimes an intact cat will be adopted and will remain in its cage until it is taken to surgery. There will be no animal/kennel card on the back of the kennel. Unless you have looked up the cat appropriately in the Chameleon database, please don t speculate about whether a cat can be adopted by any particular patron. Sometimes a patron will ask if we are a No Kill shelter. DFL is an open admission shelter. This means that we accept any animal brought to us. Unfortunately, not all animals are suitable for adoption. Sick or injured animals that cannot be rehabilitated and aggressive animals that would pose a danger to the public are humanely euthanized. During the summer when the shelter is very crowded, cats are sometimes euthanized because there isn t enough space. The best way to prevent that from happening is to support the spaying and neutering of cats. Page 20 of 24

Kitty Komfort categories as they look in Chameleon The Kitty Komfort Chameleon window will look similar for all four categories (Depression, Fear, Stim-eat and Frustration) At the top you will see: LAST WORKED: PRIORITY: This field will have the most recent date that the kitty has had a KK session. Update this to the date that you are working with the kitty. This will be followed by the plan for working with the KK kitty. Then: DATE: SESSION 1: (baseline; do not erase) The date of SESSION 1 will not change. This information is a description of the first session with the kitty. Since we don t erase it, we can compare the most current session to see the progress the kitty has made. Next: DATE: SESSION Update this to the date you are working with the kitty. Update this to the current session number. You will enter the date you are working with the cat and the session number (Add one to the number that appears in the record.) Kitties may have 20 or more sessions before they are adopted, but there is not enough space in the computer record to fit all the information about every session. Therefore, write over the existing information. If there is a note about behavior that you did not observe (or you observed the opposite), keep that note in parentheses with the date, and add your own observation. When you have entered the appropriate information, press F8 to store the information. The box in the upper left corner of the window will change from yellow to green when you have stored the information successfully. Instructions for using Chameleon are located in Chameleon for Kitty Komfort Volunteers Page 21 of 24

Frustration Frustration: Last Worked: 2/23/09 Priority: medium Interactive play Kennel Enrichment: toys to swat at or hunt (rings attached to kennel bars) toys to chase (balls, round toys) toys to hunt (mice) scratching surfaces ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 2/23/09 Session: 1 (baseline; don't erase) Frustration Level: medium Play style: He did bat at a fleece strip I offered him. He likes fishing pole toys. Personality: vocal, sweet Petting: LOVES attention!--and hollers loudly to attract attention while you're not paying attention to him! Will cheek-mark person who s petting him. Grooming: well self-kept Appetite: Eating some, but not great, probably because of URI Carrier: n/a Cat worked in these shelter areas: TLC visiting room Kennel Enrichment: lots of toys Comments: The second I stepped into the room, this little guy started screaming for attention. He loved my petting him and quickly adapted to me wrapping him in a blanket and holding him...lots of purring and talking on his part. He still sounds very congested, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down...given the space, I'll bet he's a crazy kid. Needs more work on: get healthy Initials: LLT/vol ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Session: Frustration level: Play style: This kitty has had only one Personality: session. The next session will Petting: be No. 2. Grooming: Appetite: Carrier: Cat worked in these shelter areas: Kennel Enrichment: Comments: Needs more work on: Initials: ATTENTION: Do not add information past this line. Please update over the info above. Page 22 of 24

Fear Fear: Last Worked: 2-22-09 Priority: high Petting and reinforcement for relaxed body postures Try to engage in play for stress relief Kennel Enrichment: hiding place/box scratching surface w/ Feliway Rescue Remedy in water ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 2-22-09 Session: 1 (baseline; don't erase) Anxiety level: high Personality: aloof, stand-offish most of the time, Petting: tolerates some, but then goes to back of kennel so I can t reach her Play style: too stressed to play Grooming: Coat is above average for a long-hair. Indifferent to brushing. Appetite: She ate some of her dry kibble while I petted her in her kennel. I marked this on the feed sheet. Carrier: Struggled. I suggest spraying Feliway in crate before putting him inside. Cat worked in these shelter areas: visiting room Kennel Enrichment: Sprayed Feliway on a towel and scratching carpet. Comments: This cat preferred to find a high place in the visiting room. I had to coax her to come hear me. She warmed up with some treats. Needs more work on: Give her space and goodies & she may come around. Initials: LMT/VOL ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Session: Anxiety level: Personality: This kitty has had only one Petting: session. The next session will Play style: be No. 2. Grooming: Appetite: Carrier: Cat worked in these shelter areas: Kennel Enrichment: Comments: Needs more work on: Initials: ATTENTION: Do not add information past this line. Please update over the information above. Page 23 of 24

Depression Depression: Last Worked: 2/22/09 Priority: medium Highest Priority level Petting Try to engage in play for stress relief Kennel Enrichment: hiding place/box scratching surface w/ Feliway Rescue Remedy in water ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 2/21/09 Session: 1 (baseline; don't erase) Depression level: medium-low Personality: She was sleeping when I arrived at her kennel, but she perked up when we went into the visiting room. Petting: really cuddly; she let me pet her for a lot of the time and even jumped on my lap and snuggled up against me Play style: I would shake some feathery toys in front of her and once in a while she would bat at it; she's probably not as interested b/c she's really congested. Grooming: n/a Appetite: no interest in treats I put out Carrier: fine Cat worked in these shelter areas: TLC visiting room Kennel Enrichment: Comments: She really enjoys having her chin scratched. Needs more work on: enrichment, soft bedding with Feliway Initials: nka/vol ---------------------------------------------------------------- This kitty has had two sessions. The next session will be No. 3. Date: 2-22-09 Session: 2 Depression level: med Personality: outgoing, affectionate, likes human touch Petting: likes to be petted Play style: n/a today Grooming: I cleaned some dried food drips off her. Very soft and clean otherwise. Appetite: none seen today. wouldn't eat the chicken and gravy Whiskas I gave her or other foods in her kennel, but feed sheet said she had eaten. Carrier: n/a today Cat worked in these shelter areas: visiting room Kennel Enrichment: towel, food, water Comments: a petite, sweet, adoring kitty. She's a pleasure to hold and pet. Needs more work on: grooming and overall health. Initials: lmt/vol ATTENTION: Do not add information past this line. Please update over the information above. Page 24 of 24