Claire Bessant of FAB (http://www.fabcats.org.uk) presents on how to keep cats safe and healthy in a shelter environment. THIS IS PART 2 OF 2. For more information, see www.icawc.org

1. Cat coming into a veterinary, catteryCat 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.

2. StressfulStressful
Stress and fear prepare a cat to react appropriately to anyStress and fear prepare a cat to react appropriately to any
unpleasant situation by running away or hiding. The stressunpleasant 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 changeHowever, if there is nowhere to hide or run to, or no way to change
thethe ongoing stressfulongoing 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

3. Aim to minimiseAim to minimise
• the initial stress of being brought inthe initial stress of being brought in
• ongoing stress by making the cat feelongoing stress by making the cat feel
secure in its confinement, understandingsecure in its confinement, understanding
and reducing stressing factorsand reducing stressing factors

4. Cat Friendly PracticeCat Friendly Practice
To improve the care of cats in veterinary practiceTo improve the care of cats in veterinary practice
Cat friendly facilitiesCat friendly facilities
Separate cats and dogs Cat friendly handlingSeparate cats and dogs Cat friendly handling
Cat friendly attitudeCat friendly attitude

5. HospitalisationHospitalisation
• Quieter areaQuieter area
• Cage design – wide front not tooCage design – wide front not too
deep so accessibledeep so accessible
• Right height for lifting in and out andRight height for lifting in and out and
cleaningcleaning
• Not facing other catsNot facing other cats

6. Furnishing the cageFurnishing the cage
• Somewhere to hide – box, iglooSomewhere 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.

7. Hide, Perch and Go - BCSPCAHide, Perch and Go - BCSPCA
www.spca.bc.ca

8. Encouraging eatingEncouraging eating
EatingEating
• 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 cage
DrinkingDrinking
• Water fountainWater fountain
• CleanClean
• Away from food and litterAway from food and litter
• Avoid competitionAvoid competition

9. 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

10. Cattery standardsCattery standards
Principles apply toPrinciples apply to
rescue, cattery andrescue, cattery and
quarantinequarantine
• Keep cats safe fromKeep cats safe from
escapeescape
• Keep cats safe fromKeep cats safe from
physical harmphysical harm
• Reduce risk ofReduce risk of
spread of diseasespread of disease
• Prevent cats fromPrevent cats from
becomingbecoming
bored/stressed.bored/stressed.

11. Keep cats safe from escape andKeep 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.

12. Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of disease
Transmission of feline viruses in order ofTransmission of feline viruses in order of
riskrisk
Highest riskHighest risk
Direct cat-to-cat contactDirect cat-to-cat contact
PreventionPrevention
Avoid communal runsAvoid communal runs
Avoid large rooms/areas where cats fromAvoid large rooms/areas where cats from
different homes are put in togetherdifferent homes are put in together
Don’t let cats touch or sniff eachDon’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 homes
Units separated by full height solid barriers.Units separated by full height solid barriers.

13. Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of disease
Transmission of feline viruses in order ofTransmission of feline viruses in order of
riskrisk22ndnd
highest riskhighest risk
Contaminated secretions from eyes, saliva, tears,Contaminated secretions from eyes, saliva, tears,
urine, faecesurine, faeces
PreventionPrevention
Provide individual cleaning utensils for each unit or disinfectProvide individual cleaning utensils for each unit or disinfect
between 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 appropriateWash 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 in
corridor between entering each pencorridor 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

14. Reducing risk of spread of diseaseReducing risk of spread of disease
Transmission of feline viruses in orderTransmission of feline viruses in order
of riskof risk
33rdrd
highest riskhighest risk
Aerosol transmissionAerosol transmission
Fine particle aerosol transmissionFine particle aerosol transmission
from breathing in and out does notfrom breathing in and out does not
normally occurnormally occur
Sneezed macro-droplets can travel overSneezed macro-droplets can travel over
a distance of approximately 90 - 120cmsa distance of approximately 90 - 120cms
PreventionPrevention
Full height solid barriers or gapsFull height solid barriers or gaps
GGood ventilationood ventilation

15. Reducing stress/boredomReducing stress/boredom
Runs, shelves, windows
Somewhere to hide
Choice of environment
Routine/predictability
Feed home food
Home bedding
Calm and quiet
Recognise each cat’s preferences
Monitor eating/drinking.

16. Principles of good catteryPrinciples 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 etcDesigned for outlook, shelving etc
to minimise stressto minimise stress

17. FAB help
FAB Boarding cattery manual
FAB Rescue manual
FAB Feral cat manual
Cat health information
www.fabcats.org
Cat Friendly Practice
WellCat for life
Cat Group information
www.thecatgroup.org.uk

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