How can we help the cats at CP
Some cats cope in their new surroundings by trying to hide. Having somewhere to hide is sometimes quite difficult with a glass
door pen so if the cat needs privacy we like to give the cat a hidey bed or cover the glass to make him feel safe. We also consider that the cat may also want to spend time outside. This is where we can help by using plastic
steps or play tunnels (see picture) which have more than one exit for shy cats. We don't want to make the cat feel cornered, so it can either come out to say hello or move away depending on how it feels. Socialisers will take care to build up the cat's confidence with a reward and play technique to make the cat feel much braver and happier and in turn then be more friendlier for the public when it's time for rehoming.
As our new arrivals settle into their new environment most prefer a regular
routine but with some enrichment such as a rotation of toys and regular socialising. Sometimes we can get cats that just get over-looked (usually for no obvious reason or for being the wrong colour!) and can be in care for several months! These are the cats that become bored and depressed. Cats like this need extra stimulation as we know that it's just a symptom of how they are feeling and not their true personality. Cats showing a change in behaviour may require a
daily plan to encourage mental and physical activity to promote natural eating
and hunting skills which helps reduce frustration and aggression. This can include being groomed, playing with dangly toys, using cat nip and using puzzle feeders which is fun for the socialiser and the cat!
HOW DOES ENRICHMENT MEET CATS NEEDS
v
v Initially, hunting will not be
high on a newly admitted cat’s list of priorities, instead it will want to hide
until it feels the new environment is safe and predictable – different cats
will adapt at different rates.
v Each cat needs to be given the
chance to exhibit hunting behaviour once they have settled in.
v By providing feeding
enrichment toys, we can help manage the frustration associated with being in a
pen.
v This
feeding toy allows us to add and change the different tubes so that we can
adjust the challenge according to the individual cat’s capabilities.
The Catit Senses Food Maze is another clever way to feed cats, as it allows you to challenge his abilities at the same time. The food maze can be set to various levels of difficulty.
The cat must move food or treats though the maze using his
paws through the side openings until the food is dispensed into the food tray.
The food maze appeals to not only the cat's taste buds, but
his sense of touch too, and keeps him physically and mentally stimulated whilst
he works for food.
A challenge like this can prevent boredom which in a cattery
can sometimes leads to over eating or frustration.
These are just two of the options available that could help cats like Noodles who has been at CP since November. It doesn't help that he is a black cat but now he is bored and fed up and having something like the above could give him a challenge to break up his long, lonely days. To find out more about Noodles please check out our facebook and website pages.
If you think you could help our cats by donating an enrichment toy to the centre, there are so many varieties of interactive cat toys and
feeders so please have a look at our Amazon wishlist. This will give you lots
of ideas of how you can help make the cats stay at CP more challenging,
rewarding and stimulating so they are happy cats which will make them more
homeable. (We try to use items that can be washed and reused to help as many
cats as possible).
