Enrichment for cats

 How can we help the cats at CP

We take pride in caring for all our cats at the IOW AC and our team of socialisers play an important role to make sure the cats are happy in our care. We really strive to do our best to help our cats who find living in a confined space very stressful. Being at CP is a really strange experience for the cats as they are surrounded by other cats and there are lots of different visitors to the centre looking at them. With no familiar scents around them they find it very disorientating. Thinking about the cat’s needs is very important to us and when a cat arrives we let the cat settle in at its own pace and try to avoid adding to any stress it may be experiencing.

 

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  Hunting is an innate behaviour in all cats, they are born with the instinct to hunt and this will be an instinct that continues throughout their life.

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.

(Aikiou Stimulo Feeding Bowl)


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).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=wish_list

Pickles aka Oscar Settled & Happy

Pickles lives up to his name as he enjoys his new home!

At CP we knew Pickles as Oscar, the lively chap who didn't understand hands were for stroking not biting. Through lots of exercise and play his behaviour improved and he became more affectionate and loving. Below we hear from his devoted Mum who knew as soon as she saw him that she wanted to offer Oscar a home bad habits and all!

Pickles has established his own little routine that suits him, watching the birds in the garden in the morning or he sun bathes if the weather suits, curls up on the bed for the afternoon until we get home and disturb his beauty sleep.  He has his tea and cuddles early evening then goes out on the town for most of the night!

Pickles and Jake

He gets on best with Jake (in the pic) who we re-homed from the RSPCA in 2007, they love playing with the flying frenzy toy together and running in and out of the table & chair legs chasing after a ping pong ball.  Pickles loves playing and will chase after things for ages without getting bored however he still hasn't caught any wildlife (well not that he's brought home anyway) which surprises me!

He loves his food and he is a really messy eater - It's always all over the floor and he makes some fantastic noises when he's eating so you can tell he is enjoying it.  His worst habit has to be that he expects you to share your dinner with him too and if you don't then he is quite happy to help himself!  He has a very mischievous personality and the change in his name completely reflects that.

This is my sofa!!

Pickles also used to flinch quite a lot when we first brought him home and as you know used to bite quite a bit but I'm pleased to say that this has to be where he has made the most progress.  The biting has gone from an almost daily attack when going to stroke or walk past him to the odd nip without much intent as it really is half hearted.  He even gives you the odd head butt when he comes for a cuddle.  He's actually turned into a bit of a softie but he won't thank me for telling you all that as he has a reputation to uphold....  I hope that one day we will be able to pick him up as that is still a big issue for him so it will be on his terms when and if it happens. 

This is my person! 

It's taken time and patience on both sides but he is slowly learning to trust us but it's really rewarding and watching him change has been great.  We would have loved him regardless though, it was love at first sight for me and I knew he was the one to join our family and share our home.  I still can't believe he was with you for that long, I keep telling myself it was because he was waiting for us, he was well worth the journey and we couldn't be happier together 

Helen

12 Nays of Christmas

12 Nays of Christmas!

TOP TIPS

 

Christmas is on its way and

the arrival of trees, guests

and fancy food will all have

an impact on your cat.

Cats Protection suggests

the following tips to make

sure your pet’s festive season

is a safe and happy one

 

Twelve gifts a-giving

Make sure that any toys you buy your

cat for Christmas are feline-friendly.

Choose ones with embroidered

features as opposed to plastic and glass

ones which can come off. If you get

your cat edible gifts, only buy special

pet treats.

 

Eleven things a-choking

Avoid using tinsel and ‘angel hair’ as

these can get stuck in cats’ throats.

If your tree is real, vacuum around it

frequently – as well as being a choking

hazard, pine needles can hurt cats’ feet

and cause infections.

 

Ten cords a-shocking

Electrical cords for fairy lights could be

mistaken for toys or prey, so keep them

covered up to avoid disaster.

Nine candles burning

They look pretty, but a fire won’t! Keep

them out of your cat’s reach to avoid

them being knocked over or causing

him an injury.

 

Eight gifts a-miaowing

Never give cats as presents unless this

has already been agreed with the

recipient. It goes without saying that

cats are a commitment beyond the

festive season and are not to be treated

as novelty gifts.

Several toxic plants

A number of festive plants are

potentially fatal to cats, including

mistletoe, holly, ivy and Christmas

roses so choose carefully and keep

them out of the reach of moggies.

For more information on which plants

may be harmful to your cat visit the

International Cat Care website at

www.icatcare.org.

 

Six baubles swinging

Your cat may well be tempted to biff

dangling decorations, so it’s best

to avoid glass baubles as they could

shatter.

Five dressed-up cats

Do not be tempted to dress your cat

up. You may think it makes him look

‘cute’, but he’ll only feel stressed and

demeaned.

 

Four calling guests

Having friends and relatives to visit is

part and parcel of the Christmas period,

but your cat may not wish to join in

with the festivities. Ensure that he has

a quiet room to himself with his food,

water and litter tray easily accessible.

 

Tree water hazards

If you have a real tree, the base should

be a no-go area for puss. The water

may contain preservatives applied to

the tree that are poisonous to cats.

Cover up the base so he can’t get at it.

 

Two turkey bones

You may be tempted to share some

tasty morsels with puss, but restrict this

to a small amount of boneless turkey

for his Christmas dinner. Some rich

foods – like chocolate – are toxic to cats

and should definitely be off the menu.

 

A kitten stuck up a tree

To kittens in particular, the Christmas

tree is a toy-toting gift in itself.

Discourage your feline friend from

climbing it, but also ensure that its

base is as sturdy as possible in case he

sneaks off on a festive mountaineering

adventure!

 

This was Taken from 'The Cat' magazine Winter 2013. Illustration: Russ Hudda

 

Special offer!! 2 cats for £70!

 

 

TWICE AS NICE!

 

Currently at the adoption centre we have many duos looking for their purrfect homes

Whether they are siblings, or old friends these duos have a special bond between them that means we need to home them together.

After finding themselves homeless, the only rock they have is each other.

 

 

Of course us cat lovers will know only too well that not all cats want to be in the company of another cat especially if that cat has never had the fun of another feline friend, or been bullied, or even too old to care for a companion.

Thinking of getting two cats?

What are the benefits of a pair?

Got room for more feline friends?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then why not take a look at our wonderful duos!! They have already established a friendship taking the stress away from you!

You know they are good with other cats... making even more future feline friends a possibility!

• Out all day? You don’t have to worry your cat is lonely and possibly destructive due to being bored! They have each other to occupy them!

• Cats are individuals, one may be playful and independent and the other smooches and cuddles. Best of both worlds!

• They have each other to play with, as your cat gets older, it can get lazier, and with each other to play with they can keep on their toes!

• And in sad times they have each other to lean on, and when eventually one goes to kitty heaven, you and your cat will be able to comfort each other and not be alone.

• Glamor puss! They have each other to socially groom and keep in tip top condition.

• Going on holiday?! Then you can get someone pop in to feed you cats and spend time with them without the worry of them being lonely.

 

 

 

If you are considering adopting a delightful duo, then please pop in and visit. We currently have a special offer! 2 cats for just £70!!

Employment Opportunity - Minnie Moo seeks housekeeper/servant for permanent position.

 Minnie Moo starts to trust again

Hello Minnie Moo here -  I came into Cats Protection with a neck injury and was feeling very nervous about everything. I found it difficult to settle at the centre. Once my neck was almost healed the staff decided that I needed to have my own personal servant or as they call it a foster carer. I have been in foster care for about three weeks now and am now looking to employ my own housekeeper. This temp does her best but its no substitute for a permanent home with staff.

I’ll let my servant uh em I’d better say foster carer (she can get a bit touchy about these things, strange creature) explain more about me and what it’s like to be in my employ…

Hi I’m Minnie’s foster carer  but servant is probably a better description if I’m honest but then anyone who has owned a cat will know exactly what I mean. As Minnie has already told you she has been with me for about three weeks now and that she came into CP with a neck wound and is a nervous cat.

I don’t know a lot about Minnie’s past life but she was very nervous at the CP centre and hid all the time in her box. Since she has been in foster care with me at home, although she is still nervous, she has shown positive signs of improvement.
Minnie Moo is an interesting character and for a cat that is so nervous, she is not exactly backwards in coming forwards to let me know if she wants something. She is also surprisingly not bothered by all kinds of noisy things like thunderstorms. It just seems like she has never quite got to grips with being around humans.
At first she spent any time when I was around squeezed down the side of the sofa, tucked into the corner against a wall or just

 hissing at me whenever I went anywhere near.  She would mostly only come out for food and to use her litter tray when I was not around. I soon discovered that despite the hissing she is not immune to the power of Dreamies and that she would come out of hiding for them and allow me to stroke her whilst she ate them. I also realised that she was also purring as I stroked her.

Now although she hides away all day she has another bed which although still hidden is more out in the open, so she appears to be more comfortable in her surroundings and shows that she is slightly more relaxed. I still find her down the side of the sofa first thing in the morning which I really think is because she is waiting for breakfast as I have caught her out and about on several occasions now as her confidence slowly grows. She also has started to come out in the evening to meow at me if she wants more food or Dreamies cheeky madam! However the good bit is at that time I can stroke her and she seems to be ok with this.

She still hisses at me  at times but I think this is almost like a reflex action and despite the hissing she has not shown any real aggression towards me since she has been in my care.

Minnie is most active in the evening as the sun goes down  and will sit on the window sill and watch the world. She often plays with her toys at night when I have gone to bed but I have managed to play with her with a fishing rod toy a couple of times.

I have seen this improvement in a short space of time and think that it is now time for Minnie to find her permanent/forever home with somebody who is prepared to accept her as she is and to continue to work with her to increase her confidence with people.
Being honest, I don’t think she will ever completely give up her independant ways but with time I think that she may show further improvement and will reward her new owner/servant in her own unique way. Minnie Moo has obviously been through some trauma that she can't tell us about and needs patience and understanding and love she deserves.

Are you that special someone?

Because of Minnie Moo’s nature we are looking to home her directly from foster care  so if you are interested and either want more information or would like to offer her a home please contact the adoption centre on tel:01983 562609 or isleofwight@cats.org.uk

Black Cats Need Love Too

Don't pass us by!

We say don't judge a book by it's cover so lets not judge a cat by his or her colour.

 

 

We have so many really friendly black cats and kittens looking for homes and we are appealing to cat lovers to come along and get to know them.

 

Think you're seeing double? Mimi & Boo, black beauty sisters with stunning eyes



Meet Lola, a gentle and loving lady







If you've got time for lots of play then choose one of our black kittens, always last to be chosen but have lovely personalities



Sometimes a black cat is one of a pair and people always want the other cat and not the black one, like Lexie and Bonzy. So lets give these not so lucky cats a chance as once you get to know them you'll see colour doesn't matter at all.






Bonzy (black) & Lexie (tabby)





Minnie & Rory cheeky young pair



So come along and meet our wonderful cats and kittens and maybe you'll go home with a little black magic!