My organization uses a three-number system to capture information on cat behavior and their interactions with humans. I capture this information based on how the cat interacts with me when I go up to their enclosure and say hi to them and check their litterbox.
Each cat gets one number from each category (example: 113 is a cat who comes over to say hi, is happy but not bouncing off the walls, and gives normal meows at you as a greeting)
- Approachability: do they want to interact with you when you interact with them
- approaches you in a friendly manner
- interacts with you visually, but doesn't approach or retreat
- no interaction
- moves away from you
- aggressively approaches
- Acclimation: how they act upon seeing you
- calm (happy, chill, not playing or jumping or acting kitten-like)
- excited (think kittens)
- scared
- threatened
- agitated or overstimulated
- depressed
- Vocalization: what noises they are making and why
- silent
- normal noises toward other cats, not humans
- normal meow/noises toward humans
- distressed meow, yowling, very loud
- growling and/or hissing at humans
We also have information from these resources available to reference to check body language.
https://felineengineering.com/catbodylanguage/https://fearfreepets.com/fas-spectrum/------------------------------
Alex Malkow
Cat Care and Volunteer Coordinator
Seattle Area Feline Rescue
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-24-2022 06:10 PM
From: Kathleen Makolinski
Subject: Forms - Recording behavior information while cats/dogs in shelter
Hi,
Hoping that someone can share any forms/documents that they use to record behavior information for cats and dogs while they are in a shelter.
Ex. Behavior information during intake exam, while being walked and cared for on daily basis, during interaction with other animals, etc.
Thanks!
Kathleen Makolinski
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
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Kathleen Makolinski
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