SHELTER CAT WELFARE ANIMAL WELFARE JUDGING AND ASSESSMENT COMPETITION 2014

Prepared by: J Stella

OVERVIEW: SHELTER 1

• OPEN ADMISSION HUMANE SOCIETY IN MIDWEST US

• ADMITS CATS, DOGS, AND POCKET PETS (RABBITS, RATS, BIRDS, ETC)

• CATS ARE RELINQUISHED BY OWNERS, TURNED IN AS STRAYS, PICKED UP BY ANIMAL CONTROL, OR SEIZED DURING CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS

OVERVIEW: SHELTER 1

• ~13,000 CATS ADMITTED EACH YEAR

• HOUSES UP TO 350 CATS AT A TIME

• SHELTER OPERATES AT 95-100% CAPACITY YEAR ROUND

• DURING KITTEN SEASON OFTEN OVER CAPACITY

• ~30% PLACEMENT RATE FOR CATS

• AVERAGE TIME TO ADOPTION IS 22 DAYS

OVERVIEW: SHELTER 2

• LIMITED ADMISSION SHELTER • ADMITS CATS AND DOGS • MOST CATS ARE RELINQUISHED

BY OWNERS OR TURNED IN AS STRAYS

• OCCASIONALLY WILL ADMIT OVERFLOW FROM OTHER LOCAL SHELTERS

• ADMITS ~ 1500 CATS PER YEAR • HOUSES UP TO 160 CATS AT A TIME • OPERATES AT ~90-95% CAPACITY

YEAR ROUND • ~90% PLACEMENT RATE • AVERAGE TIME TO ADOPTION IS 29

DAYS

OVERVIEW: SHELTER 2

STAFFING: SHELTER 1

• FOR CAT CARE THE SHELTER EMPLOYS: • 1 FULL TIME AND 1 PART TIME VETERINARIAN

• 10 FULL TIME CARETAKERS

• 50 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE ENRICHMENT TO CATS AND DOGS

• ALL NEW STAFF GET ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FROM OTHER STAFF

• EMPLOYEE TURNOVER RATE IS ~45% ANNUALLY

• VOLUNTEERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ENJOY CATS

STAFFING: SHELTER 2

• THE SHELTER EMPLOYS: • 4 FULL-TIME CARETAKERS

• 2 FULL-TIME VETERINARIANS (BOTH ARE BOARD CERTIFIED IN SHELTER ANIMAL MEDICINE)

• 2 FULL-TIME REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS

• 10 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE ENRICHMENT TO THE CATS

• ALL PERSONNEL MUST COMPLETE ON LINE TRAINING COURSE AS WELL AS ON THE JOB TRAINING

• EMPLOYEE TURNOVER RATE IS ~15% ANNUALLY

HOUSING

SHELTER 1

• 48 CATS PER ROOM IN 7 ROOMS

• NO CONSISTENT LIGHT:DARK CYCLE OR TEMPERATURE CONTROL ARE EMPLOYED

• CAT HOUSING ROOMS ARE LOCATED NEAR DOG HOUSING ROOMS

SHELTER 2

• 40 CATS PER ROOM IN 4 ROOMS

• 12 HOUR LIGHT:DARK CYCLE AND TEMPERATURE MAINTAINED AT 22°C ± 2°C (72°F ± 4°F)

• CAT HOUSING ROOMS ARE LOCATED AWAY FROM DOG HOUSING ROOMS

HOUSING: SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE SINGLY HOUSED • TWO COMPARTMENT STAINLESS STEEL CAGE

• VERTICALLY STACKED

• HOLE CONNECTS THE COMPARTMENTS

COMPARTMENT SIZE: • 55 X 71 X 55 CM (22 X 28 X 22 IN)

• CAGE FURNISHINGS: • LITTER PAN IN TOP COMPARTMENT

• FOOD AND WATER BOWLS IN BOTTOM

• KURANDA BED & BEDDING IN BOTTOM

HOUSING: SHELTER 2

• SINGLY HOUSED • ONE COMPARTMENT CAGE CONSTRUCTED OF STAINLESS STEEL • CAGE SIZE:

• 70 X 78 X 75 CM (28 X 31 X 30 IN)

• CAGE FURNISHINGS: • LITTER PAN • BLANKET FOR BEDDING • HIDE BOX • ELEVATED RESTING BOARD • TOY • FOOD/WATER BOWLS

HOLDING PROCEDURES

SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE KEPT IN HOLDING AREAS FOR 1-3+ DAYS

• THOSE PART OF A CRUELTY INVESTIGATION CAN BE HELD FOR MUCH LONGER (MONTHS)

• VOLUNTEERS INTERACT WITH CATS WHILE IN HOLDING AREA

SHELTER 2

• CATS ARE KEPT IN HOLDING AREAS FOR 5 DAYS

• VOLUNTEERS INTERACT WITH CATS WHILE IN HOLDING AREA

HUSBANDRY: SHELTER 1

• CAGES ARE DISINFECTED DAILY

• CATS ARE MOVED TO A CLEAN CAGE WHILE THE OLD CAGE IS CLEANED

• IF ALL CAGES ARE FULL THE CAT IS PLACED IN A CARRIER ON THE FLOOR WHILE THE CAGE IS CLEANED

• ROUTINE HUSBANDRY OCCURS SOMETIME BETWEEN 08:00 AND 14:00

• ALL CARETAKERS ARE ROTATED THROUGH ALL AREAS OF THE SHELTER

HUSBANDRY: SHELTER 2

• CAGES ARE CLEANED ONCE A DAY AND DISINFECTED BETWEEN CATS

• CATS ARE PLACED IN A SMALL EXERCISE ROOM WITH TOYS WHILE THEIR CAGE IS CLEANED

• ROUTINE HUSBANDRY AND FEEDING IS PROVIDED BETWEEN 07:00 AND 10:00

• 4 CARETAKERS ARE EMPLOYED

ANIMAL MONITORING

SHELTER 1

• APPETITE IS RECORDED DAILY

• CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR ARE NOT RECORDED

• DIFFERENT STAFF WORK WITH THE CATS DAILY SO ILLNESS OR BEHAVIOR CHANGES ARE DIFFICULT TO DETECT

SHELTER 2

• APPETITE, URINATIONS, DEFECATIONS, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA ARE RECORDED DAILY

• CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR ARE RECORDED DAILY

• CARETAKERS WORK WITH THE CATS DAILY AND QUICKLY NOTICE ILLNESS OR BEHAVIOR CHANGES

FEEDING: SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE FED A CONSISTENT COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE MAINTENANCE DIET BASED ON BODY CONDITION AND LIFE STAGE

• A “BOWLFUL” OF DRY WITH A SPOONFUL OF WET FOOD ON TOP IS PROVIDED ONCE A DAY

• FRESH WATER IS PROVIDED AD LIBITUM

FEEDING: SHELTER 2 • FOOD IS DONATED TO THE SHELTER SO

CATS ARE FED A DRY MAINTENANCE DIET THAT IS AVAILABLE

• A MEASURED AMOUNT BASED ON BODY WEIGHT AND STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT IS FED EACH DAY

• CANNED FOOD IS PROVIDED AS A TREAT TWICE A WEEK IN A SEPARATE BOWL

• WATER IS PROVIDED AD LIBITUM

• FOOD AND WATER ARE GIVEN ONCE A DAY

FOOD INTAKE % OF CATS THAT ATE MORE THAN 50% OF THE OFFERED FOOD

IN 24 HOUR PERIOD

0102030405060708090

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Perc

ent o

f cat

s

Shelter 1 Shelter 2

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT

SHELTER 1

• CATS ON THE ADOPTION FLOOR AND IN HOLDING ROOMS HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH VOLUNTEERS DAILY

• THESE CAN INCLUDE A NEW TOY, PETTING, OR TREATS

• CLASSICAL MUSIC IS QUIETLY PLAYED FOR THE CATS 1-2 HOURS/DAY

SHELTER 2

• CATS ARE PLACED IN AN EXERCISE ROOM ONCE A DAY DURING HUSBANDRY

• VOLUNTEER INTERACTIONS INCLUDE PLAY, BRUSHING AND PETTING EACH CAT DAILY

• CAGE ENRICHMENT (E.G., TREATS, CAT NIP, CANNED FOOD OR A NEW TOY) IS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS ON A SCHEDULE

PREVENTIVE CARE: SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE VACCINATED AT ADMISSION WITH FVRCP

• RABIES VACCINE, MICROCHIP, ENDO- AND ECTO-PARASITE TREATMENT ARE GIVEN BEFORE PLACEMENT ON THE ADOPTION FLOOR

• BEFORE ADOPTION ALL CATS ARE STERILIZED BY 4TH YEAR VETERINARY STUDENTS (UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A VETERINARIAN)

• POST-OP PAIN MEDICATION IS GIVEN AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STUDENT

PREVENTIVE CARE: SHELTER 2

• AT TIME OF INTAKE ALL CATS ARE: • GIVEN A PHYSICAL EXAM

• VACCINATED FOR FVRCP AND RABIES

• TESTED FOR FELV/FIV

• TREATED FOR ENDO- AND ECTO-PARASITES (E.G., FLEAS, TICKS, INTESTINAL WORMS)

• BEFORE ADOPTION, ALL ARE STERILIZED BY A VETERINARIAN

• AN INJECTION OF PAIN MEDICATION IS GIVEN INTRA-OP TO ALL CATS AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE VETERINARIAN POST-OP

VETERINARY CARE: SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE ASSESSED TWICE DAILY BY THE CARETAKER FOR SIGNS OF ILLNESS OR INJURY

• VETERINARY STAFF ASSESSES THE CATS WEEKLY

• CATS WITH SEVERE ILLNESS AND INJURY ARE EUTHANIZED

VETERINARY CARE: SHELTER 2

• THE HEAD CARETAKER WALKS THROUGH THE SHELTER DAILY

• CARETAKERS CHECK THE CATS ONCE A DAY AND REPORT ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO THE VETERINARY STAFF

• VETERINARIANS ASSESS CATS AS NEEDED

• CATS ARE EUTHANIZED FOR SEVERE, UNTREATABLE DISEASE, INJURY OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

BEHAVIOR TIME BUDGET: SHELTER 1

resting 72%

alert 22%

attempt escape

3%

groom 1%

eat/drink 1% other

1%

Resting 72% Alert 22% Attempt escape 3% Grooming 1% Eat/drink 1% Other 1%

BEHAVIOR TIME BUDGET: SHELTER 2

resting 85%

alert 11%

eat/drink 1%

groom 1%

play 1%

other 1%

Resting 85% Alert 11% Grooming 1% Eat/drink 1% Play 1% Other 1%

DISEASE PREVALENCE: SHELTER 1

• ~30% OF CATS ENTERING THE SHELTER SHOW SIGNS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ADMISSION

• 35-40% ARE EUTHANIZED • ~2% OF CATS ARE DIAGNOSED

WITH RING WORM • PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL

PARASITES, FLEAS, AND OTHER DISEASES ARE NOT RECORDED

DISEASE PREVALENCE: SHELTER 2

• ~25% CATS ENTERING THE SHELTER SHOW SIGNS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ADMISSION

• FEW (< 1%) ARE EUTHANIZED • ~3% OF CATS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH

RING WORM • PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL

PARASITES, FLEAS, AND OTHER DISEASES ARE NOT RECORDED

CULLING PROCEDURES: SHELTER 1

• CATS ARE EUTHANIZED DUE TO ILLNESS, INJURY, OR LACK OF SPACE ( ~70% OF THE POPULATION PER YEAR)

• CATS ARE EUTHANIZED WITH AN INTRAVENOUS (IV) OR INTRAPERITONEAL (IP) INJECTION OF PENTOBARBITOL

CULLING PROCEDURES: SHELTER 2

• CATS ARE ONLY EUTHANIZED FOR SEVERE ILLNESS, INJURY OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS (<2% PER YEAR)

• EUTHANASIA IS CONDUCTED BY GIVING AN INTRAVENOUS (IV) INJECTION OF PENTOBARBITOL