View
2.068
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Maggie Roberts of Cats Protection (www.cats.org.uk) delivered this presentation to the International Companion Animal Welfare Conference (ICAWC) 2009. It is designed to give basic information about caring for cats and dogs in a shelter environment. ICAWC is an annual European conference organised by Dogs Trust. See www.icawc.org for more details and to download further resources.
Citation preview
Dogs are from Mars – Cats are Dogs are from Mars – Cats are from Venusfrom Venus
Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVSMaggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS
Director of Veterinary ServicesDirector of Veterinary Services
Cats ProtectionCats Protection
ICAWC 2009ICAWC 2009
What is this?What is this?
It’s a small dog!It’s a small dog!
What is this?What is this?
It’s not a small dog!It’s not a small dog!
The differences between dogs The differences between dogs and cats!and cats!
Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a message and get back to you when they are message and get back to you when they are good and ready. good and ready.
Dogs will give you unconditional love forever. Dogs will give you unconditional love forever. Cats will make you pay for every mistake Cats will make you pay for every mistake you’ve ever made since the day you were you’ve ever made since the day you were born. born.
Dogs will tilt their heads and listen whenever Dogs will tilt their heads and listen whenever you talk. Cats will yawn and close their eyes. you talk. Cats will yawn and close their eyes.
Dogs will bring you your slippers or the Dogs will bring you your slippers or the evening newspaper. Cats might bring you a evening newspaper. Cats might bring you a dead mouse. dead mouse.
The differences between dogs The differences between dogs and cats!and cats!
Dogs will greet you and Dogs will greet you and lick your face when you lick your face when you come home from work. come home from work. Cats will be mad that you Cats will be mad that you went to work at all. went to work at all.
Dogs will sit on the car Dogs will sit on the car seat next to you. Cats seat next to you. Cats have to have their own have to have their own private box or they will private box or they will not go at all. not go at all.
Dogs have owners, cats Dogs have owners, cats have staff.have staff.
Considerations in the shelter Considerations in the shelter environment for environment for anyany species species
Evolutionary originEvolutionary origin BehaviourBehaviour Exercise and mental Exercise and mental
stimulationstimulation AccommodationAccommodation Reproductive cycleReproductive cycle DietDiet Disease and its Disease and its
preventionprevention
Evolutionary origins - dogsEvolutionary origins - dogs
Descended from wolves Descended from wolves and other wild dogs and other wild dogs
Pack animalsPack animals Social speciesSocial species HierarchyHierarchy Hunt and scavengeHunt and scavenge Been domesticated for Been domesticated for
15-30,000 years15-30,000 years Huge variation in size, Huge variation in size,
shape and use through shape and use through domestication and domestication and selective breedingselective breeding
Evolutionary origin - catsEvolutionary origin - cats Descended from the Descended from the
African WildcatAfrican Wildcat Solitary hunterSolitary hunter Not social as not evolved Not social as not evolved
to live in close proximity to live in close proximity to other catsto other cats
Highly territorialHighly territorial Been domesticated for Been domesticated for
approx 6,000 yearsapprox 6,000 years Have not changed much Have not changed much
in shape and size since in shape and size since domesticationdomestication
Behaviour - DogsBehaviour - Dogs
Evolved to live in groupsEvolved to live in groups Generally sociable and Generally sociable and
like companylike company Developed ways of Developed ways of
communicating with communicating with others through facial others through facial expressions, stance and expressions, stance and voicevoice
Respond well to trainingRespond well to training
Behaviour - catsBehaviour - cats Can live in groups of related Can live in groups of related
females and young malesfemales and young males Tend to act independentlyTend to act independently Generally stressed by the Generally stressed by the
presence of strange catspresence of strange cats Communicate through smellCommunicate through smell Do not have a wide range of Do not have a wide range of
facial expressionsfacial expressions Deal with conflict by Deal with conflict by
hiding/fleeing/climbing if hiding/fleeing/climbing if possible possible
SocialisationSocialisation
PuppiesPuppies Sensitive period is between Sensitive period is between
3-12 weeks3-12 weeks Must be exposed to a Must be exposed to a
variety of people, animals, variety of people, animals, sounds etc during this sounds etc during this period to avoid being period to avoid being fearful of them laterfearful of them later
Need interactive playNeed interactive play Even if socialised before 12 Even if socialised before 12
weeks can regress to weeks can regress to fearfulness in the absence fearfulness in the absence of social contactof social contact
KittensKittens Sensitive period is Sensitive period is
between 2-7 weeksbetween 2-7 weeks Must be exposed to a Must be exposed to a
variety of people, variety of people, animals, sounds etc animals, sounds etc during this period to during this period to avoid being fearful of avoid being fearful of them laterthem later
If not handled during this If not handled during this period they are unlikely period they are unlikely ever to become very ever to become very sociable petssociable pets
Socialisation of kittensSocialisation of kittens
Socialisation is very time-Socialisation is very time-consuming and needs consuming and needs experienced, patient experienced, patient staff/volunteers.staff/volunteers.
Need to put kittens in Need to put kittens in kitten pen in a busy part of kitten pen in a busy part of the shelter or property.the shelter or property.
Feral kittens that are old Feral kittens that are old enough (from 6 weeks) enough (from 6 weeks) can be neutered and can be neutered and returned rather than returned rather than socialised.socialised.
Exercise and mental stimulation Exercise and mental stimulation - dogs- dogs
Can be taken for Can be taken for walkswalks
Changes environmentChanges environment Allows exerciseAllows exercise Can undergo training, Can undergo training,
agility etcagility etc Need variety of toys Need variety of toys
and activitiesand activities
Exercise and mental stimulation Exercise and mental stimulation - cats- cats
Generally restricted to the Generally restricted to the run or penrun or pen
Need to be encouraged to Need to be encouraged to exercise and playexercise and play
Need to exhibit hunting Need to exhibit hunting behaviourbehaviour
Need to have something Need to have something to scratch onto scratch on
Need facilities on different Need facilities on different levels for climbing, levels for climbing, perching etcperching etc
ExerciseExercise
StimulationStimulation
ToysToys – mimic prey through shape, – mimic prey through shape, texture and movementtexture and movement
AccommodationAccommodation
DogsDogs Happier with Happier with
companionscompanions Need adequate floor Need adequate floor
area but height not so area but height not so importantimportant
Sound-proofingSound-proofing
CatsCats Prefer to be on their Prefer to be on their
own (or with a familiar own (or with a familiar cat)cat)
Stressed by seeing Stressed by seeing other catsother cats
Need places to hide, Need places to hide, climb and perchclimb and perch
Cat pen designCat pen design
• Safe and secure – safety Safe and secure – safety corridorscorridors
• Adequate ventilation – 6 Adequate ventilation – 6 to 12 air changes/hrto 12 air changes/hr
• Adequate temperature – Adequate temperature – Ideally 15-24Ideally 15-24CC
• Smooth surfaces, non-Smooth surfaces, non-porous surfaces porous surfaces
• Solid (ideally opaque) Solid (ideally opaque) barriers between cats – barriers between cats – sneeze barrierssneeze barriers
Cat pen designCat pen design• Ease of cleaning/access Ease of cleaning/access
catscats• Ease of public viewingEase of public viewing• Adequate space for cats Adequate space for cats
to exerciseto exercise• Ideally separate sleeping Ideally separate sleeping
area and runarea and run• Food bowls and litter Food bowls and litter
trays kept separatelytrays kept separately• Areas for cats to feel Areas for cats to feel
secure and hidesecure and hide• Areas to climb and Areas to climb and perchperch
Cat pen designCat pen design
Reproductive cycleReproductive cycle
DogDog Comes into season Comes into season
twice yearlytwice yearly Easier to control Easier to control
whether bitch is whether bitch is matedmated
Some debate about Some debate about risks of early risks of early neuteringneutering
CatCat Has many seasons in Has many seasons in
one yearone year Can have up to 3 Can have up to 3
litters a yearlitters a year Difficult to avoid Difficult to avoid
pregnancy if going pregnancy if going outside and un-outside and un-neuteredneutered
Cats are very good at Cats are very good at reproducing!reproducing!
One entire female can be responsible for the One entire female can be responsible for the production of over 20,000 kittens in 5 yearsproduction of over 20,000 kittens in 5 years
Early NeuteringEarly Neutering The key to neutering The key to neutering
being effective at being effective at population control is to population control is to neuter before sexual neuter before sexual maturity, particularly maturity, particularly before a female’s first before a female’s first seasonseason
Studies show no Studies show no increased surgical, increased surgical, anaesthetic or anaesthetic or developmental risks with developmental risks with pre-pubertal neuteringpre-pubertal neutering
Early neuteringEarly neutering Advantages of early Advantages of early
neutering (pre-puberty) neutering (pre-puberty) resulting in:resulting in: Fewer unwanted Fewer unwanted
kittenskittens Fewer homed cats to Fewer homed cats to
follow upfollow up Fewer cats presented Fewer cats presented
for neutering being for neutering being pregnantpregnant
Easier surgically due Easier surgically due to less body fat and to less body fat and smaller blood vesselssmaller blood vessels
Quicker recoveryQuicker recovery
DietDiet
DogsDogs Originally predators and Originally predators and
scavengersscavengers Although generally Although generally
considered carnivores are considered carnivores are more omnivorousmore omnivorous
Can survive on a Can survive on a vegetarian dietvegetarian diet
Can tolerate prolonged Can tolerate prolonged fasting and can use body fasting and can use body fat efficientlyfat efficiently
CatsCats Supreme predatorsSupreme predators Obligate carnivoresObligate carnivores Cannot survive on a Cannot survive on a
vegetarian dietvegetarian diet Do not tolerate starvation Do not tolerate starvation
well well
NB If you want a vegetarian pet….NB If you want a vegetarian pet….
……get a rabbit!get a rabbit!
Feline dietFeline diet Need higher levels of protein Need higher levels of protein
than dogsthan dogs MUST have a meat-based dietMUST have a meat-based diet Would eat 9 mice daily in the Would eat 9 mice daily in the
wildwild When healthy, drink less than When healthy, drink less than
dogs as were desert animalsdogs as were desert animals Require certain essential Require certain essential
nutrients including taurine, nutrients including taurine, arachidonic acid and pre-arachidonic acid and pre-formed Vitamin A that are only formed Vitamin A that are only available from animal sourcesavailable from animal sources
Can develop a fatal liver Can develop a fatal liver condition called hepatic condition called hepatic lipidosis if not eating for a few lipidosis if not eating for a few days, especially if obesedays, especially if obese
DiseaseDisease
DogsDogs Show pain or illness more Show pain or illness more
overtlyovertly Show stress more overtlyShow stress more overtly When ill with infectious When ill with infectious
disease tend to get better or disease tend to get better or diedie
Carrier states less commonCarrier states less common
CatsCats Hide pain very wellHide pain very well May not show overt signs May not show overt signs
of stressof stress With infectious disease, With infectious disease,
can often be can often be symptomless carriers or symptomless carriers or recover but still shed the recover but still shed the organism especially when organism especially when stressedstressed
Do not tolerate certain Do not tolerate certain drugs such as NSAIDs as drugs such as NSAIDs as well as dogswell as dogs
Feline infectious diseaseFeline infectious disease
Many diseases can have Many diseases can have a carrier state e.g. FeLV, a carrier state e.g. FeLV, FIV, feline herpesvirus, FIV, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirusfeline calicivirus
Stress tends to increase Stress tends to increase shedding of organisms shedding of organisms and susceptibilityand susceptibility
Disease is worse in Disease is worse in overcrowded, poorly overcrowded, poorly ventilated sheltersventilated shelters
Controlling feline infectious Controlling feline infectious diseasedisease
• Avoid overcrowding Avoid overcrowding • Keep cats singly where possibleKeep cats singly where possible• Avoid cats sharing litter traysAvoid cats sharing litter trays• Reduce stressReduce stress• Use isolationUse isolation• Barrier nursingBarrier nursing• Stringent hygiene/disinfection regimeStringent hygiene/disinfection regime• Stop the movement of cats in affected areaStop the movement of cats in affected area• VaccinationVaccination• Screen for disease where possibleScreen for disease where possible
Common signs of stressCommon signs of stress
DogsDogs AvoidanceAvoidance Defensive aggressionDefensive aggression Howling/barkingHowling/barking PacingPacing PantingPanting DiggingDigging Excessive activityExcessive activity EliminationElimination AnorexiaAnorexia Compulsive behaviour Compulsive behaviour
(tail chasing etc)(tail chasing etc)
CatsCats AvoidanceAvoidance HidingHiding Reduced Reduced
activity/immobilityactivity/immobility ClimbingClimbing Elimination/sprayingElimination/spraying Reduction in maintenance Reduction in maintenance
behaviours (sleeping, behaviours (sleeping, grooming, eating, grooming, eating, elimination etc)elimination etc)
Excessive groomingExcessive grooming PantingPanting AggressionAggression
Avoiding stress in cats in Avoiding stress in cats in sheltersshelters
AcuteAcute stress on arrival is helped by stress on arrival is helped by Giving the cat somewhere to hideGiving the cat somewhere to hide Preventing the cats looking directly at other catsPreventing the cats looking directly at other cats Providing a regular and predictable routineProviding a regular and predictable routine Having the same person deal with the cat each dayHaving the same person deal with the cat each day
ChronicChronic stress occurs after time and is helped by stress occurs after time and is helped by Using different toys and active playUsing different toys and active play Using puzzle feeders and making them work for their foodUsing puzzle feeders and making them work for their food Varying the routine with regard to people and timingVarying the routine with regard to people and timing
Thank You!Thank You!
Cats were once worshipped as gods and they’ve Cats were once worshipped as gods and they’ve never forgotten it!never forgotten it!
Any questions?Any questions?
Recommended