TV, touchscreens and play keep cats entertained
Happy cats get adopted.
That’s why the Gilmer County Animal Shelter (GCAS) has created a new program to enrich and socialize the shelter’s cats.
“We wanted to have an actual dedicated program for enrichment,” Vet Assistant Justin Gooch said.
The new Cat Enrichment Program started Friday, Jan. 16.
Sitting in a room and staring at the wall all day is bad for both people and animals.
“The more quickly we can get out these positive stimulating things, it is vital because it’s going to prevent them from getting stuck never showing their true personality,” Gooch said.
And when cats are anxious, stressed, or pent-up, they aren’t at their best.
Sometimes they get health issues. Other times they just seem unfriendly.
The solution is to keep the cats happy. That way, they’re behaving well when it’s time for potential adoption.
“It keeps them happier, healthier and more adoptable,” GCAS Director Kelly Pickering said.
Cats can be entertained in multiple ways. But all of them rely on helping them exercise their natural hunting instincts.
They can “stalk” prey by watching videos of birds, squirrels and other prey animals. They can hunt by playing coordination-based games on iPads and by chasing toys with volunteers.
inally, they can exercise their instinct to explore by visiting screened-in
“catios.”
“It stimulates their mind,” volunteer Tamara Flynn said.
Even after just a few weeks, cats are pacing their cages less and seem more relaxed, GCAS Operations Manager Heather Helton said.
“You just don’t see that sort of behavior quite as much,” she said.
Right now, GCAS has 46 cats in need of adoption. A few have been at the shelter for about a year. Volunteers and employees make it their mission to find every animal a home.
“Some are still here simply because they are timid and shy, and they’re not jumping to the front of the cage when people come in,” Gooch said.
One cat, Carmina, came in with a litter of kittens. She was very protective of them and would hiss at visitors.
But after her kittens got older and a staff member worked hard to socialize her, she became extremely friendly.
“If she knows you, she will roll over, purr and rub against your arm,” Gooch said.
GCAS calls for volunteers to help keep its cats entertained. Those interested can fill out a volunteer form at form.jotform.com/catenrichgcas/volunteer-form.
“Once we recruit volunteers, we’ve got all these different things we can start doing with the cats,” Flynn said.