Reflective Journal

At my volunteer orientation to the PSPCA, Nicole mentioned that cats often get left out in favor of dogs at the PSPCA. She said the majority of people tend to pay more attention to dogs rather than to cats. Often this is because cats do not require as much direct contact, as opposed to dogs who need walked twice a day. I learned in the orientation that cats in shelters often are not able to show their true personalities because they become stressed in caged, isolated conditions. Even my companion cat, Frisky, becomes stressed when isolated from humans. One year, the day after my family put up our Christmas tree, we put Frisky in the basement for a whole day so that she would not climb the tree. This made Frisky so anxious that she licked all the fur off her one side. I felt horrible, so now we do not put up a large tree and do not have to worry about Frisky’s safety in the basement or near the tree. The point of this story is to show that cats are very sensitive to changes in their environment. This is why I feel like the cat socialization I have been doing at the PSPCA really makes a difference in those cats’ lives. I have noticed that some cats are very friendly and seek attention. These cats are the ones who tend to be adopted and the less friendly cats are overlooked. I saw two cats get adopted during one visit to the PSPCA, and they were both very sociable with humans while in their cages. I was excited for these cats, but I worry about the ones who are less responsive to humans. Out of the context of a shelter, or even out of its cage, a cat may show its affectionate side. One cat I formed a relationship with on my visit came to the front of the cage but did not nuzzle or sniff my hand. But, going slowly, I was able to pet him, hold him and take him out of his cage. This cat seemed to love my attention, but a potential adopter might overlook him because he did not actively seek attention. Getting cats used to human encounters makes them more likely to be adopted. Petting cats also helps them remove excess fur and dirt. It seems harder for cats to maintain their coats in cages, which can put them at a disadvantage in the adoption pool. I know that Frisky would not easily be adopted in a shelter because of her coat, which would be patchy due to over-licking. Knowing that my help increases the chances of cat being adopted is very fulfilling to me.