Creating Cat Friendly Environments in Hospital

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Creating Cat Friendly Environments in Hospital by Natalie Hunt (BAppSc - VT)

Cats have excellent senses, the same senses we experience as humans: taste, touch, hearing, smell and sight.

When compared to humans, cats' senses tend to be more highly defined, in the most part. For example, humans tend to have 5 million odor sensitive receptors in their noses, which cats have around 200 million. Furthermore, cats only require 1/5 of the light that we need in order to see things appropriately and can hear sounds about 4 times farther away than humans.

Feline Personality Spectrum

• Neuroticism – traits include: shyness, insecurity, anxious, fearful and suspicious
• Impulsive – traits include: erratic, reckless, impulsive, distractable
• Extroverted – traits include: active, vigilant, curious, decisive, inventive, smart
• Agreeable – traits include: friendly, affectionate, playful and gentle
• Dominant – traits include: bullying, aggressive, jealous

These different personality types mean we can adjust the cat's behaviour depending on what it needs.

Five pillars of a healthy feline environment (from AAFP & ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines)

1. Pillar 1: Provide a safe place
2. Pillar 2: Provide multiple & separated key environmental resources: food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, resting and sleeping areas
3. Pillar 3: Provide opportunity for play and predatory behaviour
4. Pillar 4: Provide positive, consistent and predictable human-cat social interaction
5. Pillar 5: Provide an environment that respects the importance of the cat's sense of smell

When setting up an area for cats to be hospitalised, it is important to consider the following factors:

• A cat ward away from the main hospital and high traffic areas
• Cages that are of adequate size
• Comforting factors – bedding, towels, pillows
• Sight – keep lights low
• Space – some cats prefer more space to move
• Ability to hide
• Food & water – keep separate, and also away from the cat litter as much as possible
• Litter – keep it clean and checked regularly

When you consider the different requirements and take into account the senses and unique characteristics of cats, it helps determine what they need to have a stress-free hospital environment.