Episode 69
Understanding Spicy Cats: Fear, Stress & the Path to Trust
Some cats shut down in shelters. Others hiss, swat, or go silent. But beneath the “spicy” label is almost always one thing—fear.
In this episode of Animal Posse, Dixie sits down with Berlin Waters of The Spicy Cat Project to break down why so many cats struggle in shelter environments, how fear is often mistaken for aggression, and what rescuers, fosters, and adopters can do to help stressed cats feel safe again.
This episode is essential for anyone working with cats—rescuers, fosters, adopters, or anyone who’s ever wondered why a sweet cat can suddenly seem “spicy.”
Links: • The Spicy Cat Project: https://thespicycatproject.com
About Animal Posse 🐈
Welcome to Animal Posse! We share heartwarming stories and crucial insights to make a real difference for animals in need. As a project of the Unwanted Feline Organization, we are a community of animal lovers dedicated to rescue, advocacy, and education. This podcast does not provide medical, veterinary, or professional advice.
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📌 Disclaimer
This show is for entertainment and general discussion only. The experiences, opinions, and information shared by our guests are their own and are not intended as veterinary advice. This content should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or guidance. Always consult a licensed veterinarian regarding your pet’s health or any medical concerns.
#SpicyCats #CatBehavior #ShelterCats #CatRescue #FosterCats #AdoptDontShop #CatWelfare #TNRCommunity #CatBehaviorTips #RescueEducation #CatAdvocacy #FelineStress
Transcript
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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:Today's episode tackles a side of shelter
life that isn't always talked about,
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:the cats who don't cope well, the ones
who become labeled spicy, shut down, or
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:misunderstood in a shelter environment.
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:I'm joined by Berlin Waters of
the Spicy Cat Project, who's doing
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:incredible work advocating for these
cats and help us better understand
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:what's really going on beneath the
hisses, swats, and the silence.
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:We're getting into why some cats
struggle in shelters, what stress
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:really looks like in feline behavior,
and how to change the outcome for cats
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:who might otherwise be overlooked.
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:Hi, Berlin..
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:I'm so glad that you are coming on the
show to talk about the Spicy Cat Project.
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:Yeah, me too.
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:I'm
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:Berlin: excited.
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:Dixie: Yeah, 'cause that's
something that means a lot to me.
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:I do cat rescue and- Oh, yeah ... yeah.
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:And , it's a problem that you
see a lot of the times, and a
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:lot of people don't realize it.
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:So I'm glad that you're- ... here to be
able to discuss it, and so we can kinda
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:see what's really going on with these
cats- ... when they become shut down.
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:- Berlin: Yeah, it's
definitely been a problem
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:that I've noticed.
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:Dixie: To start, tell us
how you got into doing this.
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:I've had many cats my whole
life, and so cats have always
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:just been a passion of mine.
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:And then when I started a master's
program at UF in shelter medicine,
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:we had to do a research project, so I
started volunteering at the shelter, and
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:pretty quickly I noticed that so many
cats were being neglected emotionally.
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:They weren't having their needs met, and
so I decided that was my research project.
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:I was gonna work with these cats
because I also saw that a lot of the
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:staff was, intimidated by these cats,
which is understandable, and no one
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:really know, knew what to do with them.
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:So I was like, "My goal is gonna be
work with these cats, see if I can
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:socialize them, see what I can do just
to improve their welfare," and so that's
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:how the Spicy Cat Project started.
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:Dixie: Another thing that I
would like to get into is a
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:little bit with the term spicy.
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:And- ... the reason that I wanna
bring that up is because I just
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:recently shared a video on Facebook
And it was a four-week-old kitten.
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:And I had him in a carrier, and
he was absolutely terrified.
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:So ears flat, he's hissing up
a storm at me 'cause this poor
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:little guy- he's terrified.
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:So I put- Yep ... a video out there
to show people that he is not mean.
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:He is just- ... terrified.
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:And-
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:Exactly
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:... I did not know that there was a
spicy cat trend, and so Yeah ... his
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:video, right now it's at 1.6
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:million views.
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:Berlin: Oh my goodness.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:And , like I never expected it.
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:And so when I was telling somebody
about this, they're like, "Oh
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:there's this spicy cat trend
where people think this is cute."
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:- I wouldn't call it cute.
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:I just put it out there- ... for like
education purposes to show people like,
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:look, this little guy is terrified.
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:Yeah.
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:But within a couple of weeks, I'm
gonna have him turned into a love bug.
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:Berlin: Exactly.
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:Yeah.
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:Dixie: So how do you view
the term like spicy cat?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:I 100% agree with you with that cat.
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:Sounds like that little
baby was just terrified.
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:And , the name of my project is The
Spicy Cat Project, but I actually never
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:use the term spicy cat , in practice
because I do dislike it for those reasons.
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:People tend to like to say
that in a fun, funny way.
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:"Oh, he's spicy."
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:And I I can see what they're trying to do
with it, but it's also okay, yeah, he's
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:aggressive because this cat is terrified.
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:They're so scared, and they're acting
out aggressively because , those
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:are their defense mechanisms.
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:So , while it is the name of my project,
I do have a whole definition on the bottom
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:of my website that says, what spicy cat
means and what it means to me and how
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:I don't use it, it is catchy and I hope
people will just recognize that and that's
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:how I get recognition for my website.
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:Dixie: You mentioned that your research
project was geared towards these cats
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:that were shutting down in the shelter,
and also how- ... the way people
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:viewed these cats So- ... through
your research, what have you found?
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:What is the best approach when dealing
with these cats in these environments
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:when they come in and they just get
very aggressive or completely shut
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:down because they're so scared?
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:Berlin: Yeah, like I said, so many people
just have this kind of misunderstanding
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:of what cats are when they act out
aggressively because when dogs are
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:scared, they have the sad puppy dog eyes.
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:They look sad and everyone
wants to help them.
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:And when people see cats that are acting
out aggressively, they assume these cats
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:must be mean or feral or unsocialized.
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:And so that I think is the biggest problem
why there's such a misunderstanding is
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:even though these, the cats and the dogs
are feeling the same things, which is
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:fear, people don't realize that, oh,
cats express that in an aggressive way.
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:And so what I find is so many cats come
to the shelter and they are just terrified
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:out of their minds, and people assume that
they must be unsocialized or feral, and so
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:they leave them alone to decompress when
really most of the cats that come into
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:the shelter were previously house cats.
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:It's not like they were feral
cats just brought off the streets.
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:But they just don't recognize
that's what they're feeling inside.
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:So my basic approach is to get them
out of the kennel, get them in a quiet
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:room, quiet environment, and just
interact with them one-on-one and
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:just the main thing I've noticed is
just that reassurance, showing them
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:that, there's nothing to be afraid of.
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:I'm here to help.
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:That's the biggest thing for these cats.
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:Dixie: Yeah, and what you mentioned too
about the house cats being like feral.
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:I run a few lost pets
groups on social media.
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:Yeah.
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:And that is one thing that I always tell
people, you wanna go check the shelter to
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:see if your cat is in the shelter, but you
also have to- go check the feral cat room.
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:So you wanna ask to go see- Yep ... the
feral cats because a lot of the time
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:these adult cats will act feral.
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:And in fact- ... like being in cat
rescue, that's something that really
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:upsets me is when I see people thinking
it's nothing to rehome their adult cat.
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:Because they think, oh, their cat
is 100% fine with them, friendly,
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:lovey, but they don't realize when
that cat gets into a new environment,
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:the cat shuts down most of the time.
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:There's a few instances- ... where
I've seen it where the cat's okay,
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:but most- ... of the time the cat
will shut down and a lot of the
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:times the cat will even stop eating.
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:I have one sitting on my lap right now.
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:He's three years old.
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:And, his owners gave him up because
they didn't have time for him.
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:And so- ... when we first
got him in he's very cute.
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:But I was like, despite how cute he
looks, we couldn't have anybody around
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:him because he was just- ... he was
terrified, absolutely terrified.
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:D'aww.
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:We had one of these like little soft
pop-up containers that we had him in.
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:And it's big enough for him to move
around, big enough for his litter box,
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:big enough for a bed and everything.
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:But even when we would go in to go change
his box or feed him, we would have to be
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:careful 'cause he would come lunge at us.
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:Oh,
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:Berlin: yeah.
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:Dixie: Now it took just a few
days, and after a few days-
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:he's absolutely fine now.
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:He's a love bug.
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:But, you'd never know- That's
good ... how long it's gonna take.
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:That's been my experience anyway, and
I've even- ... seen it where with a
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:lot of rescues who will take back their
adult cats, that when they take them back
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:after five, six years, sometimes the cats
will even starve themselves to death.
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:Berlin: Oh my goodness.
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:Yeah.
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:Any transition, and that's one thing
I try and advocate for with my project
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:too is adoption counseling because
whether they're getting, moving from
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:the home into a shelter, they're
scared, but also when they're going
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:from shelter back to a new home, at
the new place, they're also terrified.
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:And so making those transitions as smooth
as possible and informing owners of how
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:to do that, how to get them used to you
and how to not make it such a traumatic
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:experience each time they move, is super
important for rescues and shelters.
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:Dixie: Can we go over like the approach
that a rescue should take when they
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:get in a cat like this, either from
the shelter or let's say it's one that
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:they take in as an owner surrender?
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:... As well as what adopters c-could do or
what rescues should advise adopters to
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:do with cats that shut down like this.
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:When any, cat comes into a rescue
or shelter , always definitely
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:get as much information about them
as possible and their behavior.
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:And then instead of just giving these
cats, days to just decompress, like a
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:lot of people like to say I advocate
for working with these cats as soon
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:as possible, within the first three
days really is just getting them out
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:of that kennel, interacting with them
and socializing with them one-on-one
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:again, in that calm, quiet environment
just to again, reassure them.
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:And Same thing happens
going back into the home.
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:I have advocate for owners and
the, shelters to, keep those
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:cats in a small, quiet room.
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:- I see so many times where cats would
get adopted and, at, even at the
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:shelter if they are sweet, they bring
home this cat that they were told was
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:super sweet, then like you said, they
get to the new environment and they're
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:aggressive or stressed or not eating.
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:And so with, adoption counseling,
I really highly recommend, keeping
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:them in a small bathroom for, 7
to 10 days at minimum to let them
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:settle in, and, frequent one-on-one
interactions in a calm environment
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:just to get to know them and show them
that you're not there to hurt them.
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:You're there to help them
through this, tough transition.
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:And one of the things I really like to
do with, the aggressive ones especially,
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:is , use my bundle and bond technique
where you wrap them in a towel wrap
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:and just hold onto them just for those
first few minutes where they, are
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:in that fight or flight state until
they're able to relax and go, "Oh, okay.
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:Take a breath.
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:This person's not hurting me.
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:I can relax now.
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:I'm safe now."
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:And so that's what I found to be very
helpful for those super fearful or even
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:cats that are lashing out aggressively.
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:Dixie: With the bundle technique that
you're talking about, I have done
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:that plenty of times with kittens.
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:Now, it's a little bit different with
a bigger cat because, I know- ... even
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:sometimes when you're dealing with a
kitten that might be, 10 to 12 weeks old,
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:you've got to be really careful with that
kitten because the kitten's terrified-
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:... and the kitten might bite you.
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:Oh, yeah.
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:So how- ... do you accomplish
that with an adult cat?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:For shelters I, I would recommend
that being, the staff doing that,
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:not necessarily adopters 'cause
it is dangerous and, I wouldn't
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:put that on adopters to expect
them to do something like that.
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:But for, mostly when I deal with owner
surrendered cats or cats that we know came
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:from a home environment , the ones that
are from a home environment and acting
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:out the most aggressively in the shelters
actually don't need the bundle and bond.
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:I would say 99.9%
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:of the time I bring them into a
quiet, calm room and they're fine,
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:and they open up and I don't even
need a towel wrap or anything.
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:It's the ones that are, frozen in fear
that really need the bundle and bond.
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:And so what I do is get them in
a feral box usually or a carrier
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:and put that in their kennel.
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:Then I transport them to the quiet
Calm room, and then I use the towel
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:wrap to remove them from that.
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:It's a lot easier to remove them
from, a feral box than it is just
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:from inside their giant car- kennel.
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:And then I wrap them in my Superman towel
wrap and it takes a lot of confidence,
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:but as long as you can hold onto them,
cats are only 10 pounds, you can do it.
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:They seem strong, but you're stronger.
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:So if you just hold onto them for, the
30 to 60 seconds it takes for them to
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:realize they're, you're not hurting
them, then that's usually all it takes
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:and they're able to calm down and I just
talk to them and say, "It's gonna be
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:okay," and they usually open right up.
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:Dixie: Now for a rescue my
go-to is always like a bathroom,
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:'cause it's a small room.
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:. But let's say somebody doesn't have a
bathroom, but they use a spare bedroom.,
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:If you don't have the cat crated or in
some kind of larger kennel, then the cat
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:could go hide under a bed, go hide under
a dresser - and those types of things.
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:Do you advocate for putting them in a
kennel until they get a little bit more
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:acclimated to the space that they're in?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:Definitely-- Yeah, whenever I'm working,
like doing the socialization and when
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:I bring them into a new room, like a
calm, quiet room that I talk about,
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:I'm never just like letting the cat go.
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:I'm always bringing them in there
so I can handle them one-on-one.
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:But again, yeah, it's almost always
like an enrichment room at a shelter
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:or a bathroom wherever it is because
I- Do not want this cat to get out
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:or escape under a bed or up into
a cabinet where I cannot get them.
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:So I definitely do not
recommend doing that.
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:But yeah, dog crates, 'cause that's
what we do with feral cats, too,
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:if we don't have space for them.
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:A large dog crate, we will put them in
and with a, like a feral box or a hiding
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:box of some kind, cover it with a bed
sheet to give them some more privacy and
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:kind of work with them slowly that way.
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:And that oftentimes
does seem to help a lot.
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:Dixie: I've been doing cat rescue for
a really long time now and- ... i'm
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:familiar with the approach to going in
and touching a fearful cat even, one that
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:could tend to be a little bit aggressive.
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:But I do find that there's
not a lot of fosters who have
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:experience with that or- Yeah
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:know what they're getting into, if they
agree to take in, like an older cat.
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:Do you have any tips or tricks for them
to get the cat to come around as far
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:as like maybe touching and feeding?
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:'Cause I know some are always food
motivated, but then there's some-
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:that might not eat for a few days.
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:Berlin: And I try to tell people
same-- honestly, it's same things with
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:almost any cat, whether they're feral
adult cats or just really scared,
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:fearful, owner surrendered cats.
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:Just starting with a small space,
keeping them in that small space,
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:keeping things quiet, being on a
routine for, if you just got that foster
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:cat, come in every, couple of hours.
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:Don't overwhelm them.
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:And a lot of times I recommend just,
if it's the first couple days, leave
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:food out 'cause, even the fosters
that I have that are scared, they're
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:not gonna eat, and that's okay if
they don't eat for a couple days.
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:They're just figuring things out.
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:But just even sitting in
there talking to them without
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:interacting gets them used to you.
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:And then just, make your way,
work your way towards them.
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:And a lot of it just comes down to
reading that subtle body language and
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:seeing if they're, able to be handled
or pet and just going really slow.
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:I go super slow with any cat that I think
even could be aggressive in the slightest.
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:I just go very slow,
very gradual movements.
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:And usually that's all it takes
is just that calm environment
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:and gradual, introductions.
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:Dixie: Churu is always excellent, too.
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:Yeah.
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:Churús are like the best invention ever
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:Berlin: and string toys.
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:I feel like string-- Cats love a
good string toy, and even if they're
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:not gonna interact with you, they'll
oftentimes interact with a string toy,
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:and sometimes I use that to coax them
out and get them distracted and that
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:builds their confidence when they can
feel like, "Oh, I can play and I can,
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:do the things that are, enriching."
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:So those are also really good tools.
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:Dixie: What about touching?
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:I understand what you mean about the
subtle body language, but for somebody-
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:... who doesn't necessarily know what the
subtle body language is, how would- Yeah
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:they know what to do?
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:Berlin: Yeah, for cats I always,
if there is any kind of aggressive
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:behavior like hissing, growling, or
swatting, I do not recommend touching.
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:No touching.
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:Not in the kennel, not if
they're in a hiding box or in
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:the corner of the bathroom.
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:If they're showing those aggressive
behaviors, let them be and even
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:just sit there quietly with them.
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:No reaching towards them, 'cause that
can be very intimidating for them.
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:But if they're just quietly
sitting, not showing any growling or
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:aggression, then, just going slowly
offering like cat brushes and things.
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:I used to be an advocate for those little
mini hands and like reaching towards cats.
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:Sometimes they work, but sometimes
the cats get freaked out by that
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:'cause, they know it's not a real
hand and they're not sure what it is.
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:But that's always an option, but
sometimes it's 50/50 with the cats.
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:But, just making those gradual
movements towards them.
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:I always advocate for, give them
your hand, like the back of your
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:hand and s- see what they do.
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:Never force your hand on them.
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:Let the cat come to you, whether
that's just putting the hand
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:right in front of their nose so
they can smell you and greet you.
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:That's a huge thing.
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:Just letting a cat greet you is the first
thing, first step in any interaction
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:because if you don't greet them, they
don't know what's going on, and that's
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:when they usually lash out aggressively.
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:Dixie: When you said that if they're
exhibiting these aggressive signs,
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:growling, hissing, swatting- ... is
there anything that you can do to
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:calm them down to get them over that?
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:Berlin: Sometimes food will help.
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:You know it's tough.
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:Those kind of cats that are acting
out aggressively once in a home
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:environment, like a foster situation
sometimes they do need a day or
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:two if you just brought them home.
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:But I've found, most of the cats that
I work with once they're, again, in
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:that calm environment and you're just
give them, show them and reassure
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:them that you're not there to hurt
them they usually do pretty well.
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:But if they're acting out aggressively
I wouldn't expect a foster to be able to
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:do this, but when I have like feral cats
who are still doing this I do the super
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:mental wrap and the bundle and bond, and
honestly that does help quite a bit, but
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:that is more advanced cat handling skills.
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:So if it's a foster or new adopter, just
waiting it out, sitting with, spending
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:that quality time with them and usually
slowly but surely they just need a little
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:extra TLC and a little bit of extra time.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:The one that I was telling you about
earlier, the one that came to me that
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:was very scared and acting aggressive.
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:So with him, what I actually did was
we had him kenneled and then we would
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:of course give him the food, and
after a few days I noticed he wasn't
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:calming down as much as I would like.
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:He was still very aggressive.
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:I put ... a little bit of
catnip in there for him.
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:That did seem to help calm him down.
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:And then- Oh, really?
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:Yeah.
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:And then it seemed like he
wanted to come out of the kennel,
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:so I let him out the kennel.
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:Now I will say- ... when I let him
out the kennel, and I'm not gonna lie
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:I was a little bit terrified, Yeah.
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:because he started coming up to me and-
... he came up to me a couple times and he
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:slapped me on my leg, so I was like,
" i'm gonna give you a pass for that."
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:... Then he came up to me, like he
would come rub all around me,
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:and then he would bite my foot.
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:But it- Oh.
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:..., it wasn't like a hard bite ... and
it was like almost like a child
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:throwing, throwing a temper tantrum.
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:Yep.
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:Berlin: It's like they get
overstimulated, and that's just
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:their way of showing you that.
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:Yes.
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:Dixie: Yes.
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:But after that, he wanted to start
jumping on me, so he would jump in my
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:lap and like for the first few days I
was like absolutely terrified 'cause I'm
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:like, "Oh my gosh, is he gonna attack
me while he's- Yeah ... in my lap?"
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:Berlin: That's always nerve-wracking.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:But he's fine now.
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:He's absolutely- ... fine.
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:He's settled in really well.
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:We already have a potential adopter
for him, and so I of course- Oh, good
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:... wanted to work with them, and she's very
understanding and she's, very skilled
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:on introducing a new cat, especially
one that- Oh ... could potentially be
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:fearful, so that's a good thing for him.
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:... But another thing I wanted to ask
you about is what about eye contact?
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:Do you find sometimes when you
have eye contact with them, it
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:stresses them out a little bit more?
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:Berlin: I do.
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:Yeah, I try to stay to the side of them.
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:I don't try and make a lot of
direct eye contact so I do keep
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:my eyes just down, but I can still
see them, out of my periphery.
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:And I try and stay towards the
side and not be with them right
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:head-on, 'cause that is intimidating.
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:So kind of catty-corner to them, but
yeah, eye contact in those scared cats
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:can definitely be intimidating, so I
try to keep it to a minimum at first.
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:Dixie: Do you have any different
tips or suggestions for kittens?
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:I know a lot of the times when you
get a feral kitten, you can work
380
:with them, you can tame them up,
but it just- ... takes like a little
381
:bit of time involved with those.
382
:Do you have any- ... different
advice for kittens?
383
:Since, kittens and the cats,
it's a little bit, different
384
:situation for each of those.
385
:Yeah.
386
:Berlin: Yeah.
387
:Kittens I do treat quite differently
like feral kittens and stuff, because
388
:they, I'm not super worried about, them,
biting me and sending me to the hospital.
389
:I can deal with, a two-pound kitten.
390
:And so with them I honestly I give
them a little more tough love than
391
:the adult cats because kittens are so
resilient and they're mostly, all bark.
392
:They are vocal or hissing and, you need
to show them that, "Hey, I know you're
393
:not, I know you're scared, but, this
is what's gonna happen and we're gonna
394
:interact whether you like it or not."
395
:You need a little tough love to
show them those manners that they
396
:need to build and a lot of times
that works pretty well for kittens.
397
:And so I try to not give them as many
hiding spots either because they need
398
:to build that confidence on their own.
399
:And so it's just a lot of figuring
those little things out as they're
400
:understanding what's right and what's
wrong and what's kind of behavior
401
:is acceptable and what's not.
402
:Dixie: I do have another question.
403
:You might- Yeah ... be able to
give some advice on this as well.
404
:Being a cat rescue, we get all
different ages in, and the ultimate
405
:goal, of course, is adoption for them.
406
:And if we go to an adoption event,
of course, this is gonna mean taking
407
:these cats and you're gonna put them
in these cages at an adoption center.
408
:A lot of the times the kittens don't
care, and if you get kittens there-, they
409
:might be scared for a half hour, and then
after a half hour they're absolutely fine.
410
:But you will get the case when you
have a very social, very friendly
411
:adult cat, and you get them to an
adoption center and they are terrified.
412
:And I know- ... some of them usually
it'll take maybe two days and they
413
:settle in fine, but for other ones
it does take a little bit longer.
414
:Do you have any suggestions of things
that you can do to help those cats,
415
:those ones that might not acclimate
well to the cages in these adoption
416
:centers after being there a day or two?
417
:Yeah.
418
:Berlin: Yeah.
419
:It's definitely tough.
420
:Again, just working with them.
421
:It's very hard when you have
tons of people coming in and out.
422
:One thing I like to, advocate for is,
at least marketing them appropriately.
423
:So if you have had them at the shelter
and you've had good interactions,
424
:take videos of that, take videos
of them having a good time.
425
:Making, make them look as good as possible
so if people do ask about them, you
426
:have video proof and evidence to show
them that these are wonderful cats.
427
:They're just really scared
here at this adoption center.
428
:Same thing with the cats at the shelter,
they do just need that reassurance.
429
:And so trying to get them, work with
them a little bit one-on-one can help.
430
:But usually, at those adoption events
it's very hard to get them out of their
431
:shell in such a short period of time.
432
:Dixie: Would you recommend putting
a box in there for them to hide?
433
:'Cause I know a lot of places- Oh, yes
434
:will do that.
435
:Berlin: Definitely.
436
:I feel any cat at adoption center
or shelter or vet clinic, wherever,
437
:any cat that is being kenneled for
any reason, I believe should always
438
:have a hiding box whether that's a
cardboard box or a carrier or something.
439
:That definitely helps them cope.
440
:It doesn't look the best to
potential adopters, but that does
441
:help them relieve their stress.
442
:Dixie: Yeah, I tend to
do the boxes as well.
443
:And I, I always advocate for finding
the right home for them, and I'm
444
:very- ... upfront with people.
445
:If I think it's not gonna work out,
if they're used to a quiet environment
446
:and they're gonna be going into- ... a
noisy environment I'll always be vocal
447
:about that and say, I don't think
that-" this one might not work for you."
448
:Yeah.
449
:Berlin: Yeah.
450
:Yeah, it depends.
451
:If you have the information of what kind
of home they came from can definitely
452
:help, put them in similar housing.
453
:But I do try to, give them the benefit
of the doubt 'cause a lot of times,
454
:no matter how scared they are at the
shelter, I've seen so many cats that
455
:were just absolutely aggressive or
absolutely scared out of their mind.
456
:Once they're back into, a home that
the person is, just knows that they
457
:need a little TLC, they, blossom into
cats that I didn't think possible.
458
:I always try to give them the benefit
of the doubt, but I do try and, advocate
459
:for the ones that, try and, find
a, the best home for them for sure.
460
:Dixie: Before we end the call,
what advice would you have for
461
:people who are out there just
trying to rehome their adult cats?
462
:That don't know that these adult
cats can shut down like this and
463
:act like a- totally different cat.
464
:'Cause my experience- Yeah ... is when
people are trying to give away their cats
465
:or rehome their cats, say on social media
or wherever- ... they're always like, "Oh,
466
:this is a very, very sweet, friendly cat.
467
:He's 10 years old."
468
:And I find- ... you'll try to
always offer people advice and be
469
:like, "Look, it's gonna be a slow
transition for a 10-year-old cat."
470
:What advice- Yeah ... would you
have for people that are out there
471
:rehoming their cats thinking that
their cats are like a dog and
472
:they're just gonna fit in anywhere?
473
:Berlin: And that's the hardest thing
and, 'cause it's not that, even if,
474
:they know the person who's trying to
rehome them, even if they know that
475
:their cat might take a little extra
time, might become aggressive, it's
476
:also up to the person taking in that cat
to realize This might take some time.
477
:This cat might shut down for a little bit.
478
:So it's honestly a cultural thing.
479
:There's always been this negative
perception of cats in general
480
:that I've noticed in, just our
culture, and so it is hard.
481
:And, as much as you don't want people
to rehome their cats, sometimes life
482
:happens and it does need to happen, or
owners pass away and it's unavoidable.
483
:So just, letting people know that
cats exhibit fear often aggressively,
484
:and they take a lot longer than dogs
to, acclimate to new environments.
485
:And so just the general basics of cat
behavior is something I think everyone
486
:needs to be aware of, whether you're
adopting a new cat or rehoming your
487
:cat that you've had for a long time.
488
:Just that's what my website is all
about too, is just broadening public
489
:knowledge of cat behavior as a whole.
490
:Dixie: Yeah, I think that's great advice
too, because one of the things that I
491
:see is when people are rehoming them, the
people that are going to take them might
492
:not have any experience with cats at all.
493
:And, and it's upsetting to know that
they might not know what they're
494
:getting into, and when you try to offer
people advice on it, I find that people
495
:aren't always receptive about it.
496
:Berlin: Yep, and that's very
true, and it's very frustrating,
497
:but, you do what you can.
498
:And so if they're not gonna take my,
advice, upfront, I at least like to
499
:try and offer, brochures or websites
or things they can look up in their own
500
:time, if they do get home and realize,
"Oh, shoot, this cat isn't acting how I
501
:wanted it to," "Let me see what else I
can, find on the online or something."
502
:And what is your website?
503
:Thespicycatproject.com.
504
:Dixie: I'm so glad that you came up
with that because it is something that
505
:I will definitely refer people to.
506
:Berlin: Thank you.
507
:I appreciate that.
508
:Yeah.
509
:Yeah.
510
:As, even, people you think say they
know about cats, often find themselves
511
:in situations where they didn't,
realize cats did take that, longer
512
:than normal or, oh, they're aggressive
because they're scared, it's just
513
:simple things like that, just getting
the word out about, all the subtleties
514
:of cat behaviors and just the basics.
515
:And so that's what my whole project
is aimed for, towards not just
516
:shelters, but also the general public.
517
:. Dixie: I try to be an advocate whenever
I see something and I can comment on it.
518
:I always try to advocate for the cats
and to let people know 'cause I think
519
:it's important for people to know.
520
:But being able to direct them to your
website is wonderful And not only
521
:that, like even when I'm adopting out
a cat and I go through all the basics
522
:with everybody, do this- do this, yep.
523
:I'm always, "Small room.
524
:You've gotta start out in a small room.
525
:Never start out in a large room."
526
:And people listen, but sometimes
they don't listen, so I think- Yeah.
527
:... telling them, "Okay, go
to this website and look.
528
:She's got some great advice on there,"
I do really think that will help.
529
:Berlin: I hope so.
530
:Yeah, I've found that being as a vet
tech for many years before, even when
531
:you tell people, about their pets at
their vet appointment, things go in
532
:one ear and out the other 'cause it's
just so much information at once.
533
:So giving them a physical copy or a
website to go to definitely, I think,
534
:helps, helps them retain some of that
information, or at least they can look
535
:back on it so they can see and when they
have a more clear space to look up things.
536
:Dixie: Thank you for being an advocate
for the cats, and thank you for
537
:coming on the show to tell everybody
about this, and I'm gonna include
538
:your website in the show links, too.
539
:Berlin: Oh, that's awesome.
540
:I really appreciate that, and
thanks for all the work you do.
541
:Dixie: That's it for today's
episode of Animal Posse.
542
:If you love what we're doing,
please consider becoming a member.
543
:Your support directly helps us continue
highlighting the people and stories
544
:that save lives across the country.
545
:Just a quick reminder, the views
and opinions expressed by our
546
:guests are theirs alone and are
provided for entertainment purposes.
547
:They don't necessarily.
548
:reflect the official position of the show,
and this information should never replace
549
:the advice of your own veterinarian.
550
:Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.
