Not all cats want a couch! Recent research published in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health highlights an important truth: not every cat is suited for life in a traditional home. Join us for the next Maddie’s® Insights on February 12 (12pm PT / 3pm ET) as we dive into this research that can help you make decisions about cats who aren’t suitable for adoption. Our speaker is Jacklyn Ellis, MRes, PhD, CAAB, CSB-C, Director of Behaviour at the Toronto Humane Society.
Using the Feline Spectrum Assessment (FSA), the study revealed that cats least likely to be socialized were more fearful, less affectionate and less amenable to handling post-adoption (even by their primary caretaker) compared to their more socialized counterparts. Adopters of these cats were also more likely to report their cat would have been happier outside, underscoring the need for shelters to carefully match cats with appropriate placement pathways. This evidence helps confirm what many in sheltering already know-while adoption is an ideal outcome for many cats, it is not the right outcome for every cat.
In the case of cats for which a traditional adoption pathway would not be appropriate and TNR/RTF is not possible, working cat or barn cat programs provide a humane and practical alternative. But careful consideration must be given to ensure the cat is medically appropriate, the placement site is suitable and safe, and that the transition into a new environment is conducted in a thoughtful, stepwise way. At Toronto Humane Society, cats identified as barn cat candidates are selected using the FSA alongside behavioral history and ongoing monitoring of in-shelter behavior modification progress, then integrated using a structured acclimation process: a period of crate confinement, followed by exploration in a secure space such as a tack room, before eventual free-roam. This approach maximizes well-being and sets both the cat and placement site up for long-term success.
Learning Objectives for the webcast:
- Understand how findings from recent research on the Feline Spectrum Assessment can inform decisions about which cats are best suited for traditional homes, barn cat placement, or TNR/RTF.
- Learn how to identify appropriate candidates for barn or working cat programs by combining FSA results, behavioral history, and in-shelter progress.
- Explore step-by-step strategies to successfully integrate barn cats into their new environments in ways that support welfare, safety, and long-term success.
Register for this one-hour webcast and earn continuing education credit from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement towards 1.0 CAWA CEs. This webcast has also been pre-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits by the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA). It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit until 12/12/2027 in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval.