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By Rachel Loehner of ThreeChattyCats.com
With thanks to this year’s JGP/Cat Pawsitive Pro writers: Emily Hall of KittyCatChronicles.com, Yasaar Nakchbendi of ChirpyCats.com, Dawn White of LolaTheRescuedCat.com, Sue Doute of IslandCats.com, Melissa Lapierre of MochasMysteriesMeows.com, Nikita Lero, and Cal Setar
The shelters have been selected, the teams formed, the Trainer-Mentors assigned, and the training materials dispersed – which can only mean one thing. We’re ready to start the 2020 class of Cat Pawsitive Pro (CPP)! Let’s meet the shelters now and learn what they’re hoping to accomplish this semester with this valuable clicker-training and positive reinforcement program.
Animal Welfare Department
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Animal Welfare Department Director: Danny Nevarez
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Marina Mick, Rose Hargis, Kambre Holder, Carolyn Tiseo, Mallory Begay
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Molly DeVoss
From Danny Nevarez, Animal Welfare Department Director
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
The benefits of Cat Pawsitive Pro to the homeless cats in our care is multi-faceted, not only does it enrich their lives while here at the shelter, it also increases their chance of finding forever loving homes. Staff and volunteers, in a pet shelter environment, struggle with compassion fatigue and this program will provide focus, unification of enrichment methods and a reason to celebrate as more cats find homes.
From CPP Team Leaders Carolyn Tiseo and Marina Mick
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
I am looking forward to learning how to enrich our shelter pets in a way we couldn’t before! The power of mind far surpasses anything we can imagine, so tapping into and engaging in this aspect can help our cats past our shelter environment and into their new homes. – Carolyn Tiseo
I’m looking forward to learning more about cat behavior and working with the cats through this program in an effort to decrease their time spent in a shelter. I’m also looking forward to helping the cats come out of their shell quicker in the shelter and become more comfortable during their stay with us. – Marina Mick
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
To be my best for the cats. Then, create an Everyday Adoption Center team spread like a cat in the sun with its influence. I want to own this and really take in everything you have to offer! This opportunity is surreal. – Carolyn Tiseo
I definitely aspire to decrease the time these cats have to spend in the shelter before they are adopted. – Marina Mick
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
At my location of the Everyday Adoption Center (location 4 of 4 in Albuquerque Animal Welfare), we house between 6-14 cats at any given time. We plan to have at least 1 staff (myself) and 2-3 volunteers participate! – Carolyn Tiseo
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Two cats that may benefit from the program are Pantera and Sid as they both overstimulate easily and are two of our longer-term cats. We also have some shy cats that have been here a while and would benefit from the program. Some of these shy cats include Athena, Carver, and Marie. – Marina Mick
Brandywine Valley SPCA
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Executive Director: Adam Lamb
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Kyler Tatum, Zachary DelFabbro, Aaron Brown, Desiree Pulliam
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Lisa Stemcosky
From Adam Lamb, Executive Director
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
We are thrilled that we have been selected to participate in Cat Pawsitive Pro. The skills this program brings to our staff and volunteers will thoroughly enrich and brighten the lives of our cat population while in the care of our shelter.
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
We are looking forward to seeing the tangible impact of this program not only on the quality of life of the cats currently in our care, but also what we may learn as we continue to grow and support more animals.
From CPP Team Leaders Kyler Tatum, Zachary DelFabbro, Aaron Brown, Desiree Pulliam, Lauren Cook, Laura Page, Christopher Farrall
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
We aim to improve quality of life through enrichment, tailor behavior modification to our cats’ individual needs, and ultimately reduce overall length of stay by allowing our cats to shine to prospective adopters.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
Approximately 20
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Misty, Bertha, Moo Moo, Renee, Lancaster
East Bay SPCA
Location: Oakland, California
Chief Executive Director: Allison Lindquist
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Rebekah Piedad, Micah McKechnie
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Carrie Seay
From Allison Lindquist, Chief Executive Director
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
We look forward to being part of this innovative program and the benefits that our shelter cats will receive. Additionally, it is exciting to be able to use the knowledge we gain to serve as a critical resource for owned cats and their owners. We are thrilled to further promote and nurture the cat/human bond.
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
The Cat Pawsitive Pro program is an exciting way to provide continuing education regarding cat behavior to our staff and volunteers and to further enrich the lives of our shelter cats. We are looking forward to participating in the program and remaining on the cutting edge of shelter best practices and cat behavior.
From CPP Team Leaders Rebekah Piedad and Micah McKechnie
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
Our shelter already has a structured volunteer program for canine volunteers who want to go above and beyond socialization and learn how to train our dogs using positive reinforcement. The support this program provides the Behavior and Training department is invaluable. It has long been a goal to create a similar program for cats, but as with any shelter, change happens slowly. The opportunity to implement a structured training program for our feline population is so exciting. We are most looking forward to creating a culture where positive reinforcement training for cats is an everyday tool in the toolbox of both our staff and volunteers!
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Nearly 200 cats passed through our Behavior and Training department in 2019. With the Cat Pawsitive Pro program, our goal is to be able to take in even more challenging feline cases. Our hope is that with the expanded bandwidth provided by skilled volunteers we can begin to count on multiple daily training sessions for our neediest feline cases, moving them towards socialization and adoption faster and more efficiently.
Additionally, we are interested in changing the culture surrounding cats and training. It is so often assumed that cats cannot be trained, when in fact positive reinforcement training can offer cats so much (especially in the shelter environment!). As an organization that prioritizes education, we hope to gain the skills we need to become a more effective advocate for feline positive reinforcement training in our community and beyond.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
We have yet to confirm a total, but we expect at least 10-15 volunteers are interested in offering their time for the CPP program. It’s entirely possible that that number will grow as we advance through the program. At this time, we will have 2 staff members directing the program as team leads.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Though we are working to transfer in many more cats after our successful holiday promotion, there are several in our care who we think will be perfect candidates for the type of training and enrichment offered by CPP.
The first are a set of 3 siblings, Chex, Twinkle, and Binky. All 3 are fearful under-socialized “teens” whose adjustment to the shelter environment has been slow. Though they are making progress, we hope that CPP can offer us tools to help them come out of their shells and put their best paw forward with adopters.
Another cat we are excited to have in the program is Shadow, a beautiful snow-white senior cat who is one of our long-term residents. Despite being affectionate and an active player, she sets clear boundaries (sometimes very firmly!) for when and how she likes to be petted. We hope that CPP training can offer her fun ways to interact with humans that focus on giving her the choices she craves!
Heartland Animal Shelter
Location: Northbrook, Illinois
Executive Director: Stephanie Muller-Simpson
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Lou Basten, Julie Matos
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Sara Russell
From Stephanie Muller-Simpson, Executive Director
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
Participating in the Cat Pawsitive introductory program last winter made a tremendous impact on the lives of the cats in our care. All of our original Cat Pawsitive cats were adopted, including our longest resident cat who had been at the shelter for almost four years. We are eager to provide this advanced-level enrichment to the special cats who need a little extra support to build confidence at the shelter and develop meaningful connections with people, which will allow their beautifully unique personalities to shine when meeting their future families for the first time. Increasing the adoptability of the cats in our care will not just help them find loving homes quicker, but it will also allow us to save the lives of even more at-risk cats in need.
From CPP Team Leaders Lou Basten and Julie Matos
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
We are looking forward to learning the best ways to work with our shy cats and our cats who have behavioral issues. We are hoping to teach other volunteers the methods we learn so that we can help all of the cats in our care for years to come.
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
To enrich the lives of the cats in our care and to help them become more adoptable and find their forever homes.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
We are expecting to have 1 staff member and 9 volunteers participate in training and are hoping to find another volunteer to help with data submission.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
We have a long list of cats in mind – Nickie, Zeb, Annie P, Andrew, Miss Jackson, Welles, Rick, Beamer, Quinn.
Homeward Pet Adoption Center
Location: Woodinville, Washington
Executive Director: Nanette McCann
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Jenny Black, Megan Yuasa
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Cary Munschauer
From Nanette McCann, Executive Director
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
Being selected to participate in Cat Pawsitive Pro is an incredible opportunity for us to improve our already existing cat training and enrichment programs. We are always striving to do more for the animals in our care, and we’re excited that we get to share this new opportunity with our community.
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
Overall, I see Cat Pawsitive Pro giving our staff, volunteers, and our cats a big confidence boost. By giving our more challenging cats the appropriate outlets that they need, they’ll have more positive interactions with our staff, volunteers, and potential adopters, ideally resulting in a shorter length of stay and more successful adoptions.
From CPP Team Leaders Jenny Black and Megan Yuasa
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
It’s going to be rewarding for staff and volunteers to be able to give our cats other appropriate ways to expend their energy and interact with people. The cats that are easily labeled as ‘feisty’, ‘fractious’, or ‘wild’ seem to have a harder time getting adopted. With Cat Pawsitive Pro, we’ll be able to show off their fun side, emphasizing all the positives that come with a smart cat. I mean, who doesn’t think a cat high fiving or sitting on cue is cute?!
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
I’d like to build a really strong core group of volunteers who are consistently working on training and behavior modification with our cats. I’d love to see some of our volunteers break out of their comfort zones and prove to themselves that cats can be clicker trained! I’m also especially interested to see if our bite/scratch incidents decrease as we progress in the program.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
We expect 2-3 staff and 5-10 volunteers to participate as Cat Pawsitive Pro team members.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Yes! We have a few spicy long-timers, Speckles and Coruscant, as well as some kitties who are still adjusting to the shelter, Kirby and Buba. We also have a very active, smart 5-month-old kitten, Willow, who is on bite quarantine and would love some extra mental stimulation.
Humane Animal Rescue
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chief Executive Officer: Dan Rossi
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Kellie Snider, Zee Altherr, Nataliia Muskina, Monica Slate, Natalia Sgrin
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Cary Munschauer
From Dan Rossi, Chief Executive Officer
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
One of our organization’s primary goals for 2020 is to develop and enhance our cat programs. In 2019 we focused on SNR, and to that end invited Sara Pizano to work with us in the shelter, and to provide a community presentation that would explain the benefits of such programs for Pittsburgh. Adding the Cat Pawsitive Pro program for our shelter cats will bring another level of benefit to cats in our community. We are very excited about this opportunity!
From CPP Team Leader Kellie Snider
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
We want to learn to work more effectively with our shelter cats, especially the fearful and overstimulated ones. They have such a hard time in the shelter and deserve the best opportunities to find their adoptive homes. I am excited about the chance for our staff and volunteers to learn about operant conditioning and how to implement training strategies for cats, who are, as everyone knows, “impossible to train”!
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
When the opportunity arose to apply for Cat Pawsitive Pro, I was planning to create and launch a new cat program for our shelter volunteers. I had the opportunity to participate in the pilot for this program several years ago in Dallas, Texas, so when we were accepted into the Pro program I decided to wait and implement the CP approach as our foundation for cat training and behavior. I knew it would be a boon for our cat program! We are very optimistic that this will be an opportunity to get our volunteers and staff excited about how much they can impact the lives of the cats in our care.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
We have approximately 19 people across 2 shelters that will be participating.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Meraitio, Nikka, Eight Ball, Midnight, Fuzzbutt, Shadow, Raven, June Bug
Liberty Humane Society
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
Executive Director: Irene Borngraeber
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Kim Saunders, Angela Altomare, Christina Miranda
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Sara Russell
From Irene Borngraeber, Executive Director
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
Jersey cats have attitude! We often have cats who are very social, but who can also become overstimulated (and bitey!) in a shelter environment. They want to live in a home, but their behaviors make it challenging to find an accommodating adopter. Of course, these cats are often volunteer favorites. By working to teach new behavior patterns, we hope to be able to help these cats and educate our volunteers, staff and potential adopters about how to create environments in which they can thrive.
From CPP Team Leaders Kim Saunders, Angela Altomare, Christina Miranda
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
The biggest accomplishment would be giving the longer residents, skittish, and overstimulated cats a chance at improving in behavior which would improve their chance of adoption. Whether it is getting them to stop swatting, running/hiding or even attempting to bite. Many of our long-term cats need this help; seeing any type of change would be a great accomplishment.
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Looking to get our longer residents into proper homes or living spaces.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
We have about 20 new volunteers engaged for the program. Additionally, our staff will participate.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Golden Crisp, Hermoso, Victoria, Topcat, Dishwalla, Vittle V, Tall Tails, Ray
Maryland SPCA
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Executive Director: James Peirce
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Laura Cassiday, Maegan Campbell
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Lisa Stemcosky
From James Peirce, Executive Director
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
Being selected confirms that as a shelter we are heading in the right direction when it comes to making the lives of our cats as enriching and productive as possible while staying in the stressful shelter environment. We feel honored to be chosen and are very excited to learn from some of the best cat behavior experts in the country.
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
Our goal is to decrease overall length of stay – especially for those who need a little extra push to be adoption ready. Working with the team at Cat Pawsitive Pro gives us the opportunity to set aside even more time for cats in our care – beyond our current protocols. After participating in the [pilot] Cat Pawsitive program in 2016, we implemented new behavior modification procedures that resulted in positive outcomes. Our staff and volunteers all have the same goal: find our cats homes more quickly and keep them out of the shelter. We are excited to expand our knowledge in order to provide even more support to cats during their stay with us.
From CPP Team Leaders Laura Cassiday and Maegan Campbell
What are you most looking forward to learning or accomplishing this semester?
We are looking forward to learning how best to work with cats with behavioral issues such as aggression, overstimulation, and fear to be able to move them through the shelter more quickly while reducing their overall stress levels.
Are there specific objectives or goals you are aiming to reach using Cat Pawsitive Pro?
We are hoping to use what we have learned in Cat Pawsitive Pro to broaden our skillset and resources when it comes to cats with behavioral issues that are preventing them from being adopted. The ultimate goal of us participating is to get more cats into homes more quickly.
About how many staff and volunteers at your shelter will participate as CPP team members?
About 12, give or take a few. We are still working it out.
Do you have any cats in mind for enrolling in Cat Pawsitive Pro?
Ernie, a 10-year-old stray with overstimulation issues who is living in an office because he becomes aggressive in a cage.
Abiline, a 2-year-old return who does just fine in a home but is extremely stressed in the shelter and shuts down.
Mustang, a 9-year-old blind cat who chronically bolts from his cage and gets easily overstimulated.
Michelson Found Animals Adopt & Shop
Location: Los Angeles, California
Chief People Officer: Lori Hutchins
Cat Pawsitive Pro Team Leaders: Edgar Lopez, Nathan Porter, Meghan Horn, Elaine Allison, Nicki DuBois, Nicole Attaie
Cat Pawsitive Pro Trainer-Mentor: Samantha Bell
From Lori Hutchins, Chief People Officer
What does being selected for Cat Pawsitive Pro mean for your shelter?
Cats are the most vulnerable animal population in Los Angeles. Our mission at Michelson Found Animals Adopt & Shop is to put pets in homes and keep them there. We are honored to have been selected to participate in Cat Pawsitive Pro so we can help more cats gain the trust of people and confidence in their surroundings, so they are ready to interact with potential adopters and meet their new family.
How do you think the program will benefit your cats? Your staff? Your volunteers?
Shy and nervous cats are often overlooked and are more diff