Feline Behavioral Evaluation Form

This document summarizes a behavioral assessment of a cat during intake at a shelter. The assessment evaluates the cat's reactions to a novel person, touch, handling, play, and other stimuli. Based on the cat's behaviors, the evaluator provides recommendations for housing and adoption, including whether the cat would do well with children or needs a quiet home. Personality traits like bold, shy, or aloof are also circled. The goal is to determine the cat's stress levels, social skills and needs to find an appropriate placement.

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Walter Peres Biazotto

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Feline Behavioral Evaluation Form

Uploaded by

Walter Peres Biazotto

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Feline Behavioral Assessment

Cats Name _________________________________ ID# __________________________ Sex _________ Date of evaluation_______________ Intake Date________________

Evaluator ______ Room_ Source: Stray Owner surrender

While cat is in cage Reaction to novel person Approach and stand quietly in front of the cage and record behavior of cat. ____ comes to front of cage right away soliciting, rubbing against cage front, reaching out with paws ____ does not come to front but looks at you is calm, relaxed and friendly _____does not come to front but looks at you with indifference ____ ignores you completely _____continues to hide (was hiding when you approached cage) ____ attempts to hide upon your approach ____ grumbles, hisses, growls or swats at you (circle response) ____ charges at you Speak quietly to the cat in a friendly voice for several seconds enticing the cat to come forward for attention ____ stays at front continues to solicit attention, rubbing, purring, meowing ____ comes to front of cage soliciting, rubbing against cage front, reaching out with paws ____ does not come to front but acts calm and friendly _____does not come to front but looks at you with indifference ____ ignores you completely _____continues to hide ____ attempts to hide from you once you start to speak ____ grumbles, hisses, growls, or swats at you (circle response) ____ charges at you Reaction to touch Open the door and try to touch the cat ____ solicits petting and attention rubs, chirps, meows ____ seems indifferent to your presence and touch ____ moves away from you to avoid being touched _____continues to hide from you immobile when you touch him/her ____ growls or hisses at you ____ swats at you ____ charges at you ____ bites or attempts to bite If cat appears friendly try to pick it up so that you can take him/her to the evaluation room ____ friendly, allows you to pick up ____ slightly fearful, stiff, cautious but allows you to pick up ____ retreats from you ____ hisses, growls ____ swats at you ____ bites or attempts to bite *****DO NOT remove cat for evaluation if he/she exhibits any aggressive behavior. Take cat into a quiet room Social attraction Sit quietly on the floor and record cats behavior. ____ solicits attention from you right away rubbing on you or jumping in your lap ____ more interested in investigating the environment ____ fearful hiding ____ aggressive behavior (hissing or threatening you in any way) Describe _______________________________________

Interact with the cat in a friendly manner call the cat to you ____ interested in interacting with you ___ makes eye contact ___ approaches ___ meow, purrs ___ head butts ____ watches you but makes no attempt to interact ____ continues to hide ____ retreats from you ____ aggressive behavior (hissing, swatting, etc.) Describe _____________________________________________

Continuing to talk to the cat, hold out your hand near the cat ____ sniffs, head butts, licks, rubs hand ____ meows, purrs, chirps ____ rolls on back ____ retreats ____ hisses, growls, swats at hand ____ bites or attempts to bite hand Stroke the cat several times from head to tail. ____ rubs against you, head butts, meows, purrs, chirps ____ rolls over on back ____ retreats ____ hisses, growls, swats ____ bites or attempts to bite

Reaction to more invasive handling Pick up and hug cat for 2 seconds ____ relaxed ____ affectionate extends paw, meows, purrs, chirps ____ accepts hug but is tense ____ struggles to escape ____ hisses, growls, stiffens and extends claws ____ swats ____ bites or attempts to bite

Tolerance for mildly aversive handling (kid test) Squat next to cat, stroke along his/her back and then firmly grasp the base of the tail and pull up just enough to raise back feet off the floor. Hold for one second. ____ shows no reaction ____ meows, chirps, purrs ____ struggles to escape ____ hisses, growls, swats ____ bites or attempts to bit

Interest in play Engage the cat in play using a variety of toys such as string, feather dancer, ball, and toy mouse (no catnip) ____ engages with toys chases, bats at, tosses ____ ignores toys more interested in you ____ ignores toys and you Which toys did he/she like? _________________________________________________

Recommendation for housing: _____Keep in holding for further evaluation Re-evaluate on ____________________(date)

Implement the following stress-reduction procedures during this time: ____hiding box ____feliway (twice daily) ____music ____toys ____social interaction with human (calm attention) ____social interaction with humans (play) _____ Find foster home (after 2nd evaluation if cat is still not adjusting well)

_____ Move to Adoption Floor _____ Single cage _____ Social housing Adult only wing _____ Social housing with quiet/shy or older cats _____ Social housing with younger cats _____ Social housing - general ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recommendations for Adoption

____ Would do fine in a home with children

___ of any age ___ older than 6 years ___ older than 12 years

____ Needs a quiet home without children

Personality Traits (circle all that apply): Bold Very Social Very playful Likes petting Likes being held Shy Mildly-Moderately social Mildly-Moderately playful Tolerates petting Tolerates being held Timid Aloof Uninterested in play Ambivalent about petting Doesnt like being held