Trauma-Informed Approach to Shelter, Rescue, and Foster Cats Handbook

This digital handbook serves as a valuable resource for animal welfare advocates dedicated to the wellbeing of cats in shelter, rescue, and fostering environments.

Designed with a compassionate and trauma-informed approach, it offers unique insights and guidance tailored to support these feline companions.

Pioneering in its field, this handbook is the first to explore trauma-informed awareness and practice specifically for cats. Its central aim is to equip advocates with compassionate and empathetic strategies for addressing and understanding cats within these settings.

It is essential to clarify that the handbook does not prescribe specific handling procedures, step-by-step behavior modification, or training techniques. Instead, its primary focus lies in fostering trauma-informed awareness and practices that prioritize the emotional wellbeing of the feline companions in our care in shelter, rescue, and fostering environments.

You'll learn about:

• Trauma + Trauma-Informed Approach
  • how trauma shows up for cats in these populations and environments
  • what it means to be trauma-informed when it comes to cats
• Cat Emotional Awareness + Behavioral Influences
  • how emotions influence behavior
  • why emotional awareness matters
  • emotional and behavioral triggers in shelter, rescue, and foster environments
• Adapting Trauma-Informed Principles into Cat Welfare + Wellbeing
  • trauma-informed principles
  • how we can apply trauma-informed principles to support cats in shelter, rescue, and foster care

You'll also receive my resource toolkit that complements the information, including the following digital handouts:

• Body Language Chat
• Types of Enrichment
  • This handout aids in identifying various enrichment types and provides options for each type in shelter, rescue, and foster settings.
• Cat Stress Evaluation
  • This stress evaluation, tailored for shelter cats at the facility where I volunteered, informs volunteers and staff about each cat's stress level. It helps guide personalized care and adaptation to support their individual wellbeing.
• Cat-led Interaction Options
  • This handout guides you on options for comfortable interaction with a cat based on their emotions and body language.