Education Pack Cat Care - Cheltenham Animal Shelter

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Education Pack

Cat Care

Name____________

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GLOUCESTERSHIRE ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION & CHELTENHAM ANIMAL SHELTER

Gardner’s Lane, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9JW Tel: 01242 523521 Fax: 01242 523676

Web: www.gawa.org.uk

Content Page

Cat Behaviour -3

Cat Handling -5

Cat Behaviour worksheet -6

Colouring -7

Cat Tuna Heart Treats -8

Cat Enrichment -9

Toy making -10

Nutrition -11

Puzzles -12

Answers -17

http://www.gawa.org.uk

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Cat Behaviour


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Cat Behaviour


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Cat Handling

Some cats hate being picked up and only like having fuss

on their terms. This is usually because they have had a

bad experience or were not handled as a kitten.

Therefore, it is important to handle kittens everyday so

they become used to being handled, this produces a

more, happy, confident adult cat.

Cats are both a prey and predator animal so they are ‘flight’

animals. If they are scared their instinct is to runaway. This

means they may sometimes bite or scratch during their

escape. This is why it is important to let the cat approach you

and handle cats on their terms.

The best place to stroke a cat is

under it’s chin and the cat’s

cheeks.

Never stroke a cat’s belly

or tail.

Some cats enjoy being

stroked on the base of

their back just before the

tail. However, this can

cause excitement so you

must be careful.

Once you know the cat you

can stroke them on the

back if they are happy for

you to do so.

Cats generally don’t like being picked up. They feel most comfortable on the ground especially if they are

nervous or independent. You can use treats and toys as positive interaction with your cat to encourage

them to enjoy being handled.


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Happy or Not Happy?




BELOW TICK IF YOU THINK THESE CATS ARE ‘HAPPY’ OR ‘NOT HAPPY’.

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

HAPPY

NOT HAPPY

1 2

3 4

5 6


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Colouring





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Cat Tuna Heart Treats




Ingredients:

• 150g Canned tuna

• 1 Cup of oat flour or oats

• 1 Egg

• Olive oil (if needed)

• 1 tbsp Catnip (optional)

Method:

• Preheat 175 ֯C and line a baking tray with grease proof paper

• Mix all ingredients together until it holds together but is still sticky. If you

find the mixture is too dry as olive oil as required.

• Roll out mixture and cut or roll dough into heart shapes

• Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly golden

• The treats can be stored in a fridge for 7-10 days


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Enrichment




Just like us our cats can get bored.

Providing your cat with enrichment

prevents this and can have a positive

impact on you cat’s happiness and well

being.

Enrichment for us would be watching TV,

reading, doing puzzles etc. For cats it can

be things like toys and interactive play.

By giving your cat enrichment items you

are providing your cat with positive

experiences, which results in a happy,

more confident kitty.

Ideas for Enrichment

• Treat balls, kongs, puzzles, licky mats, and

games—these are not just for dogs! Cats

are hunters and are used to working for

their food.

• Classical music, Cat CDs and DVDs —these

are great to occupy your cat if you away

or to start a play session with.

• Interactive play– A great example of this is

a rope toy.

• Scratch posts

• Tunnels

• Things to climb on.

• Cardboard boxes and rolls—cats love to

investigate.

• Provide your cat with places to hide, even

if your cat is confident.

• Toys


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Home-made Cat Toy




You will need:

• A loo roll

• Cat treats

• Pens if you wish to decorate!

Instructions:

• Decorate your loo roll

• Fold one end of the roll inside, creating a semi-closed end

• Place several treats inside

• Fold the other end of the roll, creating another semi closed end


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Nutrition




Did you know there are 41 essential nutrients required by cats? (In comparison to 37 in dogs.) They have a much shorter intestine than a dog meaning that they are less able to digest plant material.


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Kitty’s Maze





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Crossword





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Caring for Kitty




Hi! My name is Misty.

Draw what you need to take care of me


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Colouring by Numbers





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Word search




ARCH

CLAWS

CLIMB

DOMESTIC

FELINE

GROOMING

HISS

HOWL

HUNT

INDEPENDENT

JUMP HIGH

KITTENS

LITTERBOX

MEOW

PET

POINTY EARS

POUNCE

PURRS

WHISKERS

WILD


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Answers




Cat Body Language worksheet Page 6

• Pic 1— Unhappy (The cat is hard staring and it’s ears are back)

• Pic 2—Happy (The cat is doing what is known as the fish hook tail.

This is where the tip of the cat’s tail is curved. They usually do this

when approaching another animal if they want a fuss or food)

• Pic 3—Unhappy (The cat’s ears are back and it’s teeth are exposed)

• Pic 4—Happy (Cats rolling onto their belly is a sign of trust. This

means they are comfortable around you. This doesn’t mean you

should stroke their belly though as most cats don’t like it!)

• Pic 5 — Unhappy (This cat is uncomfortable. The ears are back, it is

avoiding eye contact, and it is yawning)

• Pic 6— Happy (This cat is either asleep or slow blinking. This is a

sign of a happy cat. The cat’s face and ears are relaxed and they

aren’t planning on leaving their spot anytime soon.)


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Answers




Crossword Page 13

Word search Page 16


Education Pack Cat Care - Cheltenham Animal Shelter

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