Helping the Ukrainian People and Their Pets: iCatCare Advice for Host Families
Pet-admin
This is an extremely troublesome time for the Ukrainian individuals, lots of whom have needed to flee their residence nation with their beloved pets. iCatCare has created this guide to assist households internet hosting Ukrainian refugees with cats, perceive the challenges of the scenario and assist to help the well being and wellbeing of cats as they settle into a brand new atmosphere.
Cats coming into the nation, notably people who have needed to quarantine, are more likely to be simply as harassed and traumatised as their homeowners. Providing the time and house for cats to decompress and settle into a brand new routine is vital. Host households may also help put together by asking homeowners about their cat’s present life-style previous to their arrival. Just remember the fact that that is an especially hectic time and other people could really feel too overwhelmed or distressed to reply all your questions. Some homeowners may additionally be unable to talk English and will have hassle speaking their cat’s wants. Charity organisations concerned within the transport of pets from Ukraine (linked on the finish of the article) might be able to present additional help on this scenario.
Helpful inquiries to ask embody:
Does your cat reside indoors or outdoor (or a mix of each?)
Is your cat neutered?
What sort of litter field/tray/pan and sort of litter does your cat use?
What meals do they eat? (although manufacturers of meals could differ, you might be able to discover comparable flavours and textures)
Does the cat have any well being circumstances and the way are these managed?
How is the cat’s residence at the moment arrange? Consider sources corresponding to meals, water, bedding and litter trays.
Is the cat used to interacting with different animals or youngsters?
What else does your cat want?
Setting up your private home properly from the beginning will make a giant distinction in serving to a cat settle into a brand new atmosphere. Many of the cats in Ukraine reside a totally indoor life-style and could also be fairly content material retaining to a confined part of the home away from different pets and relations. Try to maintain ‘what does your cat want?’ on the entrance of your thoughts and ensure to have the proprietor’s consent when making any selections. They know their cat finest and perceive their distinctive wants. If you could have by no means lived with a cat earlier than, we advocate taking a while to learn more about what to anticipate and ensure this resolution would be the proper one for everybody concerned.
Start by organising a room or confined part of the home the place the brand new cat will likely be protected and safe. Be aware of any potential hazards corresponding to poisonous plants, breakable objects, fireplaces, and doable escape routes corresponding to unlatched home windows. Place a litter tray in a single nook of the house, reverse from the cat’s meals and water (which also needs to be positioned individually away from one another and the litter tray). If the cat has their very own bedding or a blanket with them, a well-known scent may also help them to really feel extra snug. Though it may well look like a good suggestion to share or use one other cat’s bedding, the unfamiliar scent could solely enhance stress for the brand new arrival. Instead, present clear, unused bedding choices or arrange a easy cardboard field on its aspect containing a fleecy blanket that doubles as a safe hiding place. Scratching posts and toys also needs to be supplied, simply don’t be too involved if the brand new cat isn’t prepared to make use of them instantly.
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Beautiful brief hair cat mendacity on the couch at residence
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Cats with underlying well being circumstances may additionally require modifications that assist them really feel snug of their atmosphere. For instance, cats with arthritis or mobility points could also be extra snug climbing right into a litter tray with low sides. Ask their proprietor how one can assist help these wants or ask your vet for extra recommendation.
For extra info on organising a cat pleasant house and serving to a brand new cat settle in go to:
Once you could have arrange your house properly, strive to not make too many adjustments and provides the cat loads of time to decompress and adapt to its new environment. Avoid speeding any introductions with relations and different pets. Some of those cats could have by no means skilled dwelling in households with a number of cats and their homeowners could desire that they continue to be in their very own house.
For extra info on making introductions to different pets and youngsters go to:
Host households may also want to think about the well being of the cat and entry to veterinary care. Start by calling your native vet clinics to see if they’re able to tackle the cats of Ukrainian refugees as new sufferers. The Humane Society International has just lately launched a programme referred to as ‘Vets for Ukrainian Pets’ to permit refugees to entry free veterinary care in 38 European nations (together with the UK). The programme will cowl the remedy prices of as much as 5 pets (cats, canines, or horses), in addition to vaccinations, microchipping and medical examinations (as much as 250 Euros per animal). Vets treating the pets of refugees can declare reimbursement for his or her remedy by means of this system.
By internet hosting refugees and their pets, you’re doing one thing really compassionate to assist each people and cats alike. Patience and empathy will likely be key to serving to cats which have skilled the stress of shifting below such traumatic circumstances alter to life in a brand new residence. Things like toileting accidents could happen, particularly within the early days, and it’s vital by no means to punish or scold the cat. Instead, be sure they at all times have entry to a clear litter tray and attempt to present their most popular sort of litter (e.g. clay, crystal, recycled paper). The spacing and placement of litter trays round the home may also play a task in how snug cats are utilizing them. For instance, a cat could keep away from utilizing a litter tray that has been arrange subsequent to a loud washer. For extra info on toileting issues see https://icatcare.org/advice/soiling-indoors/ and make contact with your vet for additional recommendation.
Sources of knowledge and helpful hyperlinks:
UK Government Information on bringing pets from Ukraine into the UK with their homeowners
The full vary of Necoichi raised bowls and accent now obtainable @ Katzenworld Shop
I’m the feline behaviour specialist at feline charity ‘International Cat Care’. We are about partaking, educating and empowering individuals all through the world to enhance the well being and welfare of cats by sharing recommendation, coaching and keenness.
