Feline Behavior: Recognizing Signs of Stress in Cats

Objective: Learn to identify signs of stress in cats to provide better care and support to your feline clients.

Content: Recognizing signs of stress in cats is crucial for providing proper care and ensuring the well-being of cats in your care. Understanding the basics of cat behavior and the common signs of stress in cats allows pet caregivers to administer early intervention and provide appropriate support for their feline clients. This Lunch & Learn will briefly overview cat behavior, body language, and common stressors. It will also cover some stress mitigation measures you can implement in your facility to alleviate feline stress and promote well-being.

Owner/Operator Tip: This Lunch & Learn is a fantastic opportunity to work with cats currently at your facility. You may want to plan ahead and include several well-tempered cats in this activity.

Prior to Lunch & Learn Session:

• In preparation for leading the group discussion, the leader should review the supporting document section to determine how the information will be presented.

• Print the supporting documents for each member of your team.

• Optional: Print the Cat Body Language Graphic (included below).

• For an interactive session, plan to have a few well-behaved cats to play with.