The first steps in Felinotherapy
2023-10-11
Brief instructions for the first steps in felinotherapy
First visits to the facility or the client's family
D. Hypšová
If the first visit with the cat to the client's family or facility is expected, training and classical conditioning should be initiated in the home environment with the cat well in advance. It should be trained : Handling the cat, touching different parts of the body, clicker training and using different training elements, enrichment games, putting on and taking off the harness, clipping claws, brushing, accepting treats, training for voluntary participation in care (husbandry training), getting in and out of the carrier or stroller, interaction with familiar and unfamiliar people in the home environment, travelling, desensitisation to the smells and sounds of the environment where we will be taking the cat, etc.
The method of training is described in detail in the Methodology for AAI - Felinotherapy in Institutions and in the courses Felinotherapy I, Felinotherapy-Training, Behavior Modification Theory I and others.
A strong and deep relationship between the handler and his cat is essential and irreplaceable. The desirable qualities of a cat include curiosity, enjoyment of contact with people, including strangers, tolerance of unfamiliar sounds and smells, ability to communicate, willingness to change territory and travel, spontaneity, not too high excitability, and quick return from excitement to a calm state.
Stress markers include:
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reluctance to accept a treat in a strange environment
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reluctance to play and explore
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reluctance to make contact
Handler - The owner who handles the cat must be familiar with the cat's body language and the body language of the client or other AAI participants.
The first steps in a new environment :
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Choose a quiet environment free of distractions for the meeting.
It is better to have an individual visit or a visit for a small group of clients.
Before the visit begins, we explain to the clients:
- how to move (slow, fluid movements)
- that cats like routine, rhythm and ritual, that they don't like chaos - for this reason we have everything prepared in advance
- the strength of the voice the clients should choose (soft, calm, slower voice)
- The principle of the so-called Consent or Consenting Behaviour, which the cat must give us before the first touch, It is also referred to as Michelangelo's touch - the cat itself touches the offered finger or object with its nose or head, thus showing its willingness to be petted.
- Hierarchy of touches - where the cat refers touches and where the client must not touch
- that patience and respect is essential when approaching the cat and that nothing can be forced
- that the cat's welfare takes precedence over everything else, but that we always have a back-up plan in case the cat does not want to actively participate
Clients can also learn about basic training, cat breeds, breeding issues, cat care etc. Depending on the type of interventions planned and the ability of the clients.
Using classical conditioning, we create pleasant associations for the cat associated with a visit to the facility or family. Classical conditioning is the pairing of an initially neutral stimulus with a primary reinforcer (something that is vital to the cat, such as a favorite food or pet, attention from the owner).
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We have prepared treats and a small snack for the cat ( about 2 hours before the scheduled visit, the cat should be given food, not go to the facility or client's family hungry). The treats and snacks we give the cat at the facility should be of more value to the cat than regular food, so we bring along exceptionally popular treats or food that we do not normally serve at home. For the cat's protection and safety, clients give the cat treats that we bring from home.
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It is a good idea to practice simple behaviors at home for which the cat always gets a reward, such as touching the target, catching treats from a cup, from a paper towel tube, giving a treat with a spoon, etc. This will make it easier for the cat to stay in the new environment, as the familiar behaviour is part of the cat's control over the environment.
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It is desirable to practise staying on a mat - for example, a blanket that we take from home and in which the cat has stored its scent - the principle of base camp and environmental control. We should ask a key person in the facility or in the client's family if we could let the mat "sniff" the environment of the facility or the client's home. At home, we can then do gradual desensitization training (habituation) to foreign smells so that they do not arouse uncertainty or panic in the cat. We can do the same with foreign sounds by first recording them and then doing similar training at home. The training methodology is described in the Behavior Modification Theory I course.
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The better the home preparation with the cat and the more thorough the familiarisation of the clients with the issue well in advance, the less initial nervousness of the participants. Remember that emotional coregulation makes it easy to transfer our nervousness to the cat or clients. Our state of mind and the state of mind of the clients and others involved is very important.
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When entering the facility/client family, we take small steps, letting the cat explore the environment - it must gain the illusion of control over the environment. This includes free access to a safe place, a view of potentially dangerous places - from the cat's point of view (windows, doors ). Everything must be ensured with the safety of the participants and the cat in mind.
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Allow the cat to have its honour - never forcibly remove it from the crate or pram - it is entirely up to the cat to decide when it wants to make first contact.
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The first visit to the facility or client's family should be brief, about 15 - 20 minutes, unless the cat is under too much stress. We monitor the stress level closely. On subsequent visits, we can gradually extend the time to about 60 minutes. Monitoring the stress and ending the session on time is key - if we don't pay attention to the cat's body language and the signals it sends us, we risk frustration, a rise in stress, the creation of negative associations with the environment and activity, and possible injury to the client or illness to the cat.
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Visits should initially be conducted in the same spirit, in the same manner. If we change something in the environment, we must take into account that it may make the cat anxious and derail. The fewer changes the better.
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Visits should take place regularly, preferably at the same time.
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A visit to a facility or family should always end positively and happily for both client and cat.
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The cat should be allowed to relax after returning home. The method of relaxation is individual and depends on the preferences of the animal. It can be a longer sleep in a quiet place, a game with enrichment elements (food puzzles), a game to discharge the hunting need (shakers, smokes), games to discharge energy - agility, etc. It depends on the cat's temperament and age.
