CAT TALES F RIENDSOF C ATS , I NC . Vol. XXXVII, No. 2 San Diego County, CA Summer 2010 Finding the Perfect Feline Match AT LOVERS MARVEL at the array of diversity in the feline world. Before adopting a cat, doingC your homework on various breeds can help determine preferred traits, but breed dif- ferences cannot define personality styles or temperament. You may have your heart set on a particular cat, only to discover that its be- havior, and even the influence of its history, confound your expectations. How can some- one looking for a cat ensure that they find the right one? “I prefer stuffed mice, thank you”: The Meet Your Match® assessment The ASPCA has created the Meet Your Match® program will help determine your cat’s compatibility with you and your program, a unique method of screening each cat or dog household. upon intake to evaluate its behavior and interaction Adopters, too, have a color, which is assigned based style with humans. This science-based approach to on responses to a short questionnaire that reveals life- behavioral assessment, developed by Dr. Emily Weiss, is style, expectations, and household needs—such as currently used by shelters throughout the country to wanting a cat that will interact well with children, or that proven success. Friends of Cats recently implemented can tolerate being left alone for long periods of time this program as part of its adoption process. without difficulty. Once their own color is determined, The “Feline-ality”Assessment uses a series of tests to adopters are guided to cats in their color category to categorize each cat by a 3-color code system encom- find their perfect match. passing nine personality types. This breakdown is based Adopters can meet one-on-one with their chosen on the cat’s responses to new stimuli (”valiance”) as well cat to interact, and shelter staff will answer any ques- as its demonstrated level of independence. Measured tions about the match process and how the cat will fit traits include friendliness, playfulness, energy level, their needs. Adopters are perfectly free to choose cats motivation, and drive. The assigned categories are per- outside their color category, if they like, but the assess- sonality-specific, giving potential adopters an accurate ment process will give them a better idea of what to idea of how the cat might fit into their household—for expect with a cat from a different personality type and example, a “Party Animal” is an ideal playmate ready to how to adjust their expectations accordingly for better enliven any situation, while a “Secret Admirer” may compatibility. show some initial reserve in doling out affection. Each Overall statistics from shelters nationwide indicate cat’s color—either green (gregarious and adventurous), that the program has significantly increased the num- orange (well-rounded), or purple (on the mellow or ber of successful cat adoptions, decreased the amount reserved side)—is placed on its room photo for easy of time that cats stay in shelters, and cut the euthanasia access by potential adopters. (continued on page 2) Meet Your Match® : A TESTIMONIAL JULIE BANSCHEN chose her two cats, brothers Dexter and Kono, in June using the Meet Your Match® system, and finds that each one fits their cate- gory perfectly. Julie’s personal assess- ment revealed that she’d be best with Kono (a “Sidekick”) but she fell for Dexter, a more reserved personality type (the “Private Investigator”) that was outside her indicated color range. After the staff explained what to expect from the cats’ personality profiles, she Find Your Match spent time with each of them to see (continued from page1) how they matched up. She decided on numbers—thus saving lives. Ultimately, any adoption is outgoing Kono, and was so delighted about love and commitment to an animal, and the Meet with him that she returned the next Your Match® system provides a way for both cat and day to adopt Dexter, as well. Julie says owner to realize mutual satisfaction by improving com- that knowing Dexter’s personality type patiblity and strengthening the human/animal bond. For more information, call the Shelter or check the helped her prepare for and deal with ASPCA website at www.aspca.org/adoption/meet-your- his shyer nature. (For example, she match/ for program details. knows that Dexter will hide under the bed when children visit.) After only —by Lydia D’moch two weeks, she felt as though they had both been a part of her family forever. Julie also found the Shelter’s envi- ronment to be just right for ensuring that she made the right choice of cat. She cites the one-on-one interaction with each cat as essential to the process. “I originally went to the animal shelter to look for a cat, but the cats there are in such panic mode and you can’t really tell their personalities,” she says. Be- sides, she adds, the fact that “the peo- ple [at FOC] are so full of love” for the cats in their care reassured her that she she had come to the right place. 2CAT TALES Summer 2010 We Request thePleasure of YourCompany at Open House 2010 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 8 TH Please plan to join us at Friends of Cats’ Open House, a fun-filled day of activities, events, and the good company of fellow Shelter supporters. This is a great opportunity to visit FOC to see what we do and visit the cats in our care. Our staff and volunteers work hard all year planning this annual event, and scheduled highlights include Shelter tours, refreshments, raffles, and the ever-popular kitten races. Talented artists Marna Schindler and Laura Seeley will have their beautiful artwork on view and in the raffle. The raffle Grand Prize is a beautiful handmade quilt donated by Christine Hogan (see detail at right). Measuring 64 x 75 inches, its black, white and red pattern is made up of cat-print fabrics; it would add that special touch to any cat-lover’s home. Plans are still in the works, so please check our website for updates and additional details as they become available. August 7-8—San Diego Cat Fanciers’ Cat Calendar Notes Show (new venue: Liberty Station Conference } Center, Point Loma) Meet “Itty-Bitty,”a diminutive charmer who has defied the odds after being born with a congenital rear-leg deformity. Now about 4 months old, she had a difficult birth to a feral mother, and was brought in with her four littermates after being found on someone’s property. Her hind legs were initially bowed into what looked like a mermaid’s tail, preventing her from standing or walking. FOC staff immediately consigned her to the care of Board member Karen Hansen, who has worked extensively with cats suffering from spinal injuries and hindquarter paralysis. After only a month, Itty-Bitty began to walk with the benefit of extensive exercise. “She has done her own physical therapy,” Karen says, and reports that Itty-Bitty adores playing with shoelaces and chewing up cardboard boxes. She has full feeling and mobility in her legs, which she crosses daintily like a ballerina. She also has a feisty nature, holding her own with other cats twice her size. She remains small, and how her legs will respond as she grows and puts on weight remains unknown. But for now, Itty- Bitty is active and happy to make a permanent home with Karen and her other special-needs kitties. Summer 2010 CAT TALES 3 Volunteers in Action Carson Saflar Nine-year-old Carson Saflar decided to do his part to raise money for Friends of Cats as part of a school community service project. In January, he launched a campaign to collect recyclables from family and friends, starting with their Super Bowl discards. He also acquired cans and bottles from family camping trips. Over a three-month period, Carson obtained over 3000 cans. Consulting with Volunteer Coordinator April Wilson, he checked the Shelter’s“Wish List”to see which items were needed most, and carefully selected an assortment of cat toys, beds, brushes, scratching posts, food, and other acces- sories totaling $185, which he and his parents delivered to the Shelter on May 19th. Carson and his father set up climbing trees and handed out treats to the cats—some of whom showed their gratitude by test- ing out the merchandise before it was even unpacked. Carson is a fourth-grader at Day-McKellar Preparatory School in Alpine, where contributing seva—or selfless service—is a part of the curriculum. Carson has no cats of his own, but he and his younger brother Jacob joined FOC as Youth Members, and both boys look forward to continuing their support to the Shelter. (Top): Carson displays his donations, purchased with the proceeds from over 3000 recycled items that he collected. (Left): Some cats couldn’t wait until the goods were unwrapped to try them out! 4CAT TALES Summer 2010 Girl Scouts Girl Scouts from around the county volunteered to raise funds for Friends of Cats this spring. Scout members from Troop 8931 (pictured at left) manned a booth outside Poway Petco to raise funds, and purchased $300 worth of items for the Shelter. The sixteen members of Troop 8474 in Scripps Ranch ded- icated fifteen hours each to community service work, and chose Friends of Cats as the recipient of their hard work. Their project was to construct cat condos from old cupboards and deliver them to the shelter. Each Scout also spent two hours on-site at the Shelter, volunteering and making feath- ered cat toys.