How to Enrich the Lives of Shy and Sassy Cats

Overlooked cats may have a longer length of stay due to shy or sassy behavior. Meaningful volunteer interactions with these animals can better their lives and improve their chances for a timely adoption.

Here are some tips on how to enrich the lives of shy and sassy cats:

• Offer a calm and predictable setting. These cats need time to build connections and enjoy interactions with calm people.
• Don’t force interaction; extend a closed fist to allow for sniffing. If the cat is interested it will approach.
• Stop if the cat becomes stressed.
• Keep your interactions short, yet frequent. Staying with a shy cat for too long may cause added stress.
• Sassy cats can make for great play dates. It’s important to use toys for play, avoiding drawing the cat’s attention to your hands. Sassy cats may bite, scratch, bite, and pounce.
• Keep all sassy cats playing with toys and wands.
• Only pet if the cat solicits your attention.

By following these tips, you can help shy and sassy cats feel more comfortable and have a better chance of being adopted.