Not every cat who comes to stay at the cats-only boarding facility is delighted to be there. Most of the guests I’ve worked with so far have been friendly, or at least tolerant of strangers. But there has been the occasional unhappy camper, too!
Some cats are very vocal about their displeasure. I’ve heard stories from my co-workers about cats who will yowl from the time you open the door to clean until you close it again. That will certainly be interesting! Others will hiss, or just lay their ears back (this is often body language for unhappy cat). Cats have more than one way of saying they are unhappy!
Some cats are quiet in their discomfort. I’ve seen more than one cat decide that the narrow cubby where the litter pan usually goes is their safe spot. So we’ll usually make a little nest in there and let the litter pan sit in the main room instead. We can even serve meals in the cubby! Whatever makes the cats the most comfortable is okay with us.
Other cats show that they are unhappy by going on hunger strike.
So what else can we do to help these unhappy guests be more comfortable?
- We can cover the door of the cage, so the cat is less disturbed by light, sounds, and movement. The quiet can help a stressed cat calm down.
- We can offer different types of food to entice the guest to eat. Cats are small, so even a few meals missed can make a big difference.
- We can try a calming pheromone spray. The scent can help a stressed cat relax.
- When space allows, we can move the unhappy cat to an isolation room where they won’t see or hear other cats. Sometimes some alone time does the trick!