NMHP Forum - Biting cat returned twice

Question from Kim:
I am in a small rescue group that does adoptions out of PETsMART. We currently have a cat that was returned twice for biting. How do we get the adopters to call us with the problems instead of just showing up back at PETsMART with the cat in his carrier?

We are now concerned about adopting this cat out again. Will he bite someone else? How do we get him to stop?

Response from Dr Emily Weiss:
When a cat is adopted from PETsMART, I am assuming you are given all of the contact information for the adopter.

One program that we know is very helpful in retention is follow-up contact with the adopter. The basic rule of thumb is a call or e-mail at 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months. By giving the client the opportunity to discuss issues, or even just vent, we can increase retention in the home. Lets not wait for adopters to call us - we need to contact them.

It is important to make sure your questions are open-ended questions such as "how is it going?" "Are there any questions about the cat?" Moving toward questions about bonding. "Is the cat behaving as you expected?" "If you could change one thing about your relationship with your new cat it would be."

In many cases our adopters do not see the shelter or rescue as a resource. This can be further hindered by doing adoptions out of a site other than your own - as the adopter might call PETsMART for advice, instead of you. This makes that follow-up contact all the more important.

It does sound like in this case that the cat might have some behavioral issues. It is impossible for me to tell you whether or not this cat will bite again.especially without more information. Is the cat biting when it becomes overly aroused? Is he biting to avoid handling? I would be concerned about liability issues at this point, as you now know that the cat has bitten in two situations. If the cat bites again, they could build quite a case against you.

I would have the cat assessed, getting good information from the previous adopters about the cat's behavior and working with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist before placing the cat up for adoption again.

Response from Best Friends Network:

Adoption returns are a complication that all rescue groups face occasionally, so I am sure most people reading this forum can relate to your frustration.

At Best Friends, we provide post-adoption counseling, as well as written information in the form of fact sheets or other reading materials to help adopters who have opened their homes to pets with special challenges. We ask adopters to let us know immediately if there are issues for which they need help. You may want to consider asking the adopter to sign a contract stating that they will inform you immediately if a behavior problem becomes apparent, so as to allow you to address the behavior before it becomes necessary for the person to surrender the pet.

Also, it's very important that you inform potential adopters up front about possible behavior issues so they can make an informed decision about whether they can manage the behavior.

As you probably know, aggression problems can sometimes be caused by a physical ailment, so a checkup with your veterinarian to rule out any health problems would be a good idea.

If a medical problem is ruled out as a possible cause for aggression, you may want to contact an animal behaviorist. A behaviorist may be able to pinpoint the cause of the aggressive behavior and also give suggestions on how to minimize or cure the behavior. Ask your veterinarian or a local animal organization to recommend a qualified cat behaviorist.

Another option is to ask your vet to consult with Tufts University or one of the other university behavior clinics. For help in finding a behaviorist, visit the Animal Behavior Society website at:
http://www.animalbehavior.org/Applied/directory_cert9_97.html

You also could try using a behavior help line. Here are some examples:

* ASPCA Companion Animal Services Behavior Help Line (New York), 212-876-7700,
ext. 4357.

* San Francisco SPCA Behavior Help Line, (California), 415-554-3075. You may leave a voice mail message 24 hours a day. Within 48 hours, a behaviorist will return your call (collect) or they will send you written information.

* University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Behavior Clinic, 215-898-3347. If the clinic is not open at the time of your call, their recorded message will give you their call-in hours for the week.

* Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine Behavior Clinic
(Massachusetts), 508-839-7934. This clinic offers consultations for a fee.

* Feline Health Center, Cornell University, Dr. Louis J. Camuti Feline Consultation and Diagnostic Service, 1-800-KITTYDR, open 9 am to 4pm EST, Monday - Friday, except holidays. You will be charged a $35 fee on a major credit card.

Several good books are available to help understand and manage behavior problems in cats. You may find it helpful to read one of these books:

"The Cat Who Cried for Help" by Nicholas Dodman
"Think Like a Cat" by Pam Johnson-Bennett
"If Only They Could Speak" by Nicholas Dodman

Based on the limited information provided, I am not able to answer your question about whether or not the cat should be adopted out again. If the aggression is found to be caused by a medical problem and can be treated, it's likely the cat can be placed in another home, provided the cat's history is given to the potential adopter so they will know what to look for if the aggression returns.

Other factors to consider would be:

- Whether or not the biting occurs when the cat is overstimulated. If this is the case, instructing adopters to watch for signs of overstimulation can go a long way to preventing the aggressive behavior.

- If the biting occurred while the cat was living with children, the biting may no longer be a problem in an adult only household.

For additional information about dealing with cat aggression, see the fact sheet at this link:
http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/pdfs/cats/aggressiontowardpeople.pdf.

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Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - July 6, 2005