1

Feline Focus – five welfare needs

2

List some examples of perfect

sleeping places.

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Feline fact file 1 – place to live

Cats and boxes

To learn all about cats

and boxes from

Simon’s Cat you can

scan the QR code or

click here: Why do

cats love boxes?! -

Simon's Cat

Draw your favourite Simon’s Cat box

from the video.

Why do cats love boxes?

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

How would you make box enrichment for a

cat?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Cats and sleeping

places

To learn all about cats

and their sleeping places

from Simon’s Cat you

can scan the QR code or

click here: Why do cats

sleep in unusual places?!

- Simon's Cat

What are the features of a perfect sleeping spot?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

_____ How many hours do cats sleep each day?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

______

Do cats dream? How do we know?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

Design a perfect cat sleeping

spot.

Do cats sleep in just one spot?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

______

3

Clever cats – Purrfect Landlords

Our Advocacy team speaks up for cats and campaigns for

change across the UK. The team work with and influence

politicians and decision makers to create a better world for cats.

All advocacy campaigns are driven by issues of cat welfare.

Find out more about Cats Protection's campaign work here or

by scanning the QR code.

Many people in the UK do not own their own home and instead live in rented

accommodation. This means that a landlord owns the property and tenants pay

money as rent to live there. One of Cats Protection’s current campaigns is our Purrfect

Landlords campaign. It’s common for tenants to have to sign blanket ‘no pets’ policies

which prevent them from having a cat but with more and more people now renting, this

means landlords are missing out on a large number of responsible cat owning tenants who

would treat properties as a valued home. You can find out more about this here or by

scanning the QR code.

Imagine you are part of Cats Protection’s Advocacy team and you have the opportunity to

present to Parliament on the benefits of cat ownership and why people should be able to

keep pets in rented properties. Put together a presentation containing the facts you have

found to convince Parliament to make changes to these rules.

When planning your presentation remember to think about the following:

think about your audience and what they might need to know to

convince them to change to a more pet-friendly rental policy

what are the benefits of cat ownership for tenants?

what are the benefits of allowing cats for landlords?

what reasons or concerns might landlords have which cause them to

ban cats? How could these be overcome?

think about what you have learned about cats and their place to live –

what is required to care for a cat? How can an owner prevent them

scratching furniture etc?

Don’t forget to share your videos and presentations with the hashtag #FelineFocus.

4

Describe features of a perfect scratch post.

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__

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Feline fact file 2 – behaviour

The cat’s meow To learn all about

meowing from Simon’s Cat you can scan the QR code or click here: Learn to speak cat -

Simon's Cat

Draw a scared cat

(consider body language).

Why do cats meow and do

they only have one?

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

_________________________

What are the three ways cats

communicate?

1.__________________________

2.__________________________

3.__________________________

_

Cat body language To learn all about cat body language from Simon’s Cat you can scan the QR code or click here: Is your cat

talking to you? - Simon's Cat

Write some playtime top

tips.

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

What is the first thing to do if a cat is displaying unwanted behaviour?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

Design a perfect cat toy.

List the three ways to read your cat’s behaviour.

1.________________________________

2.________________________________

3.________________________________

__

Cat play time To learn all about cats and play from Simon’s

Cat you can scan the QR code or click this link:

How to keep cats entertained! - Simon's Cat

Describe reasons for these noises.

1. Growl___________________________________

__________________________________________

2. Hiss____________________________________

__________________________________________

3. Purr____________________________________

__________________________________________

Define ‘crepuscular’.

________________________________________________________

_

________________________________________________________

___________________

Cat scratching To learn all about cats and scratching you can scan the QR codes or

click this link: Scratching

Extra research task: Research the work of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and Animal Behaviour

and Training Council. Why is it important to consult a registered qualified behaviourist?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

5

Clever cats – reading cat body language

Look at the photos below and describe how you think the cat is feeling. Then think about if

you have ever felt like this and describe an example of what made you feel that way.

How do you think the cat feels in this picture?

____________________________________

____________________________________

How can you tell? ____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Why do you think they might feel this way?

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

How do you think the cat feels in this picture?

____________________________________

____________________________________

How can you tell? ____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Why do you think they might feel this way?

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

How do you think the cat feels in this picture?

____________________________________

____________________________________

How can you tell? ____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

Why do you think they might feel this way?

____________________________________

____________________________________

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____________________________________

6

Documentary challenge – filming a purrfect feline habitat

Wildlife documentaries are becoming increasingly popular. They can help to create global

change by raising awareness and understanding of animals and their habitats.

We would like you to film and narrate your own moggy documentary! The topic of the film will

be “A purrfect feline habitat”. (Don’t worry if you haven’t got a pet cat – everyone can take

part in this activity and cats are not needed!). You don’t need lots of equipment and can film

your documentary using a mobile phone camera.

Wildlife documentaries need researchers to help plan the film shoot, location and script

writing. Complete the table below to help in your planning. You might like to refer to our

website for more information if required: Cat behaviour.

Think about the range of natural behaviours a cat may perform.

Consider the resources that allow cats to express natural behaviours in the home.

Can you think of any

documentaries that

encouraged your

interest in animals?

Have you seen

programmes that

encouraged change in

human behaviour and

the environment?

7

For documentary inspiration you can watch Cats Protection’s Planet Cat:

Planet Cat episode 1 Planet Cat episode 2 Planet Cat episode 3

Planet Cat episode 4 Planet Cat episode 5

Documentary narration top tips

Things to remember – DO… Things to avoid – DON’T…

Keep it simple and relaxed. Use everyday language and don’t overload

the audience with too much complicated information.

Use too much information. You don’t need to tell the viewer everything

you know about cats – just pick out the essential information.

Use the present tense and an active mood.

This will keep the viewer involved with what’s going on in the video clip.

Use statistics unless they are really needed.

Statistics may sound impressive but often they are not very interesting to a viewer and

don’t mean very much.

Make it fun and interesting! What is unusual or exciting about your

environment or clip? Why not tell the viewer something they don’t know?

Talk about things not in the video clip. You want to use information related to the video clip and what is happening. However

add some depth rather than simply describing what we can already view.

Edit your film! Including music along with narration can add drama to the scene. There are free

editing apps available online to help you do this. You can add text to your video – don’t

forget to include yourself in the credits!

Be afraid to have silence! You don’t need to narrate through the

whole video, sometimes it is nice to let the pictures tell the story.

Don’t forget to share your purrfect feline habitat documentary with #FelineFocus!

This will help cat owners learn more about how they can encourage their cat’s natural

behaviours in the home.

8

Now take a break and enjoy some mindfulness colouring.

During this COVID-19 pandemic it is important that we think about our cats’

welfare and wellbeing but also our own. The changes that have been made to our daily lives to ensure our safety have impacts on our mental health and those around us. Take some time to enjoy some mindfulness colouring and why not watch some of our gorgeous kittens as they go on their socialisation journey at

Kittens Live at Lunch or scan the QR code.

9

Feline fact file 3 – diet

What things do we need to think about with our cat’s bowls?

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

Cat hunting

To learn all about cat

hunting from Simon’s

Cat scan the QR code

or click here: Does

your cat bring you

“gifts”? - Simon’s Cat

Why do cats hunt even

though they are given food

by their owners?

________________________

________________________

________________________

Cats and water

Do cats really hate

water? Watch Simon’s

Cat by scanning the

QR code or click here:

Do cats really hate

water? - Simon's Cat

How can you make feeding

fun? Why do we do this?

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

List three things to avoid from the video:

1.___________________

2.___________________

3.___________________

_____________________

What should you do if your cat’s feeding habits

change?

_____________________

_____________________

_____________________

Design a feeding enrichment toy.

Why do cats like running water?

_____________________________

_____________________________

Cat feeding time

To learn all about cat feeding

time from Simon’s Cat, scan

the QR code or click here:

Things you didn't know about

feeding time! - Simon's Cat

Maths challenge: How many

hunting trips would an African

wildcat need to go on each day

to get enough calories?

___________________________

Why do cats get onto the worktop? How could we avoid this?

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

____________

Describe three ways in which

cats are adapted for hunting:

1.___________________________

_____________________________

2.___________________________

_____________________________

3.___________________________

_____________________________

What is special about the

Turkish Van cat breed?

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

10

Body condition scoring

Ideal bodyweight will vary depending on breed and age of cat. To help with assessing body

condition, Cats Protection uses tools such as the PFMA Cat Size-O-Meter below. This

system grades the body condition of a cat from one to five and helps us to gain an

understanding of body condition and weight of the cat without excessive handling which

could potentially cause stress.

There are also alternatives available such as the Purina Body Condition System which

grades the body condition of a cat from one to nine. Nine graded systems are often used by

vets due to the higher level of detail however systems like the Cat Size-O-Meter are ideal in

settings such as Cats Protection centres as they are easy to use and anyone can use them.

It is important to keep an eye on your cat and check their weight to make sure you

aren't under- or over-feeding. Preventing your cat from gaining weight is easier than

helping them lose weight.

Find out more about cats and their diets at Cat diet video or scan the QR code:

Try using the Cat Size-O-Meter to decide whether these cats are overweight or healthy?

11

Try using the Cat Size-O-Meter to decide whether these cats are overweight or healthy.

Decision:_____________________________ How did you decide this? _____________________________________ Describe the body parts listed:

Tummy ___________________________

Spine ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Ribs ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Decision:_____________________________ How did you decide this? _____________________________________ Describe the body parts listed:

Tummy ___________________________

Spine ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Ribs ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Decision:_____________________________ How did you decide this? _____________________________________ Describe the body parts listed:

Tummy ___________________________

Spine ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Ribs ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Decision:_____________________________ How did you decide this? _____________________________________ Describe the body parts listed:

Tummy ___________________________

Spine ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

Ribs ie visible/can be felt/can’t be felt _________________________________

12

Case study – Sootie

Sootie was admitted into our National Cat Centre at the end of 2019. The team were

shocked by her size; she was among the biggest cats they had seen.

Name: Sootie

Gender: Female

Age: 12 years

Breed: Domestic shorthair

Weight: 10kg

How would you describe Sootie’s body condition? _________________________________

What illnesses could Sootie be at risk of?

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

Keeping you and your cats fit and healthy during COVID-19!

Social isolation can be a bit of a bore; you can’t go outside for very long and meeting up with

your friends isn’t possible either. But maybe it’s not just humans who are affected…

What are we doing differently at home that might affect the weight of our pets?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What are you doing to stay fit and healthy? How could we apply this to our pets?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What can the centre team do to help Sootie lose weight?

_____________________________________________________________________

13

Why is it important to neuter a

female cat and a male cat?

______________________________

________________________________

______________________________

________________________________

______________________________

________________________________

______________________________

________________________________

______________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

_________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

Feline fact file 4 – health

How many kittens

can a female have

in a year?

___________________

Cats and grooming

To learn why cats

clean themselves from

Simon’s Cat you can

scan the QR code or

click here: Why do

cats clean themselves

so much? - Simon's

Cat

What is it called when two

cats groom each other?

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

At what age can cats start having kittens?

Eight months ☐

One year ☐

Four months ☐

Draw an annotated diagram of

either a flea or a tapeworm.

Describe what microchipping is.

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

What age should cats be

neutered at?

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

Neutering and microchipping

To learn all about cats and the importance of health care you

can scan the QR codes or click here:

Female cat care: why should I get my cat done?

Male cat care: why should I get my cat done?

Vet medication is given to a cat to stop which three things?

1._____________________________

_______________________________

2._____________________________

_______________________________

3._____________________________

_______________________________

____

4.

What do cats have on their tongue to help them groom?

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

14

Information materials activity

Informative materials are useful for creating an awareness of a subject and for people to

gain information. They can be a great way to spread a message through specific spaces or

communities. For example, you might want to make a leaflet to leave at veterinary surgeries

or a poster for your local Cats Protection centre.

With the current situation, we thought it would be original for you to create a guide about cats and COVID-19 using an informative material of your choice. You might like to choose:

a leaflet

a poster

a digital infographic

Follow these steps and add notes to the boxes to help you plan:

1. Decide on your key messages What’s the purpose of your cats and COVID-19 guide? What do you want people who read it to know and do? What advice can you give?

Top tip: Think about the most important key points for your reader to understand your message. 2. Include the right info

Make a mind map of the key information you might need to include for owners to be aware of. Top tip: Understand your topic! Think about what you need to give as information to the owner. Do I have to keep my cat in during the COVID-19 pandemic? Can I still use the vet if my cat is ill? What things can I provide my cat in the home while in isolation? You will need to find out more about what information to give. It is essential that you use only the most up to date and accurate information given by Cats Protection. You can find lots of resources available on the Cats Protection website and at the links below:

Cats Protection COVID-19 updates and top tips Cats and COVID-19 Q&As Keeping cats entertained during the current situation

3. Add the detail What will your title be? Top tip: The title should be brief, informative and catchy and should invite the reader to read more. If you’re stuck on a title, try finishing your leaflet and adding a title last as inspiration may come later. Could you write an overview for your guide? Top tips: o Overview. Create a brief, clear opening that states the objectives of the leaflet, infographic or

poster. This is a creative introduction and you can use bullet points to keep things short and sweet

15

o Make your text easily readable. When creating a leaflet, your text will be very small so avoid long paragraphs and stick to clear fonts. Headings should stand out and be in the same style, for example you could use underlining

o Keep things simple. Avoid slang or complicated sentences to keep it simple and organised. Read your sentences out load and listen back to see if you think it sounds clear and makes sense

o Group similar information together. When building your leaflet, keep relevant information clear and avoid repeating information. Don’t forget to use both the front and back of your paper for maximum information sharing

4. Make it look cool! Think about the sort of design that will appeal to your target audience – what will appeal to them and catch their attention? How many pictures will you use? What will your colour scheme be? Could you create an original charity or company logo? Top tip: Keeping a rough draft to help you with planning your design. Fill it out as a mock-up to keep your brain moving creatively. The rough draft can be used to help work the layout. If you have a laptop or PC then you could use IT platforms like Publisher or Word to create your leaflet, poster or infographic. Why not take a look at Cats Protection’s leaflets for ideas at the following link: Cats Protection leaflets or scan the QR code? Have a look at these examples when considering your style:

5. Check before you print/share Ask someone to proof read your work to check spelling and accuracy. Don’t forget to ask for a second opinion!

Do they like the layout? Y/N Are the pictures clear and relevant? Y/N Is the font size big enough? Y/N

Do they have any other suggestions or recommendations?

16

What type of resources do we need

to give to a cat in the house?

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

Feline fact file 5 – space

Explain who cats share their

ancestry with.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________

Cats on the move

To learn how to help cats

settle into a new home

from Simon’s Cat you can

scan the QR code or click

here: Cats on the move -

Simon's Cat

When a cat moves into a new house, how many weeks

should they be kept indoors for?

Six weeks ☐

Two weeks ☐

Three weeks ☐

What product can help your cat settle?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

What is the first thing to do if a cat is stressed by

another cat?

_______________________

_______________________

_______________________

Design something a cat can use to

hide and sleep in.

What frequency can cats hear?

_____________________________ hertz

In or out?

To learn all about cats being

in or out from Simon’s Cat

you can scan the QR codes

or click here: In or out? Why

are cats so indecisive?! -

Simon's Cat

What did Sir Isaac Newton

invent for cats?

______________________________________________________________________________

What is the type of purr called that cats use to get attention from

their owner?

____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Describe three ways in which cats

keep other cats away from their

territory.

1.______________________________

2.________________________________

3. ______________________________

Name three familiar things that make a cat feel secure

and safe.

1.___________________________

2.___________________________

3.___________________________

Territorial behaviour

To learn all about cats

being territorial from

Simon’s Cat you can

scan the QR code or

click here: Territorial

behaviour! - Simon's Cat

Simon’s Cat

17

Artistic influencer activity

Modern culture is also heavily impacted by ‘influencers’. These individuals can help to shape

how people act, feel and behave and therefore can have a large impact on their daily lives.

Think about some influencers you know, these may be social media stars, politicians,

celebrities, bloggers, journalists or authors. Take some time to think about the following:

what makes these people so influential?

what methods do they use to spread their messages?

what type of messages do they spread?

what characteristics make them so successful?

what things have you learned from an influencer?

how has this impacted you?

Create a mind map below to try and sum up what makes your favourite influencer so

successful:

To let people know more about cats and their need for space, we would

like you to be an influencer for cats. Think about all of the characteristics

that make your favourite influencers so successful. Use these and your

creativity to share the message that cats need their own space. Be

creative and think of an exciting way to spread the word. Think about

how you want to communicate your message. Some ideas that you

could consider include composing either a poem, a song or a rap,

designing a t-shirt with a message, hosting a Facebook Live or

Instagram Live session or creating a YouTube video. Don’t forget a

catchy hashtag if you want to use social media!

18

Influencers use a range of methods to spread their messages and often the written word and

music are used as tools. Poetry can have a big impact on people and songs or raps are a

great way to share messages with other people and to encourage them to remember your

message – just think about how many songs you know all of the lyrics to.

For the content of your poem, song or rap you will need to think about:

why do cats need their own space?

what might happen if they don’t have their own space?

how can you make sure your cat gets their own

space?

how has COVID-19 impacted cats? What

considerations should we be making right now to

ensure their welfare?

There are some considerations you need to make when writing a poem. You will need to

think about the following:

the form – although many poems don’t have a clear identifiable form, some do such

as sonnets or narrative poems. Think about what you would like your poem to look

like

the structure – how do you want to structure your poem? How many stanzas will

there be? How many lines will there be in each stanza? Where will you have breaks

between lines and stanzas?

rhyme and rhythm – will your poem rhyme? Do you want it to follow a particular

rhythm as it is read?

language – think about what words you are using – you want to have an impact!

Some words and phrases can be very powerful

poetic devices – think about how you will use language eg will you use similes,

metaphors and/or alliteration?

Steps for writing a song or rap:

1. Create a mind map on the topic of cats and space.

Be imaginative and list everything you can think of –

this will inspire your lyrics.

2. Write your chorus – this is normally the part that

people remember best so make sure it focuses on

your key message.

3. Start to write your lyrics for the rest of your song or

rap. Use your thought shower to think of lines to include and make sure it fits with

your chorus. Don’t forget the beat!

4. Split your song or rap into verses. Decide how you will break it up into sections and

how often you will repeat your chorus.

5. Practice and perform. Share your song or rap with friends and family to spread the

message about cats’ need for space.

19

Cat creations

There are many ways that cat owners can meet the five feline welfare needs. At the moment

many cat owners are looking for ways to make household savings. Research the cost of

common cat essentials and have a go at some of the creative cost saving ideas.

Welfare need Market research Creative cost saver

Comfortable resting place

How much do cat beds cost?

How to make a cat bed from a jumper To watch the Cats Protection video guide you can scan the

QR code:

Or click the link here: How to make a cat bed from a jumper

Understanding

hunting behaviour

How much do cat toys cost?

How to make a cat fishing rod toy To watch the Cats Protection video guide you can scan the

QR code:

Or click the link here: How to make a cat fishing rod toy

Feline treats

in diet

How much do cat treats cost?

How to make homemade meaty cat food treats To watch the Cats Protection video guide you can scan the

QR code:

Or click the link here: How to make homemade cat treats

Presentation of food for

healthy cats

How much do cat feeding enrichment

toys cost?

How to make cat feeding toys To watch the Cats Protection video guide you can scan the

QR code:

Or click the link here: How to make cat feeding toys

Territorial

behaviours and own space

How much do cat scratching posts

cost?

How to make a cat scratching post To watch the Cats Protection video guide you can scan the

QR code:

Or click the link here: How to make a cat scratching post

How much money could cat owners save by getting creative? _______________

Why not try making something for your own cat? Don’t forget to share your ideas, creations

and any top tips online using #FelineFocus.

20

This pack links closely to animal welfare legislation in the UK including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and Welfare of Animal Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. These laws are in place to ensure pet owners meet the five animal welfare needs. Complete the table below to discover your own welfare needs.

The five welfare needs

What could pet owners provide

for their cats to ensure they meet

the five welfare needs?

What has helped your welfare

(both physically and emotionally)

during COVID-19 lockdown?

Place to live: suitable

environment, including shelter

and comfortable resting area.

Understand natural behaviour:

providing facilities to allow them

to perform normal behaviours.

Right diet: access to fresh water

and a diet to maintain full health

and vitality.

Right health care: to be

protected from pain, suffering,

injury and disease.

Space: to have the choice to live

apart from other cats and pets.

21

Cat crossword

Test what you have learned with our cat care crossword.

Across

Down

4. Type of purr 1. How old cats need to be to start

having kittens

6. A way to make feeding more fun and mentally stimulating

2. The number of kittens a queen can have in one year

9. When kittens learn what is threatening or non-threatening in the world around them

3. When two cats groom each other

5. Word to describe ‘most active at

dusk and dawn’

7. The operation that stops cats

having unwanted kittens

8. Common parasites that can also

bite humans

9. A homeless or lost cat