For the primary time in its historical past, the Oregon Humane Society’s (OHS) Conduct Modification Program for cats and kittens has surpassed 100 annual adoptions, with 102 cats discovering loving houses in 2024. This groundbreaking program is particularly designed for pets who require specialised coaching and care earlier than they’re prepared for adoption.
Conduct Modification Coaching for Cats
Cats on the OHS typically face distinctive challenges. Many are extraordinarily shy and fearful, whereas others battle with overstimulation, frustration, or particular behavioral points that make it troublesome for them to adapt to life in a house. That is the place the Conduct Modification Program is available in.
“When folks consider conduct modification and coaching, canine are sometimes who involves thoughts,” says Tanya Roberts, OHS Director of Coaching and Conduct. “However this program is having a unprecedented, lifesaving impression on cats and kittens.”
Take, for instance, a 5-month-old kitten named John. On December 24, John grew to become the one hundredth feline to be adopted via the Conduct Modification Program in 2024. John got here to OHS from an overwhelmed pet proprietor struggling to take care of too many animals. His adoption represents a serious milestone for a program that has seen important progress since transferring to its purpose-built Conduct and Rescue Heart in late 2022.
Erika Sims, the OHS Feline Conduct Modification Supervisor, explains that “cats and kittens are preparing for adoption nearly 50% sooner than they did once we had been doing this work in the principle shelter. This implies we will help much more cats as a result of we’re actually a lifeline and infrequently the final choice for many of the felines who come via our program.”
The success of the Conduct Modification Program lies in its individualized method. Each cat getting into this system receives a custom-made plan tailor-made to their particular wants.
“Working with a shy, fearful cat is a sluggish means of constructing belief,” says Erika. “Whereas a cat who will get overstimulated and pissed off wants time to decompress earlier than we will begin altering their conduct.”
Endurance is vital to addressing behavioral challenges in cats. The method is commonly gradual, however the outcomes are profound.
“Progress is measured in small increments, however the outcomes are life-changing, and lifesaving,” Erika provides. “We’re altering stereotypes and displaying that cats have an unbelievable capability to be taught and alter.”
A Lasting Affect
Pet dad and mom who welcome these particular cats into their houses obtain extra assist and steerage to make sure a clean transition and a profitable match. This additional degree of care helps create lasting bonds between the cats and their new households.
As this system continues to develop, so does its impression. The milestone reached in 2024 is a testomony to the dedication of the OHS workforce and the transformative energy of conduct modification. By addressing the distinctive wants of every cat, OHS will not be solely giving them a second probability at life but additionally altering the best way folks view feline conduct and coaching.
With each success story, the OHS Conduct Modification Program is proving that even essentially the most difficult cats deserve an opportunity to thrive—and that with persistence, compassion, and experience, they’ll discover their place in a loving dwelling.
Concerning the Oregon Humane Society
Based in 1868, the Oregon Humane Society is likely one of the most revered animal welfare organizations in america. By their mission of Making a Extra Humane Society, they’re working towards their imaginative and prescient of a world the place all animals are handled with compassion, kindness, and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, OHS is an Oregon-based nonprofit that depends on donor assist for its adoption, schooling, medical, and humane legislation enforcement applications. Go to oregonhumane.org for extra data.
Photographs offered to Catster by Oregon Humane Society
