Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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:Today's episode tackles a side of shelter
life that isn't always talked about,
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:the cats who don't cope well, the ones
who become labeled spicy, shut down, or
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:misunderstood in a shelter environment.
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:I'm joined by Berlin Waters of
the Spicy Cat Project, who's doing
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:incredible work advocating for these
cats and help us better understand
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:what's really going on beneath the
hisses, swats, and the silence.
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:We're getting into why some cats
struggle in shelters, what stress
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:really looks like in feline behavior,
and how to change the outcome for cats
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:who might otherwise be overlooked.
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:Hi, Berlin..
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:I'm so glad that you are coming on the
show to talk about the Spicy Cat Project.
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:Yeah, me too.
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:I'm
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:Berlin: excited.
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:Dixie: Yeah, 'cause that's
something that means a lot to me.
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:I do cat rescue and- Oh, yeah ... yeah.
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:And , it's a problem that you
see a lot of the times, and a
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:lot of people don't realize it.
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:So I'm glad that you're- ... here to be
able to discuss it, and so we can kinda
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:see what's really going on with these
cats- ... when they become shut down.
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:- Berlin: Yeah, it's
definitely been a problem
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:that I've noticed.
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:Dixie: To start, tell us
how you got into doing this.
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:I've had many cats my whole
life, and so cats have always
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:just been a passion of mine.
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:And then when I started a master's
program at UF in shelter medicine,
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:we had to do a research project, so I
started volunteering at the shelter, and
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:pretty quickly I noticed that so many
cats were being neglected emotionally.
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:They weren't having their needs met, and
so I decided that was my research project.
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:I was gonna work with these cats
because I also saw that a lot of the
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:staff was, intimidated by these cats,
which is understandable, and no one
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:really know, knew what to do with them.
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:So I was like, "My goal is gonna be
work with these cats, see if I can
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:socialize them, see what I can do just
to improve their welfare," and so that's
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:how the Spicy Cat Project started.
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:Dixie: Another thing that I
would like to get into is a
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:little bit with the term spicy.
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:And- ... the reason that I wanna
bring that up is because I just
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:recently shared a video on Facebook
And it was a four-week-old kitten.
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:And I had him in a carrier, and
he was absolutely terrified.
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:So ears flat, he's hissing up
a storm at me 'cause this poor
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:little guy- he's terrified.
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:So I put- Yep ... a video out there
to show people that he is not mean.
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:He is just- ... terrified.
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:And-
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:Exactly
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:... I did not know that there was a
spicy cat trend, and so Yeah ... his
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:video, right now it's at 1.6
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:million views.
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:Berlin: Oh my goodness.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:And , like I never expected it.
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:And so when I was telling somebody
about this, they're like, "Oh
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:there's this spicy cat trend
where people think this is cute."
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:- I wouldn't call it cute.
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:I just put it out there- ... for like
education purposes to show people like,
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:look, this little guy is terrified.
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:Yeah.
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:But within a couple of weeks, I'm
gonna have him turned into a love bug.
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:Berlin: Exactly.
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:Yeah.
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:Dixie: So how do you view
the term like spicy cat?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:I 100% agree with you with that cat.
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:Sounds like that little
baby was just terrified.
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:And , the name of my project is The
Spicy Cat Project, but I actually never
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:use the term spicy cat , in practice
because I do dislike it for those reasons.
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:People tend to like to say
that in a fun, funny way.
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:"Oh, he's spicy."
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:And I I can see what they're trying to do
with it, but it's also okay, yeah, he's
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:aggressive because this cat is terrified.
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:They're so scared, and they're acting
out aggressively because , those
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:are their defense mechanisms.
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:So , while it is the name of my project,
I do have a whole definition on the bottom
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:of my website that says, what spicy cat
means and what it means to me and how
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:I don't use it, it is catchy and I hope
people will just recognize that and that's
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:how I get recognition for my website.
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:Dixie: You mentioned that your research
project was geared towards these cats
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:that were shutting down in the shelter,
and also how- ... the way people
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:viewed these cats So- ... through
your research, what have you found?
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:What is the best approach when dealing
with these cats in these environments
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:when they come in and they just get
very aggressive or completely shut
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:down because they're so scared?
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:Berlin: Yeah, like I said, so many people
just have this kind of misunderstanding
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:of what cats are when they act out
aggressively because when dogs are
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:scared, they have the sad puppy dog eyes.
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:They look sad and everyone
wants to help them.
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:And when people see cats that are acting
out aggressively, they assume these cats
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:must be mean or feral or unsocialized.
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:And so that I think is the biggest problem
why there's such a misunderstanding is
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:even though these, the cats and the dogs
are feeling the same things, which is
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:fear, people don't realize that, oh,
cats express that in an aggressive way.
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:And so what I find is so many cats come
to the shelter and they are just terrified
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:out of their minds, and people assume that
they must be unsocialized or feral, and so
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:they leave them alone to decompress when
really most of the cats that come into
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:the shelter were previously house cats.
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:It's not like they were feral
cats just brought off the streets.
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:But they just don't recognize
that's what they're feeling inside.
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:So my basic approach is to get them
out of the kennel, get them in a quiet
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:room, quiet environment, and just
interact with them one-on-one and
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:just the main thing I've noticed is
just that reassurance, showing them
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:that, there's nothing to be afraid of.
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:I'm here to help.
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:That's the biggest thing for these cats.
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:Dixie: Yeah, and what you mentioned too
about the house cats being like feral.
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:I run a few lost pets
groups on social media.
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:Yeah.
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:And that is one thing that I always tell
people, you wanna go check the shelter to
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:see if your cat is in the shelter, but you
also have to- go check the feral cat room.
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:So you wanna ask to go see- Yep ... the
feral cats because a lot of the time
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:these adult cats will act feral.
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:And in fact- ... like being in cat
rescue, that's something that really
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:upsets me is when I see people thinking
it's nothing to rehome their adult cat.
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:Because they think, oh, their cat
is 100% fine with them, friendly,
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:lovey, but they don't realize when
that cat gets into a new environment,
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:the cat shuts down most of the time.
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:There's a few instances- ... where
I've seen it where the cat's okay,
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:but most- ... of the time the cat
will shut down and a lot of the
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:times the cat will even stop eating.
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:I have one sitting on my lap right now.
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:He's three years old.
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:And, his owners gave him up because
they didn't have time for him.
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:And so- ... when we first
got him in he's very cute.
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:But I was like, despite how cute he
looks, we couldn't have anybody around
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:him because he was just- ... he was
terrified, absolutely terrified.
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:D'aww.
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:We had one of these like little soft
pop-up containers that we had him in.
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:And it's big enough for him to move
around, big enough for his litter box,
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:big enough for a bed and everything.
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:But even when we would go in to go change
his box or feed him, we would have to be
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:careful 'cause he would come lunge at us.
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:Oh,
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:Berlin: yeah.
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:Dixie: Now it took just a few
days, and after a few days-
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:he's absolutely fine now.
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:He's a love bug.
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:But, you'd never know- That's
good ... how long it's gonna take.
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:That's been my experience anyway, and
I've even- ... seen it where with a
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:lot of rescues who will take back their
adult cats, that when they take them back
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:after five, six years, sometimes the cats
will even starve themselves to death.
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:Berlin: Oh my goodness.
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:Yeah.
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:Any transition, and that's one thing
I try and advocate for with my project
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:too is adoption counseling because
whether they're getting, moving from
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:the home into a shelter, they're
scared, but also when they're going
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:from shelter back to a new home, at
the new place, they're also terrified.
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:And so making those transitions as smooth
as possible and informing owners of how
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:to do that, how to get them used to you
and how to not make it such a traumatic
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:experience each time they move, is super
important for rescues and shelters.
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:Dixie: Can we go over like the approach
that a rescue should take when they
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:get in a cat like this, either from
the shelter or let's say it's one that
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:they take in as an owner surrender?
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:... As well as what adopters c-could do or
what rescues should advise adopters to
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:do with cats that shut down like this.
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:When any, cat comes into a rescue
or shelter , always definitely
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:get as much information about them
as possible and their behavior.
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:And then instead of just giving these
cats, days to just decompress, like a
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:lot of people like to say I advocate
for working with these cats as soon
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:as possible, within the first three
days really is just getting them out
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:of that kennel, interacting with them
and socializing with them one-on-one
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:again, in that calm, quiet environment
just to again, reassure them.
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:And Same thing happens
going back into the home.
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:I have advocate for owners and
the, shelters to, keep those
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:cats in a small, quiet room.
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:- I see so many times where cats would
get adopted and, at, even at the
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:shelter if they are sweet, they bring
home this cat that they were told was
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:super sweet, then like you said, they
get to the new environment and they're
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:aggressive or stressed or not eating.
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:And so with, adoption counseling,
I really highly recommend, keeping
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:them in a small bathroom for, 7
to 10 days at minimum to let them
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:settle in, and, frequent one-on-one
interactions in a calm environment
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:just to get to know them and show them
that you're not there to hurt them.
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:You're there to help them
through this, tough transition.
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:And one of the things I really like to
do with, the aggressive ones especially,
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:is , use my bundle and bond technique
where you wrap them in a towel wrap
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:and just hold onto them just for those
first few minutes where they, are
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:in that fight or flight state until
they're able to relax and go, "Oh, okay.
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:Take a breath.
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:This person's not hurting me.
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:I can relax now.
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:I'm safe now."
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:And so that's what I found to be very
helpful for those super fearful or even
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:cats that are lashing out aggressively.
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:Dixie: With the bundle technique that
you're talking about, I have done
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:that plenty of times with kittens.
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:Now, it's a little bit different with
a bigger cat because, I know- ... even
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:sometimes when you're dealing with a
kitten that might be, 10 to 12 weeks old,
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:you've got to be really careful with that
kitten because the kitten's terrified-
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:... and the kitten might bite you.
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:Oh, yeah.
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:So how- ... do you accomplish
that with an adult cat?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:For shelters I, I would recommend
that being, the staff doing that,
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:not necessarily adopters 'cause
it is dangerous and, I wouldn't
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:put that on adopters to expect
them to do something like that.
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:But for, mostly when I deal with owner
surrendered cats or cats that we know came
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:from a home environment , the ones that
are from a home environment and acting
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:out the most aggressively in the shelters
actually don't need the bundle and bond.
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:I would say 99.9%
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:of the time I bring them into a
quiet, calm room and they're fine,
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:and they open up and I don't even
need a towel wrap or anything.
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:It's the ones that are, frozen in fear
that really need the bundle and bond.
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:And so what I do is get them in
a feral box usually or a carrier
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:and put that in their kennel.
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:Then I transport them to the quiet
Calm room, and then I use the towel
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:wrap to remove them from that.
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:It's a lot easier to remove them
from, a feral box than it is just
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:from inside their giant car- kennel.
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:And then I wrap them in my Superman towel
wrap and it takes a lot of confidence,
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:but as long as you can hold onto them,
cats are only 10 pounds, you can do it.
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:They seem strong, but you're stronger.
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:So if you just hold onto them for, the
30 to 60 seconds it takes for them to
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:realize they're, you're not hurting
them, then that's usually all it takes
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:and they're able to calm down and I just
talk to them and say, "It's gonna be
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:okay," and they usually open right up.
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:Dixie: Now for a rescue my
go-to is always like a bathroom,
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:'cause it's a small room.
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:. But let's say somebody doesn't have a
bathroom, but they use a spare bedroom.,
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:If you don't have the cat crated or in
some kind of larger kennel, then the cat
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:could go hide under a bed, go hide under
a dresser - and those types of things.
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:Do you advocate for putting them in a
kennel until they get a little bit more
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:acclimated to the space that they're in?
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:Definitely-- Yeah, whenever I'm working,
like doing the socialization and when
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:I bring them into a new room, like a
calm, quiet room that I talk about,
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:I'm never just like letting the cat go.
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:I'm always bringing them in there
so I can handle them one-on-one.
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:But again, yeah, it's almost always
like an enrichment room at a shelter
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:or a bathroom wherever it is because
I- Do not want this cat to get out
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:or escape under a bed or up into
a cabinet where I cannot get them.
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:So I definitely do not
recommend doing that.
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:But yeah, dog crates, 'cause that's
what we do with feral cats, too,
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:if we don't have space for them.
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:A large dog crate, we will put them in
and with a, like a feral box or a hiding
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:box of some kind, cover it with a bed
sheet to give them some more privacy and
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:kind of work with them slowly that way.
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:And that oftentimes
does seem to help a lot.
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:Dixie: I've been doing cat rescue for
a really long time now and- ... i'm
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:familiar with the approach to going in
and touching a fearful cat even, one that
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:could tend to be a little bit aggressive.
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:But I do find that there's
not a lot of fosters who have
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:experience with that or- Yeah
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:know what they're getting into, if they
agree to take in, like an older cat.
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:Do you have any tips or tricks for them
to get the cat to come around as far
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:as like maybe touching and feeding?
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:'Cause I know some are always food
motivated, but then there's some-
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:that might not eat for a few days.
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:Berlin: And I try to tell people
same-- honestly, it's same things with
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:almost any cat, whether they're feral
adult cats or just really scared,
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:fearful, owner surrendered cats.
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:Just starting with a small space,
keeping them in that small space,
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:keeping things quiet, being on a
routine for, if you just got that foster
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:cat, come in every, couple of hours.
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:Don't overwhelm them.
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:And a lot of times I recommend just,
if it's the first couple days, leave
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:food out 'cause, even the fosters
that I have that are scared, they're
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:not gonna eat, and that's okay if
they don't eat for a couple days.
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:They're just figuring things out.
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:But just even sitting in
there talking to them without
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:interacting gets them used to you.
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:And then just, make your way,
work your way towards them.
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:And a lot of it just comes down to
reading that subtle body language and
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:seeing if they're, able to be handled
or pet and just going really slow.
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:I go super slow with any cat that I think
even could be aggressive in the slightest.
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:I just go very slow,
very gradual movements.
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:And usually that's all it takes
is just that calm environment
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:and gradual, introductions.
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:Dixie: Churu is always excellent, too.
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:Yeah.
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:Churús are like the best invention ever
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:Berlin: and string toys.
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:I feel like string-- Cats love a
good string toy, and even if they're
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:not gonna interact with you, they'll
oftentimes interact with a string toy,
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:and sometimes I use that to coax them
out and get them distracted and that
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:builds their confidence when they can
feel like, "Oh, I can play and I can,
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:do the things that are, enriching."
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:So those are also really good tools.
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:Dixie: What about touching?
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:I understand what you mean about the
subtle body language, but for somebody-
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:... who doesn't necessarily know what the
subtle body language is, how would- Yeah
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:they know what to do?
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:Berlin: Yeah, for cats I always,
if there is any kind of aggressive
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:behavior like hissing, growling, or
swatting, I do not recommend touching.
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:No touching.
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:Not in the kennel, not if
they're in a hiding box or in
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:the corner of the bathroom.
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:If they're showing those aggressive
behaviors, let them be and even
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:just sit there quietly with them.
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:No reaching towards them, 'cause that
can be very intimidating for them.
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:But if they're just quietly
sitting, not showing any growling or
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:aggression, then, just going slowly
offering like cat brushes and things.
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:I used to be an advocate for those little
mini hands and like reaching towards cats.
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:Sometimes they work, but sometimes
the cats get freaked out by that
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:'cause, they know it's not a real
hand and they're not sure what it is.
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:But that's always an option, but
sometimes it's 50/50 with the cats.
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:But, just making those gradual
movements towards them.
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:I always advocate for, give them
your hand, like the back of your
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:hand and s- see what they do.
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:Never force your hand on them.
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:Let the cat come to you, whether
that's just putting the hand
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:right in front of their nose so
they can smell you and greet you.
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:That's a huge thing.
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:Just letting a cat greet you is the first
thing, first step in any interaction
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:because if you don't greet them, they
don't know what's going on, and that's
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:when they usually lash out aggressively.
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:Dixie: When you said that if they're
exhibiting these aggressive signs,
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:growling, hissing, swatting- ... is
there anything that you can do to
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:calm them down to get them over that?
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:Berlin: Sometimes food will help.
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:You know it's tough.
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:Those kind of cats that are acting
out aggressively once in a home
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:environment, like a foster situation
sometimes they do need a day or
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:two if you just brought them home.
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:But I've found, most of the cats that
I work with once they're, again, in
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:that calm environment and you're just
give them, show them and reassure
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:them that you're not there to hurt
them they usually do pretty well.
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:But if they're acting out aggressively
I wouldn't expect a foster to be able to
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:do this, but when I have like feral cats
who are still doing this I do the super
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:mental wrap and the bundle and bond, and
honestly that does help quite a bit, but
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:that is more advanced cat handling skills.
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:So if it's a foster or new adopter, just
waiting it out, sitting with, spending
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:that quality time with them and usually
slowly but surely they just need a little
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:extra TLC and a little bit of extra time.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:The one that I was telling you about
earlier, the one that came to me that
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:was very scared and acting aggressive.
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:So with him, what I actually did was
we had him kenneled and then we would
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:of course give him the food, and
after a few days I noticed he wasn't
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:calming down as much as I would like.
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:He was still very aggressive.
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:I put ... a little bit of
catnip in there for him.
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:That did seem to help calm him down.
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:And then- Oh, really?
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:Yeah.
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:And then it seemed like he
wanted to come out of the kennel,
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:so I let him out the kennel.
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:Now I will say- ... when I let him
out the kennel, and I'm not gonna lie
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:I was a little bit terrified, Yeah.
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:because he started coming up to me and-
... he came up to me a couple times and he
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:slapped me on my leg, so I was like,
" i'm gonna give you a pass for that."
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:... Then he came up to me, like he
would come rub all around me,
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:and then he would bite my foot.
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:But it- Oh.
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:..., it wasn't like a hard bite ... and
it was like almost like a child
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:throwing, throwing a temper tantrum.
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:Yep.
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:Berlin: It's like they get
overstimulated, and that's just
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:their way of showing you that.
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:Yes.
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:Dixie: Yes.
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:But after that, he wanted to start
jumping on me, so he would jump in my
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:lap and like for the first few days I
was like absolutely terrified 'cause I'm
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:like, "Oh my gosh, is he gonna attack
me while he's- Yeah ... in my lap?"
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:Berlin: That's always nerve-wracking.
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:Dixie: Yeah.
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:But he's fine now.
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:He's absolutely- ... fine.
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:He's settled in really well.
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:We already have a potential adopter
for him, and so I of course- Oh, good
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:... wanted to work with them, and she's very
understanding and she's, very skilled
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:on introducing a new cat, especially
one that- Oh ... could potentially be
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:fearful, so that's a good thing for him.
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:... But another thing I wanted to ask
you about is what about eye contact?
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:Do you find sometimes when you
have eye contact with them, it
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:stresses them out a little bit more?
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:Berlin: I do.
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:Yeah, I try to stay to the side of them.
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:I don't try and make a lot of
direct eye contact so I do keep
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:my eyes just down, but I can still
see them, out of my periphery.
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:And I try and stay towards the
side and not be with them right
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:head-on, 'cause that is intimidating.
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:So kind of catty-corner to them, but
yeah, eye contact in those scared cats
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:can definitely be intimidating, so I
try to keep it to a minimum at first.
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:Dixie: Do you have any different
tips or suggestions for kittens?
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:I know a lot of the times when you
get a feral kitten, you can work
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:with them, you can tame them up,
but it just- ... takes like a little
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:bit of time involved with those.
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:Do you have any- ... different
advice for kittens?
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:Since, kittens and the cats,
it's a little bit, different
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:situation for each of those.
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:Yeah.
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:Berlin: Yeah.
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:Kittens I do treat quite differently
like feral kittens and stuff, because
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:they, I'm not super worried about, them,
biting me and sending me to the hospital.
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:I can deal with, a two-pound kitten.
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:And so with them I honestly I give
them a little more tough love than
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:the adult cats because kittens are so
resilient and they're mostly, all bark.
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:They are vocal or hissing and, you need
to show them that, "Hey, I know you're
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:not, I know you're scared, but, this
is what's gonna happen and we're gonna
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:interact whether you like it or not."
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:You need a little tough love to
show them those manners that they
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:need to build and a lot of times
that works pretty well for kittens.
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:And so I try to not give them as many
hiding spots either because they need
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:to build that confidence on their own.
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:And so it's just a lot of figuring
those little things out as they're
400
:understanding what's right and what's
wrong and what's kind of behavior
401
:is acceptable and what's not.
402
:Dixie: I do have another question.
403
:You might- Yeah ... be able to
give some advice on this as well.
404
:Being a cat rescue, we get all
different ages in, and the ultimate
405
:goal, of course, is adoption for them.
406
:And if we go to an adoption event,
of course, this is gonna mean taking
407
:these cats and you're gonna put them
in these cages at an adoption center.
408
:A lot of the times the kittens don't
care, and if you get kittens there-, they
409
:might be scared for a half hour, and then
after a half hour they're absolutely fine.
410
:But you will get the case when you
have a very social, very friendly
411
:adult cat, and you get them to an
adoption center and they are terrified.
412
:And I know- ... some of them usually
it'll take maybe two days and they
413
:settle in fine, but for other ones
it does take a little bit longer.
414
:Do you have any suggestions of things
that you can do to help those cats,
415
:those ones that might not acclimate
well to the cages in these adoption
416
:centers after being there a day or two?
417
:Yeah.
418
:Berlin: Yeah.
419
:It's definitely tough.
420
:Again, just working with them.
421
:It's very hard when you have
tons of people coming in and out.
422
:One thing I like to, advocate for is,
at least marketing them appropriately.
423
:So if you have had them at the shelter
and you've had good interactions,
424
:take videos of that, take videos
of them having a good time.
425
:Making, make them look as good as possible
so if people do ask about them, you
426
:have video proof and evidence to show
them that these are wonderful cats.
427
:They're just really scared
here at this adoption center.
428
:Same thing with the cats at the shelter,
they do just need that reassurance.
429
:And so trying to get them, work with
them a little bit one-on-one can help.
430
:But usually, at those adoption events
it's very hard to get them out of their
431
:shell in such a short period of time.
432
:Dixie: Would you recommend putting
a box in there for them to hide?
433
:'Cause I know a lot of places- Oh, yes
434
:will do that.
435
:Berlin: Definitely.
436
:I feel any cat at adoption center
or shelter or vet clinic, wherever,
437
:any cat that is being kenneled for
any reason, I believe should always
438
:have a hiding box whether that's a
cardboard box or a carrier or something.
439
:That definitely helps them cope.
440
:It doesn't look the best to
potential adopters, but that does
441
:help them relieve their stress.
442
:Dixie: Yeah, I tend to
do the boxes as well.
443
:And I, I always advocate for finding
the right home for them, and I'm
444
:very- ... upfront with people.
445
:If I think it's not gonna work out,
if they're used to a quiet environment
446
:and they're gonna be going into- ... a
noisy environment I'll always be vocal
447
:about that and say, I don't think
that-" this one might not work for you."
448
:Yeah.
449
:Berlin: Yeah.
450
:Yeah, it depends.
451
:If you have the information of what kind
of home they came from can definitely
452
:help, put them in similar housing.
453
:But I do try to, give them the benefit
of the doubt 'cause a lot of times,
454
:no matter how scared they are at the
shelter, I've seen so many cats that
455
:were just absolutely aggressive or
absolutely scared out of their mind.
456
:Once they're back into, a home that
the person is, just knows that they
457
:need a little TLC, they, blossom into
cats that I didn't think possible.
458
:I always try to give them the benefit
of the doubt, but I do try and, advocate
459
:for the ones that, try and, find
a, the best home for them for sure.
460
:Dixie: Before we end the call,
what advice would you have for
461
:people who are out there just
trying to rehome their adult cats?
462
:That don't know that these adult
cats can shut down like this and
463
:act like a- totally different cat.
464
:'Cause my experience- Yeah ... is when
people are trying to give away their cats
465
:or rehome their cats, say on social media
or wherever- ... they're always like, "Oh,
466
:this is a very, very sweet, friendly cat.
467
:He's 10 years old."
468
:And I find- ... you'll try to
always offer people advice and be
469
:like, "Look, it's gonna be a slow
transition for a 10-year-old cat."
470
:What advice- Yeah ... would you
have for people that are out there
471
:rehoming their cats thinking that
their cats are like a dog and
472
:they're just gonna fit in anywhere?
473
:Berlin: And that's the hardest thing
and, 'cause it's not that, even if,
474
:they know the person who's trying to
rehome them, even if they know that
475
:their cat might take a little extra
time, might become aggressive, it's
476
:also up to the person taking in that cat
to realize This might take some time.
477
:This cat might shut down for a little bit.
478
:So it's honestly a cultural thing.
479
:There's always been this negative
perception of cats in general
480
:that I've noticed in, just our
culture, and so it is hard.
481
:And, as much as you don't want people
to rehome their cats, sometimes life
482
:happens and it does need to happen, or
owners pass away and it's unavoidable.
483
:So just, letting people know that
cats exhibit fear often aggressively,
484
:and they take a lot longer than dogs
to, acclimate to new environments.
485
:And so just the general basics of cat
behavior is something I think everyone
486
:needs to be aware of, whether you're
adopting a new cat or rehoming your
487
:cat that you've had for a long time.
488
:Just that's what my website is all
about too, is just broadening public
489
:knowledge of cat behavior as a whole.
490
:Dixie: Yeah, I think that's great advice
too, because one of the things that I
491
:see is when people are rehoming them, the
people that are going to take them might
492
:not have any experience with cats at all.
493
:And, and it's upsetting to know that
they might not know what they're
494
:getting into, and when you try to offer
people advice on it, I find that people
495
:aren't always receptive about it.
496
:Berlin: Yep, and that's very
true, and it's very frustrating,
497
:but, you do what you can.
498
:And so if they're not gonna take my,
advice, upfront, I at least like to
499
:try and offer, brochures or websites
or things they can look up in their own
500
:time, if they do get home and realize,
"Oh, shoot, this cat isn't acting how I
501
:wanted it to," "Let me see what else I
can, find on the online or something."
502
:And what is your website?
503
:Thespicycatproject.com.
504
:Dixie: I'm so glad that you came up
with that because it is something that
505
:I will definitely refer people to.
506
:Berlin: Thank you.
507
:I appreciate that.
508
:Yeah.
509
:Yeah.
510
:As, even, people you think say they
know about cats, often find themselves
511
:in situations where they didn't,
realize cats did take that, longer
512
:than normal or, oh, they're aggressive
because they're scared, it's just
513
:simple things like that, just getting
the word out about, all the subtleties
514
:of cat behaviors and just the basics.
515
:And so that's what my whole project
is aimed for, towards not just
516
:shelters, but also the general public.
517
:. Dixie: I try to be an advocate whenever
I see something and I can comment on it.
518
:I always try to advocate for the cats
and to let people know 'cause I think
519
:it's important for people to know.
520
:But being able to direct them to your
website is wonderful And not only
521
:that, like even when I'm adopting out
a cat and I go through all the basics
522
:with everybody, do this- do this, yep.
523
:I'm always, "Small room.
524
:You've gotta start out in a small room.
525
:Never start out in a large room."
526
:And people listen, but sometimes
they don't listen, so I think- Yeah.
527
:... telling them, "Okay, go
to this website and look.
528
:She's got some great advice on there,"
I do really think that will help.
529
:Berlin: I hope so.
530
:Yeah, I've found that being as a vet
tech for many years before, even when
531
:you tell people, about their pets at
their vet appointment, things go in
532
:one ear and out the other 'cause it's
just so much information at once.
533
:So giving them a physical copy or a
website to go to definitely, I think,
534
:helps, helps them retain some of that
information, or at least they can look
535
:back on it so they can see and when they
have a more clear space to look up things.
536
:Dixie: Thank you for being an advocate
for the cats, and thank you for
537
:coming on the show to tell everybody
about this, and I'm gonna include
538
:your website in the show links, too.
539
:Berlin: Oh, that's awesome.
540
:I really appreciate that, and
thanks for all the work you do.
541
:Dixie: That's it for today's
episode of Animal Posse.
542
:If you love what we're doing,
please consider becoming a member.
543
:Your support directly helps us continue
highlighting the people and stories
544
:that save lives across the country.
545
:Just a quick reminder, the views
and opinions expressed by our
546
:guests are theirs alone and are
provided for entertainment purposes.
547
:They don't necessarily.
548
:reflect the official position of the show,
and this information should never replace
549
:the advice of your own veterinarian.
550
:Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.
