Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response Field Operations

 

Intake Protocol

 

CATS

 

Detailed explanations

**Please read this before beginning to use Quick Checklist**

 

  1. Cat is brought up from intake area or medical area by a volunteer. 
  2. Check basic information on cat and make sure any existing intake form is correct, including any information on where animal was found and circumstances (i.e., other animals found with it, found in house or outside, etc.).  Check to see if any paperwork shows vaccines already given, microchip already found or microchip already inserted.
  3. Start new intake form if none exists.
  4. Perform basic physical examination on cat – wear a new pair of gloves or sanitize hands with each animal handled.  Check sex – male or female, neutered or intact if able to see; look for wounds and/or discharge from eyes or nose; check teeth to try to determine age if experienced with this; check color of gums – if pale, may need medical attention; check ears; check for limping or any other medical concern. USE CAUTION when handling cats and scruff and/or use muzzle if needed or ask for assistance if not sure.
  5. FeLV/FIV Testing – test must be at room temperature but when not in use the rest of the tests need to be stored in the fridge or they will go bad.  Use 1 cc syringe to minimize vessel collapse and usually back leg, medial saphenous, is easiest to take blood from.  Put 4 drops of blue liquid and 3 drops of blood in plastic tube and invert gently 3-4 times. Drop liquid mixture into round well and watch as fluid moves across the test window.  When it first reaches the round opening at the end of this window firmly snap the test and wait 10 minutes for a result.  Hold test up to the light at the end of the 10 minutes to clearly read if positive or negative.
  6. Check for existing documentation and determine if any vaccinations already given by Best Friends.  If we do not have positive ID of animal including information about shot given, date, etc., go ahead and vaccinate the animal (it will not hurt them to be vaccinated again and may prevent serious illness in the cat and will protect any human who may get bitten by them).
  7. Check female patients for possible pregnancy before vaccination.
  8. Vaccinations are given on an individual basis based on the veterinarian’s health assessment.  Give Panleukopenia/respiratory combination shot (FVRCP, etc.).  Give subcutaneously.  Give this shot in the right rear leg under the skin.  If giving leukemia shot also, give the leukemia containing shot in the left rear leg.  We are using the veterinarian’s recommended fibrosarcoma prevention protocol on cats where the idea is that some vaccines, especially leukemia, are suspected of causing masses in some cats.  Giving the shot in the leg makes it possible to amputate the leg if this if this should ever occur for any of these animals (versus the old way of giving the shot over the shoulder blades which is not able to be removed if a mass occurs).
  9. Rabies vaccination (if at or over 4 months of age).  Give subcutaneously in right front leg.
  10. Apply labels from vaccines onto intake form and write in date.  On yellow page of form write in vaccine info, type of vaccine and with rabies write in the lot# as painted on the vaccine bottle.
  11. Deworm – use Drontal plus.
  12. Deflea – use Capstar pill.  This provides instant flea kill within hours.  This does not have residual action and will not kill new fleas or prevent fleas over time, so a 30-day product is still needed.
  13. 30-Day Flea Control –Revolution, Frontline, or Advantage are best.  DO NOT USE AdvanTIX (AdvanTIX is used for DOGS only – it is toxic to cats).  Apply liquid to skin by parting hair at base of neck.
  14. Record date and any treatments/meds given.
  15. Scan for existing microchip.  Scan over entire body.  Be sure you have scanner turned on and are holding down read button, using correct side of scanner on animal’s body.  Replace battery if reading chips weakly.
  16. If no chip is found, scan the chip in the needle to be sure it is reading correctly and that the number scanned matches both the number on the chip’s sticker and on the corresponding collar tag.  Then microchip animal. 
  17. When microchipping you must insert the needle between the shoulder blades at a 45° angle so that the hub of the needle is inserted far enough to touch the skin – this is a DEEP subcutaneous/intramuscular injection to minimize chip migration in the body and prevent chip from coming out the entry hole.  When needle is fully inserted depress the plunger and then as you withdraw the needle pinch the opening it created in the skin.  Ruffle the haircoat to make sure the chip is not in the hair, check for bleeding at the insertion site and then scan for the chip and match it with its stickers and collar tag.
  18. Record chip information on intake form and prepare chip certificate and paperwork to go with animal’s intake form.  Tape microchip collar tag to yellow copy of intake form.
  19. Write cat’s BFC number on paper collar and attach collar to cat. 
  20. Make a sign approximately 5” x 8” and write cat’s BFC number on it with a thick black marker.
  21. Take photo of cat with sign bearing BFC number and animal’s face clearly visible.  Take 2 with Polaroid and 1 with digital camera.  Try to show animal’s markings so potential owners can identify their animal.  Ideally, get a side shot of the animal with animal’s face turned toward camera.
  22. Original paperwork goes to IT office in Building 2.  If animal is housed in medical area or on meds please make copy of intake form with picture and give to medical people to be kept with animal or in medication bin for animals in the general population.

date last revised: 10/31/05