1. Cover open cat carriers with a cloth when moving the cat, so that they can’t see out.
2. Place carriers containing strange cats as far apart as possible. Being close to a strange cat frightens them.
3. Do not place cats near dogs in their carriers. Strange dogs terrify them.
4. Place the carriers high up on a table or desk, rather than the floor. Cats feel safer higher up.
5. If the cat has to be moved in the next 24 hours, use the carrier (covered) as a cat bed inside the cat chalet.
6. Provide cardboard boxes as cat beds, preferably covered over at the top so the cat can hide in them. Give these boxes to the new owners so that in the first few days the cat has its familiar box. Ask for a bit of bedding/cloth in advance so that this too can go to the cat’s new home.
7. Put black plastic on the sneeze barrier between pens so cats in neighbour pens can’t see each other. Research has shown that nearness to a strange cat makes them stressed. Relaxed cats will then come forward to the front of the run seeming more attractive to the passers by.
8. Put the most fearful cats away from the door in the quietest part of the room.
9. Learn to read the body language of cats. Aggressive cats are usually terrified cats. Immobile cats are also terrified cats. If your rescue can afford it install a Feliway Diffuser plug-in for the cat area.
10. Always remember that cats are not dogs. General rescue shelters should encourage their volunteers to learn about cats as well as dogs, or to specialise in cats.
-- With thanks to Laura Borromeo, resident rescue behaviourist in Milan.