OPERATION CATNIP: Idealism in Action

 

 

Admissions

 

 

Staffing:

2-4

Record takers

 

2

Transporters

 

ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

 

The Admissions Station checks in cats; assigns discharge times and transports cats to the waiting area.

 

Recorder Instructions

 

The Admissions Station Record takers are responsible for processing incoming cats, checking the health of cats and assigning discharge times. Recorders work in pairs.  Recorder 1 works with the caretakers. Recorder 2 works with the cats.

 

Recorder 1

 

1)       DIRECT caretakers to line up at the sign-in table. Caretakers are not allowed inside the clinic.

2)       DISTRIBUTE the Caretaker Release forms with pens and clipboards. Volunteers arriving with cats must also complete these forms and include their full names and addresses.

3)       FIND the caretaker name on the Clinic Reservations list provided by the Reservations Coordinator.

4)       CHECK that all personal traps are labeled with the owner’s name.

5)       ASK the caretaker when the cat(s) ate. Note on the Registration List if the cat possibly ate within 12 hours. Do not accept cats that have food in the trap or that have eaten recently. 

6)       RECORD the color of each cat (noted by Recorder 2) on the Caretaker Registration List.

7)       ASSIGN each caretaker a discharge time and provide a Pick-Up Slip. The first 50 arrivals receive the earliest pick-up time—provided the cats are healthy and the caretakers are not volunteers. Volunteers’ cats and infectious cats are discharged last. Note: ALL the cats arriving with an infectious cat are sterilized after all other cats. To facilitate the discharge process, stagger the return of other caretakers along fifteen-minute windows, for example 2:15, 2:30, 2:45.

8)       FIND the two adhesive paw/trap labels correlating to the Cat Number (F6-xxx) assigned to the cat on the Caretaker Registration List.  Use the labels in numerical order — do not skip numbers.

9)       COLOR-CODE both paw/trap labels to indicate first 50 arrivals (green), the rest of the public cats (black), volunteers’ cats (red) and infectious cats. Note any medical condition or possible complication on the paw tag, such as “CHECK EYE,” “FOOD,” or “URI” (upper respiratory infection).  Give the labels to Recorder 2.

10)   ADVISE caretakers arriving after check-in ends that they must re-register for another clinic.

11)   CATS previously sterilized at OC may receive free booster vaccinations each year.  Such cats must be presented in wire traps, and checked in with the other cats.  They will receive labels numbered F7V-xxx.

 

 

Admissions

 

 

Recorder Instructions, continued

 

Recorder 2

 

1)       CHECK the traps. EACH CAT MUST BE IN AN INDIVIDUAL TRAP. Contact the Clinic Supervisor If cats arrive more than one to a trap. Cats may not be transferred into other traps on University property. 

 

2)       VERIFY each trap is properly closed. 

 

3)       VERIFY kittens are older than 3 months. Do not accept cats less than three months old. Contact the Clinic Supervisor if there is any doubt.

 

4)       CHECK for a tipped left ear. Flag these cats as “Vaccinations Only.”

 

5)       NOTE the health of each cat, noting any injuries, labored breathing or runny eyes (possible URI) on the Caretaker Registration List. Set aside URI cats for isolation and injured cats for vet inspection.

 

6)       NOTE the color of each cat for the Caretaker Registration List. Do not attempt to verify gender—this will be done in the clinic.

 

7)       AFFIX one paw/trap label directly to the trap on top of any label from previous clinics; attach the second paw/trap label with masking tape to the trap — Do not cover the trap number.  Do not peel the backing from the second label.

 

8)       CLEAN up the station and dispose of trash.  Pick up all trash in the area, even if its not from OC.  Move the tables inside the building, ready for Discharge.  Sweep or vacuum the floor.  Pick up any poop; mop the floor if needed.

 

 

 

Admissions

 

 

Transporter Instructions

 

The responsibility of the Admissions Transporters is to transport cats from the Admissions Station to the waiting area.

 

1)       PLACE the traps onto the transport carts after the Admissions Recorders check-in those cats.

 

2)       WHEEL the carts into the hall outside the waiting area once the carts are full.

 

3)       PLACE traps marked as “first arrivals” (green) closest to the Anesthesia Station, followed by the second group (black), then the volunteers’ cats (red).

 

4)       ISOLATE any cats flagged as possible URI (Upper Respiratory Infection). See the Clinic Supervisor to determine which room will be used for quarantine.

 

5)       VACCINE-ONLY cats should be separated from all other groups.