Using Data Cards

Feline-ality data cards are an important accompaniment to the Feline-ality Assessment.

Assigning Data Cards

When intake staff process a new cat, processing should include assigning the cat a data card and completing the left portion card. The animal care technicians responsible for cleaning and feeding the cats are likely to be the evaluators who record observations on the data cards. However, the data cards should be easily accessible to whoever will be filling out the cards.

Recording Observations on the Data Cards

Evaluators briefly observe the cats at three point:

1. The morning after the day of arrival (day one)
2. Late afternoon of day one
3. The morning of day two

For example, if Fuzzy enters the facility on October 5th (regardless of time), data collection begins the morning of October 6, continues the late afternoon of the 6th, and then finishes the morning of the 7th. Evaluators observe four items during data collection:

1. Body posture
2. Condition of cage
3. Social response
4. Food consumption (recorded only on the morning of day one)

The observations marked on the data card are converted to points toward the cat's Feline-ality Assessment score.

Feline-ality in Action

Watch this 3-minute video to learn how to fill out and use a Feline-ality data card.