A pipe cleaner wielded by TLC volunteer Sherri Mahlik gets Theodore on his toes at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Photograph by DeSilva Studios LLC
When it comes to cats who find their way to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), a room known as Healthy Hold may be the most important stop. That’s the place where all cats brought to the shelter — whether they are found as strays, surrendered by owners or transferred in from other areas — are first housed, and where they meet a dedicated cadre of staff and volunteers who provide care, affection and understanding for as long as those cats need.
Healthy Hold’s dozens of cat enclosures are the first place each cat has the chance to relax after an initial exam checking for illnesses, injuries or parasites, as well as delivering preventive vaccines. Some cats in the room await spaying or neutering, while others need some time to adapt to their new environment, and still others are recovering from medical conditions after treatment by the veterinarian. Mother cats with litters of kittens usually stop off at Healthy Hold before moving on to a foster home for more intensive care.
“It can be a very scary time for the cats when they arrive at the shelter, with all of the new sounds and smells,” says AWLA Animal Care Manager Shayla Donnelly. “Many need the voice or touch of a person to start to come out of their shell.”
That’s where the AWLA’s Animal Care Associates come in. Besides keeping track of the cats' eating habits and proper use of the litterbox, they relay any health issues observed to the shelter’s medical team. They also keep an eye on the cats' behaviors, noting if they are friendly, shut down or even aggressive, to determine whether they might benefit from some socialization in a staffer’s office or perhaps some time in a foster home before going to the adoption floor. The Animal Care Associates also make sure each cat receives a daily enrichment, which can range from treat puzzles to paper bags filled with catnip and toys that challenge them.
Supporting the staff in Healthy Hold is a group known as the TLC Volunteers. Chosen to undergo training for the position after volunteering with cats at the shelter for at least a year, these volunteers have demonstrated that they are patient, resilient cat whisperers, says Echo Keif, AWLA Manager of Volunteers and Community Events. After receiving guidance from a mentor as well as hands-on experience, this team helps to provide enrichment and socialization so these cats can feel safe and gain confidence. The volunteers play music for the cats, talk to them, offer them treats, pet and brush them. “And they also help make sure everyone gets a little spoonful of tuna and those tempting enrichment items,” Keif said.
Working in Healthy Hold is full of challenges — and can require mastering some feline psychology. TLC volunteer Cindy Broome says she doesn’t try to touch a cat who appears upset or confused but instead just stands nearby and talks to the animal, letting the cat get used to her presence. Once the cat seems calmer, she opens the enclosure door.
“I try to put myself in their place, and an outstretched hand from above looks scary,” said Broome, a federal employee who spends most weekend afternoons at the shelter. “So I crouch down a bit and extend my closed hand from lower down. At that point the cat might duck his head for a pet. I let him call the shots.” Some of the cats in Healthy Hold, however, are anything but frightened of people, hungry for interaction and meowing loudly when a volunteer enters the room.
Besides socializing with the cats, volunteers will check food and water bowls and look for any problems with using the litter box, noting everything in a binder that contains a page for each cat. “We’re the extra eyes and ears for the staff,” Broome said.
The work of the Animal Care Associates and TLC volunteers all becomes worth it when they see a shy, fearful cat develop confidence and prepare to meet her future family. TLC volunteer Carol Ramkey’s notes from February show how the team’s work with “FeeFee” helped her quickly transition from Healthy Hold to adoptability:
2/7 - FeeFee is an “owner surrender” who just arrived and was very frightened. She was hiding and hissing, so I just talked to her and blinked a bit then left her alone to settle.
2/11 - FeeFee is still very frightened but did let me give her some treats. She wouldn’t let me touch her, and I didn’t want to push it since she is so fearful.
2/13 - FeeFee moved into Cat Visit 1 (adoption room) yesterday, and our little shy girl has turned into a social butterfly. She’s hanging out in the window, accepting pets and brushing, playing with her wand toys and having a good time.
To keep our community safe, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is currently open by appointment only for adoptions, surrenders, found animals and other business. Email us at info@alexandriaanimals.org to set up an appointment or with any other questions. Our staff and volunteers continue to work hard to make sure our animals receive the best care, despite loss of revenue from adoptions and events. Please consider donating at AlexandriaAnimals.org/Donate to help ensure that we can continue to go above and beyond for Alexandria's Animals, now and in the coming weeks and months.