Six kittens have taken up residence in the Margaret L. Wendt Animal Behavior Laboratory in Science Hall. In cooperation with the SPCA of Erie Country, Miranda K. Workman’s ABEC 220: Animal Learning class welcomed the kittens for enrichment and training. The sessions include teaching the kittens to walk into a carrier on their own and complete a small agility course, which makes them attractive adoption candidates and encourages positive relationships with humans that will help the kittens transition to their new families. Stress and anxiety attached to the act of catching and putting cats in the carrier is a major reason why cats are seen less often at the veterinarian. For our kittens there will be no stress or anxiety as they will choose to enter the carrier by themselves! The kittens will be on campus until Friday, May 6.
This is the second year that the college is partnering with the SPCA. Last year’s kittens were all adopted. We are happy to report that this year’s kittens have already found homes and will be adopted after the program!
Workman, adjunct professor of animal behavior, invites the faculty, staff and students to view the training and enrichment sessions during the following times:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – 8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Every day (Sun – Sat) – 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Watch a video of the kittens during training and enrichment here.
Workman and Malini Suchak, PhD, would love your feedback about the #KittensOnCampus project. Please go to this link for more information: http://canisius.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bruILdvI6OFpiNT
For more information about Kittens on Campus please contact Workman at workmanm@canisius.edu.
