Supplies & Where to Find Them

• Gray cart- back hallway
• Gloves- supply closet
• Deep cleaning bucket- food prep room
• Multiple litter scoops- food prep room
• Clean metal water bowls for Adult Cat Rooms only- food prep room
• Ceramic food bowls for Kitten Room- food prep room
• Clean ceramic water bowls for Kitten Room (must be at least 2" deep)- food prep room
• Litter bucket lined with 2 plastic bags- food prep room
• Litter boxes (small, medium, and large)- food prep room
• Assorted cat toys- food prep room
• Empty laundry basket- laundry room
• Washcloths, hand towels, towels, & blankets- laundry room/hallway
• Accel to fill the deep cleaning bucket (fill deep cleaning bucket with ½ cup of Accel (4oz or up to the 2” line) + water up to the last line on the bucket- cleaning supply closet in the back hallway
• Accel (Rescue) 4oz. spray bottle- cleaning supply closet (between public bathrooms)
• Windex spray bottle- cleaning supply closet (between public bathrooms)
• Mop & mop bucket- cleaning supply closet (between public bathrooms)
• Dustpan & rubber broom- behind grooming room door
• White trash can- cat hallway

Important Points to Remember While Cleaning

• Cats & kittens can be skilled escape artists!  Be mindful of their whereabouts when opening & closing the cat bedroom doors.  Keep the bedroom doors closed at all times.
• Room F must be cleaned first, this is where our most immunocompromised cats typically live.
• Always wash hands or use sanitizer before entering a cat room or interacting with kittens from different condos.
• Always sanitize hands, use clean gloves, scoops, and washcloths for each communal room and when cleaning each cat and kitten condo.  
• When cleaning kittens: Only 1 condo (litter) of kittens can be on the floor at a time.  Sweep up debris on the floor before taking the next condo of kittens out for playtime.
• Kittens can stay in the condos while spot cleaning if they are hesitant to go on the floor.
• Use the top-down method when wiping down surfaces (start at top working your way down).
• Rubber backed rugs are preferred to use under the litter boxes in communal rooms.
• Ensure that dirty items and litter bags are not transferred or reused between rooms and/or condos .
• If you notice a very stressed feline (hissing, growling, lunging, swatting, tail twitching/swishing, flat or "airplane" ears, and dilated pupils) while cleaning a condo or bedroom, please ask a staff member for help. It's important that we keep everyone safe, and that includes our volunteers!
• Always wash hands or use sanitizer before interacting with kittens from different condos.

Cat and Kitten Condo Cleaning Instructions

• Rooms F, G, and E (kitten room) have condos. Hand sanitize and put on a fresh pair of gloves.  
• Our special diet felines reside in room G only- all food trays must be out of room G before letting the cats out of the condos. Check with a staff member if you have any questions.
• Say hi and offer head scritches and floor time to the condo’s residents if they are interested or if they are permitted to come out of their condo (check signage). Grooming room only: cats and kittens are not allowed to leave their condos, unless they are being placed in a carrier for cleaning purposes. 
• Remove bowls and check towels & blankets for debris and set aside. If linens are soiled, place them into the laundry basket.
• Sweep up debris with a dry washcloth into the trashcan or dustpan.
• Spray washcloth with Accel or dip washcloth into the deep cleaning bucket.
• Wipe down inside of the condo, including the condo bars on the entire door & the plastic kennel card holder.
• Scoop the litter box.   
• Check the towel under the litter box in adult cat condos (rooms F & G) & change if soiled. Kitten condos- change the newspaper under the litter box.
• Replace litter box if it is heavily soiled. Make sure there is at least 1 inch of litter in the box.
• Place linens back in the condo and 3 toys in the condo’s main area.
• Adult Cat Condos: Place a clean bowl filled with water in the condo anywhere on the shelf.
• Kitten Condos: On the left side of the shelf place a clean bowl filled with water. Place the food bowls on the right side of the shelf- if empty, turn them upside down.  
• Kitten Room Only: Gather up those silly kittens who have been out for playtime and put them back in their condo. Sweep the floor before getting the next group out 
• After closing the condo door, place the clip through the bottom latch & make sure it is secure.
• Repeat until all condos are cleaned!
• Note: In the kitten room, once you have cleaned all of the condos and the kittens are tucked in, sweep and mop the floor.

Cat Bedroom and Catio Cleaning Instructions

• Remember- Our special diet felines reside in room G- all food trays must be out of this room before letting the cats out of the condos.
• Pick up, shake out, and check all blankets and toys on the floor, shelves, and beds to ensure they are acceptable for continued use. Set aside on the counter. 
• Replace soiled items (put soiled linens in the laundry basket).
• Note: Linens are changed every Saturday, this helps minimize their stress when they have familiar scents in their environment during the week. 
• Pick up all water bowls, dump the water in the sink, and set aside on the counter.
• Take all cat carriers to the grooming room in the back of the house for cleaning.
• Wipe down shelving, counters, kuranda beds and cat heads with a washcloth sprayed with Accel, using the top- down method.
• Wipe down any dirty windows with Windex and a washcloth.
• Scoop all the litter boxes using the bucket and a litter scoop. 
•  If the litter box is heavily soiled, get a large litter box and fill it with 2 inches of litter.
• Add more litter from the litter bin in the cat hallway if the box has less than an inch of litter in it., Note: Unless the litter box is heavily soiled, there is no need to change it.
• Pick up the rug/towel that is under the litter box and shake it out- set aside.  
• Sweep and mop the floors. If there are condos in the room, please make sure those have been cleaned before sweeping, mopping, and resetting the room.
• Place the blankets back on the floor, shelves, and in beds. Ensure floors are dry first.
• Sanitize your hands, put on a clean pair of gloves, and repeat these steps for each room until all assigned cat and kitten bedrooms are cleaned!

Wrapping Up

• In the kitten room, once you have cleaned all of the condos and the kittens are tucked in, sweep and mop the floor.
• Remove all used supplies from the room and place in the appropriate areas:
• Used bowls- food prep room sink
• Used litter boxes & scoops- food prep room under the sink (after being sprayed with Accel)
• Used bedding & toys- bins outside of laundry room
• Grocery bags full of trash- garbage can in food prep room (after being tied)
• After letting an animal care staff person know you are finished, you have one more thing left to do…  

Remove your gloves and spend time with some very grateful felines!

Supplies & Where to Find Them

• Litter bucket lined with 2 plastic bags- food prep room
• Multiple litter scoops- food prep room
• Clean metal water bowls for Adult Cat Rooms only- food prep room
• Ceramic food bowls for Kitten Room- food prep room
• Clean ceramic water bowls for Kitten Room (must be at least 2" deep)- food prep room
• Litter bucket lined with 2 plastic bags- food prep room
• Litter boxes (small, medium, and large)- food prep room
• Assorted cat toys- food prep room
• Empty laundry basket- laundry room
• Washcloths, hand towels, towels, & blankets- laundry room/hallway
• Accel (Rescue) 4oz. spray bottle- cleaning supply closet (between public bathrooms)
• Windex spray bottle- cleaning supply closet (between public bathrooms)
• Dustpan & rubber broom- behind grooming room door
• White trash can- cat hallway

Important Points to Remember

• Visitors may not access the kitten room without a matchmaker or staff.
• Always read the information on the cats whenever applicable- these notes can be found in the profiles and Salesforce.  
• Interact with the cats to get to know their personalities.
• If the kitten or cats have just come back from spay/neuter surgery, there will be a sign posted that they should not be handled that day. Please avoid picking up these kittens unless absolutely necessary to clean them or their condo. Please do not throw these signs away.
• Pay attention to visitors’ interactions with pets. If you witness or hear anything that makes you uncomfortable, discreetly tell an Adoption or Animal Care Specialist that you have information to share.
• The Adoption Team is responsible for completing the adoption process and sending the cats home with potential adopters. They are extensively trained on how to set up everyone involved for success & we ask that you trust their training.

Engaging and Interacting with Visitors

•  Our core values guide everything that we do and how we treat our staff, volunteers, and visitors.  Visitors are potential adopters and they are making the important first step to adopting a homeless pet by coming to the SPCA.  Your interactions as a matchmaker shape their perception of the SPCA.
• Greet everyone that comes through our doors.  
• *Examples: Have you been here before? What can I help you with today?” 
• Ask open-ended to start a dialogue with visitors and get information that will help you ensure that they have a great experience.  
• *Examples: “Are you considering adopting today? Did you have any particular dog in mind? Are you looking for a specific type of personality? Let me know if you have any questions or if you see someone you would like to meet!”  

Talking to Visitors about the Cats

• People sometimes don’t know if they are taking a pet home that day and really want to connect with the right cat.
• It’s okay if you don’t know all the answers to questions! Don’t try to guess, because incorrect or confusing information could change the outcome of a potential adoption. You can either ask an Animal Care Specialist in the cat area or walk the visitor up front to speak with an Adoption Specialist about any questions they may have. You do not need to stay up front with the visitor while they speak with the specialist.
• Be positive and upbeat when sharing the experiences you’ve had with that cat & remind visitors that Adoption Specialists have detailed information about them.
• Don’t use language that may lead the visitor to believe that they will be able to adopt the cat. Show them where  the QR Code for the adoption survey is so they can schedule their appointment to speak with an Adoption Specialist. You may also look up the adoptable cat list on your phone and advise the potential adopter if a cat is already on an adoption hold. There are different reasons why a cat would be placed on temporary hold so please advise them to speak with an Adoption Specialist for more details. We encourage backup adoptions for cats and kittens.

SAFE & PRODUCTIVE INTRODUCTIONS & INTERACTIONS

• Hand sanitizer must be used before entering a cat or kitten's rooms and before interacting with kittens  from different condos.
• Provide toys for visitors to use during their interactions. 

Cat Room Guidelines: 

• Only 5 visitors may access each room at one time. 
• Encourage visitors seated on the floor or in a chair to see who approaches them. Cats choose us & they will approach the visitors that they are interested in.
• If a cat is sleeping or hiding, do not remove them from their spot. Cats can swat or attempt to bite if they feel threatened. It is generally not a good idea to pick up cats while visiting.
• Provide toys for visitors to use during their interactions. 

Kitten Room Guidelines: 

• Only 5 visitors may enter the kitten room at a time.
• Only (1) one condo/litter of kittens can be out at a time. 
• The kitten room door must remain locked.
• Only volunteers or staff can pick up the kittens from their condos. 
• Have visitors sit in the chair or on the floor and place the kitten in their lap.  
• A matchmaker or staff member must be in the room during visits in order to ensure the kittens are being handled gently.
• If people are waiting to visit the kittens, limit visits to 20 minutes. Remind them to submit an adoption survey if they are interested in adopting- kittens go home fast!
• Keep in mind that play mode will be activated for the kittens being let out of their condos and they may not want to stay in someone’s lap. It is best to provide toys for kittens to play and engage with visitors.
• To pick up and handle a kitten, place one hand under the kitten’s chest and the other hand under his/her bottom. Never pick up kittens by their armpits as this may cause their recent spay or neuter sites to become open.

Cleaning Instructions

• Scoop the litter box in each room and condo. Please use a clean scoop for each kitten condo and cat room.  If the litter box is heavily soiled, get a clean small or medium litter box and add 1 & ½ to 2 scoops of non-clumping litter from the litter container located in the room.
• Refill water bowls 3/4th of the way to the top with fresh water.
• If the condo needs to be reset or it is very dirty, please refer to the AM Kitten Butler Checklist for instructions! 

Wrapping Up

Make sure that you let the next matchmaker know what is going on with current visitors and/or cats, and let staff know that you are leaving.  Please put away dirty linens, dishes, toys, etc. in the laundry room and food prep room before leaving. Put away any cleaning supplies that you used to clean any cat messes.  

We are fortunate to have volunteers who are dedicated to connecting people with their new family members. Your work is much appreciated!