GEN:Live School Cat Pt.3

[Bill & Linda Welch <welch@CYBERPORT.COM>]

Give me time group, and I'll remember to add the proper subject =
designators.

Thanks for all the messages.  You are making avid readers out of the =
principal, student council coordinator, social services person, and the =
custodian and ? ( I already read everything including signs I've read a =
dozen times)!  But onward to the fun stuff!

As yet, we have no written policy, but I see that one is needed from =
many of the questions that have been brought up.

Our sweet kitty, a problem?
Cat scratching/biting=20
People are asked not to pick up the cat because he can scratch or bite =
(although, this is one laidback happy kitty).  When the students are =
warned, many of the responses are, "I know, I have a cat. It's okay."=20

Rio, has bitten one teacher (a cat lover, to boot).  I asked her to =
write down what happened. She didn't or wouldn't. Thus, a form will be =
created.  Nurse checked the bite and gave care instructions. Also, I'll =
have anyone who witnesses the incident fill out a form. For cat bites =
and serious scratches, the child will be sent to the nurse and a parent =
called when this happens.

I still think it is important to communicate and emphasize the positive =
aspects of having a cat but recognize and be ready for the potential =
problems.  Pat Gonser with Animal Assisted Therapy is sending me some =
good reasons for having a cat in a school setting.  I will either buy =
her brochures or make my own to pass out to students, parents and other =
visitors to the school.

Hints, tips, and advice on keeping a school cat
1. Train the cat (I know, those words don't go together very well) to =
stay away from one area of the library and place catnip, favorite toy, a =
piece of clothing or blanket in the area you want him to sit or sleep =
in.

2. Don't allow the cat to go outside.  Although it is not difficult to =
get Rio inside (I bribe with a couple of teaspoons of tuna fish), I have =
been advised that his claws get bacteria that can easily infect someone =
if scratched and there are too many things not in our control and =
dangerous to a cat (like antifreeze, moving cars). Can you EVEN imagine =
what this school would be like if this cat got hurt or worse?

3. Since I take care of the cat, I designate who will take care of him =
should I go out of town or am sick.  Have a backup person to call and I =
notify the custodian to check on the cat (she's a cat lover, too) while =
I'm away.  It can't hurt to have more than one person watching out for =
the little (ha! 10.6 lbs.) guy.

Beware the cat approacheth stories
Our loving kitty makes his presence known wherever he goes.  He doesn't =
usually create a major distraction but he is a minor one, nonetheless.  =
Rio has jumped on a student's desk and sent papers flying everywhere =
while he sits there cleaning that orange coat of his, as if nothing =
happened.=20

Walking across a teacher's computer keyboard and erasing what she was =
working on, was not one of his stellar moments, either.  And he just =
loves to chew on cardboard boxes and potty in the plants around the =
building.  Also, he can open some windows and doors but thankfully, he =
hasn't yet figured out how to get in the aquariums or the boa's glassed =
cage.

I guess a Pt. 4 is in order because you haven't heard how he has helped =
us (teachers included) and I'll continue with tips and reasons for =
having a school cat in the next edition.     Meow for now!

Linda Hays Welch        Rio Vista Middle School     welch@cyberport.com
M.S.L.S., M.A. Ed.      Bloomfield, NM  =09
Librarian               Grades 6 and 7          Librarian make it happen!

33% Navajo Indian, 33% Hispanic, 32% Anglo, 2% "Other"   530 students