First Post: Basics

Hello! So this is my first post for my SAE project. It's a little late because i've been very busy, but i hope you like it!

For my SAE project, i am working at the SPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is an animal shelter that takes in rescued or unwanted cats, dogs, or other small animals. People can adopt them or donate money or supplies to the SPCA to help them. You can also work there at age 14.

For the first five hours of my project, I volunteered to work with the cats. I socialized them, which means I pet and played with them. Socializing cats boosts their confidence around people and makes them happier and less aggressive, while giving them a fun time.

The cats are kept in two places: cubbies and gazeboes. The cubbies are small and comfortable homes for cats and kittens. The regular cubbies usually hold one or two cats, while the conjoined cubbies usually hold three to four. The gazeboes are large areas with a large fake tree in the middle of each one and other things for the cats to climb. They can hold many cats, many between 10 and 15.

There is a seperate section for cats that have the virus FIV. FIV is the feline immunodeficiency virus, which is like the cat form of HIV. Unlike HIV, however, FIV can be spread to other cats by deep bite wounds, and occasionally is passed down to kittens from an infected mother. Humans can not get FIV. Even though some cats have FIV, they can live long happy lives if given proper homes.