ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

The Ear Tip Station prepares cats for spay/neuter and release by checking vitals, lubricating eyes, verifying gender, administering antibiotics, and tipping ears. The purpose of tipping the left ear is to identify the animal as having been sterilized.  If the ear already is tipped, bring the cat to the Vaccinations Station for booster vaccines and notify the Recorder.

Technician Instructions

The Ear Tipping Technician monitors the cats for respiration, pulse and color; lubricates eyes; verifies the gender of each cat, administers antibiotics and tips the left ear of each cat. Non-pregnant females are forwarded to the Express Station. Pregnant females are forwarded to Spay Boards and males to Neuter Prep.

1)     DRAW up the penicillin antibiotic upon arriving in the morning.  Adults receive a 1.0 ml dose; kittens receive 0.5 ml. 

2)     MONITOR the cats carefully.  Respiration (>6/minute), heartbeat (>100/minute), and gum color (pink).  If the cat is not breathing well or its gums are blue, pull firmly on the tongue, press a fingernail on the nose leather, and NOTIFY THE CLINIC SUPERVISOR for assessment.

Change your gloves and clean the table after handling any URI or otherwise infectious cats.

3)     APPLY 1/4" lubricant to both eyes.  Do not touch the eye itself with the applicator tip.

4)     Administer Penicillin subcutaneously.

5)     VERIFY the sex of each cat VISUALLY. Do NOT rely on palpation (touch) to determine gender. CHECK FOR A VULVA OR PENIS. You will be shown the difference before starting at your station. Remember, neutered and cryptorchid males will not have or display testicles. With a Supervisor’s approval, tip the ears of neutered males and spayed females and send them to the Vaccinations Station for booster shots.

6)     TIP the left ear.  Place a straight hemostat across the left ear tip with crushing pressure, exposing 3/8” of the tip. Use scissors to cut off the tip with one single cut (do not ‘saw’), leaving the hemostat on the ear.  Use new scissors and hemostats for each cat.  Deposit dirty scissors in warm soapy water.

7)     TRANSPORT females to the express station. Pregnant females are forwarded to Spay Boards and males to Neuter Prep. 

8)     CLEAN up the station and dispose of trash once the last cat is prepped.

9)     REPACK the kit, inventorying supplies (see Supply List in the kit) at the end of the clinic. Return the kit and any extra items to the Supply Coordinator.

Recorder Instructions

1)     Record the Penicillin dosage. Write the dosages with a leading zero (0.5cc, not .5).

2)     Date and initial dosage, ear tip

3)     Record that the cat does not have a microchip. If the cat is positive for a chip, record the chip number in the correct location on the Medical Record Form:

Operation Catnip of Gainesville • Date: _________________ • Cat name:  F8-_______________

(352) 380-0940 • operationcatnip@vetmed.ufl.edu • PO Box 141023 • Gainesville • FL 32614

RABIES CERTIFICATE

Species:           Cat          Weight: under 20 lbs   Sex:      □  Male, altered     □  Female, altered

Age:                 □  3-5 mo old     □  6–12 mo old     □  ≥ 12 mo old     Color:  ­­______________________    

Breed:  □  DLH     □  DMH     □  DSH     □  Siamese/pointed  ____________________________

Producer:  Fort Dodge RabVac 3 Serial #: ________________           Expiration: □ 1 year     □ 3 year    

Other vaccines:  Fort Dodge Fel-O-Guard/FeLV (FeLV, FPV, FHV, FCV)    □ Initial dose    □ Booster    

Veterinarian signature:               __________________________________             

Veterinarian name & license #:    __________________________________

OPERATION CATNIP MEDICAL RECORD

OPERATION CATNIP SURGICAL RECORD

SURGEON: PLEASE CHECK

Scanner Instructions:

Scanning for a Microchip

Always be sure the batteries in the scanner are well-charged.

The most common cause of scanner failure is weak batteries.

1. Scanner Orientation – the scanner should be held parallel to the animal. During scanning, rock the scanner slightly from side-to-side. This will maximize the potential for optimal chip orientation and successful detection.

2. Scanning Distance – the scanner should be held in contact with the animal during the scanning process, either lightly touching the skin or just over the skin less than an inch away from contacting the animal.

3. Scanner Speed – you should not scan any faster than ½ foot per second. GOING SLOW IS KEY to successful scanning!! This is because global scanners must cycle through various modes to read all possible chip frequencies. This is extremely important!

4. Areas to Scan – the standard implant site is midway between the shoulder blades. Scanning should begin directly over this area. If the microchip is not detected here, you should scan down the back and sides, including the neck and shoulders all the way down to the elbows in the front and all the way down the hindquarters in the rear.

5. Scanning Pattern – If a chip is not readily detected, the scanner should be moved in an “S” shaped pattern in a transverse (side-to-side) direction over the scanning area. If no microchip is detected, the scanner head should be rotated 90° and then the scan should be repeated in an “S” shaped pattern in a longitudinal direction on both sides. As the scanner is moved in this “S” shaped pattern over the various contours of the animal’s body, it will maximize the ability of the scanner to detect the microchip, regardless of the orientation of the microchip.

Positive microchip:

Immediately notify the Clinic Coordinator of the chipped cat. The Coordinator will call the microchip company to verify that the cat is unclaimed or abandoned before forwarding the cat on to the next station.

Communicate the chip number to the recorder.