Got weird feelings after volunteering

Hi everyone, 

So a quick run down:

I thought I was allergic to cat I had, and relinquished her because my boss said my job performance was suffering, and things needed to change. 

So I miss her a lot, and I miss having a cat, so I am trying out volunteering to help other cats, and to see if I really am allergic, or maybe my job situation was the cause of my depression. 

So, this weekend I had my first chance to help a rescue group / no kill shelter, and it left me feeling weird:

The reasons:

* There are cat community rooms, 5 rooms, on the top floor, and 2 in the basement. The 2 in the basement only the core volunteers can do anything in, no other reasons given.

* The two core volunteers did not even say anything to me until I cornered them and said hello, and then forced them to acknowledge me

* There are 20 cats per community room, and when I went in to clean and feed, they immediately begin climbing me, meowing like crazy, and purring. 

* I had to basically do a lot of the cleaning and feeding with cats permanently stuck on me (which did hurt, but I am not worrying about that). 

* The basement had unmarked rooms with other cats in isolated cages, no one would say why, and no explanation on the door, like I would expect like "quarantine area, or treatment area". 

So, now I feel weird,

* because the core volunteers seem pretty cold and not wanting any help, 

* I feel so sorry for the cats in the community rooms because I felt like they are so attention starved. 

So I guess my questions are:

1. is the community rooms --legal--? I guess, or even normal?

2. I just cleaned 5 rooms each with 20 cats, scratching me (not in bad ways), climbing me, love biting me, and generally all over me, and I am not having a reaction other then my eyes were irratated by just the amount of hair in the room. Does that mean I am not allergic? 

3. Is it just me, or was it plain weird?

Thanks everyone.

Well, the community rooms are not uncommon.  The number MIGHT be high, depending on the size of the room, and the temperaments of the cats in them.  That's a non-answer, but it is the best I can do.

The attitudes of your co-workers is odd, but...if they've seen volunteers come and go a LOT, that MIGHT explain it...it might not.  It also MIGHT be a bit of burn-out.  That can happen  Keep a watch on it.

The unmarked doors concern me.  But not alarm me.  If only the cores work those areas, they may not see a need to label them.

Yes, if your only reaction was to the amount of hair in the room, I'd say your are safe, so far as the allergies go.

Here's what I'd consider doing, were I, you.  I'd go back a few more times, see if the core volunteers warm up a bit.  After a couple of sessions, ask about the unmarked doors, you might, if you are crafty, even volunteer to make nice signs for the areas.   THEN, depending on their response, you will have a better idea of what is going on, and how you should proceed.  It's obvious that the community cats need attention.  I'd hate to deprive them of a loving volunteer without giving the place a fair shake. 

That said, keep those concerns in the back of your mind.  Are you prepared to actually report this center, if you find out things are going sadly awry?  You'd need to stay long enough to gather enough facts to proceed.

The shelter I used to work at has 3 community rooms plus an exam room and isolation (for sick cats) room so I have no problem with it. The unmarked doors is kind of alarming because you need to know where you're going if you have other cats at home. Them being so clingy is sad but it happened at the shelter I worked at too. That isn't the shelter's fault they are needy... it certainly wasn't ours and we tried to pay attention to them as much as possible. I honestly prefer community rooms rather than them being stuck in cages.

If you have a bad feeling about this place.. you can try somewhere different.

The shelter where I volunteer has 5 community rooms, 3 other smaller rooms,  and a meet and greet room that sometimes houses cats / kittens. They also have a couple dog rooms for when they have dogs in there (not often). In the front are condos and some cages for cats who don't get along with their fellow cats. Also two office cats.  In the back are three bays. The first is healthy hold where they are waiting for a space in one of the rooms, the second is where the new ones to the program go and the sneezy ones, and the third is Isolation for the sick ones, especially if they are contagious. If there are sick kitties in there, only staff can go in, but it's a clearly marked door and not usually closed, unless they're trying to contain something like ringworm.  There are no hidden areas, and the shift leaders for the most part have been very friendly. The paid staff (3 people) are also super nice and very friendly. The cats are usually happy to see you come in - but mostly because they know once the cart comes out they're going to get fed. They aren't being starved, but they aren't free fed either, so they know it's time to eat. I've also done shifts where I bend over to scoop the litter and end up with a cat on my back, or climbing up me, or some such thing. I'm not sure it means they are starved for attention, or just enjoying having someone in there with them. I know they do get attention throughout the day and are otherwise taken very good care of.

Did they give you orientation when you volunteered? I had to go to an orientation session and they took us all around and showed us everything there was to see, and then one of the main volunteers would go around with you on your first shift and show you how to do everything.  Do your core volunteers seem kind and caring with the cats?

It definitely does concern me to hear your place has rooms in the basement that are closed off and no one but staff is allowed to go in. I think I would make a point of asking someone point blank what is in the rooms. Are the core volunteers always the same?  Do they work in shifts? My shelter has morning and afternoon shifts and it's different shift leaders / different volunteers.  Maybe if you have the opportunity to do a different shift there may be different core volunteers and more friendly and open?  Might be worth a try.

Cats in shelters that aren't fostered at someone's home are almost always attention starved. You could spend hours with they still wouldn't have had enough, which of course is why it's better for them if they get adopted! But that behavior doesn't mean they're being unduly neglected.

On allergies: technically, you could be somewhat allergic to cats, but you may not always have noticeable symptoms. I grew up with dogs, and only when I got tested by an allergist did I find out that I was allergic to them! I have always known that I'm allergic to cats, but there were a couple cats I could be around that didn't give me any problems at all. Only after I started volunteering with a shelter did I learn how to really manage my allergies, and after I got a cat, I noticed that the longer I lived with her, the better my symptoms got, to the point where I don't need to take any medication most days. So just because you may have an allergy does not immediately mean that you can't have a cat.

I've had a majority of possible allergy symptoms, so if you've noticed any of these, you might be allergic: When I'm having very mild symptoms, I'll maybe sneeze a few times and my nose and eyes will itch a bit. If I'm scratched or bitten, that area gets itchier and redder than a non-cat scratch. When my symptoms are at their worst, my eyes can get red, itchy, watery, and my eyelids will swell almost shut, and if I got a cat hair in my eye, then my cornea will swell as well and it looks really weird. I'll also get a very itchy nose and not be able to go more than a few seconds without sneezing and blowing my nose constantly. My throat can also get scratchy. I also have asthma, so allergies can be a trigger for coughing and wheezing. Some people get headaches from the fluid production that allergies create, and fatigue, hives, and stomach aches are other symptoms that I haven't experienced. If you feel one of those and you're not sure whether it's allergy related, you can take an antihistamine like Zyrtec, Claritin, or Flonaze, and see if things get better within an hour or so. Zyrtec almost always works for me!

I would say volunteer a few more times to see how things go. If the attitude of the volunteers continues like that, it can really wear you down mentally over time so pay attention to yourself and if you feel like it's starting to take a toll, don't feel bad about leaving and volunteering somewhere else.

Hi everyone, I want to thank everyone so much for their replies. 

So I tried volunteering at the local County Ran Animal Shelter as well. The difference between the two organizations was amazing.

Unfortunately the County Shelter does euthaniasia as a last resort. It is not great, but, the county shelter experience was a lot different, and a lot better:

The County Shelter:

* Lots of Volunteers doing things

* All Volunteers were extremely nice and friendly, and there were two senior volunteers who helped us immediately become comfortable and showed us around.

* We were encouraged to spend time with each animal, play, interact, and get a sense of their personality

* The President/Director of the volunteer organization encouraged us with any idea we had and incorporated them with what other volunteers were doing. 

* The Cats and Dogs at the County Shelter were happy for attention, however they were not acting like they were starved, I could see their personalities as I visited them. 

* One of the county shelter staff became a little stand offish with me when she learned I relinquished my cats earlier ( I know what I did sucked, but I am trying to make up for it ). 

* The other Volunteers were fun to work with, and I felt like I was enriching the lives of the animals, and not just giving them the basics for life. 

* My eyes became irritated in the county shelter (not at the no kill shelter) and I have a suspicion its because they use heavy chemicals to sanitize the pens, runs, and cages. 

So the County Shelter was a much more enjoyable experience, other then upsetting one of the people when she found out I had given up my cats originally. 

I think I am going to volunteer at the County Shelter from now on. I am conflicted because I can tell the no-kill shelter needs help really badly but the atmosphere there is so.... down/bad. 

So, I am going to keep volunteering, to do something good, and to try forgive myself for letting go of the cats. 

I did get attached to a cat named Marnie, that she is just so cool she is 4 years old and just seems to be hip, but I am in no way ready to try to take care of a cat again...

Thanks for listening, 

Volunteering is a wonderful thing to do, they are lucky to have you! I am glad the other place is a better experience for you.

I am so glad that you found a place to volunteer.  I would suggest, IF you are comfortable with it, a letter to the director of the first shelter, explaining why you have chosen to volunteer at a different facility,  Don't go on the attack, but simply tell her (him?) what you found uncomfortable about the experience, and tell then that you would have loved to continue there, and may in the future, if those issues are addressed, that you so want them to be successful, and  to have the volunteers that they need for the cats' well-being.  Something along those lines.  But only if you feel able.  I just deeply feel that if someone isn't made aware of situations, they can never be rectified, and the cats will suffer for it.

Thanks for the replies. I will send a note to the director of the first shelter, It will just take some time to word it in good light. 

Thanks again everyone for the good words, its a big help.

Thanks!

Is the director available to speak with face to face, or on the phone?  I ask because it might be more productive than a letter, at least you could see his reaction.  Maybe he doesn't even know why he can't get volunteers.

I don't think I could volunteer at a kill shelter. It breaks my heart when one of ours dies for any reason.  I also wouldn't like to be around somewhere that uses a lot of chemicals, that would really stir up my allergies. And I can't think it would be good for the animals. But that's just me, and it's great that you are committed to volunteering!  You will find it very rewarding. I had thought about it for years but figured I didn't have time or energy for it. It was only my positive experience at the shelter I got the kitties from and I knew I would miss it that pushed me into volunteering.