How to Avoid Cat Scratches & Improve Animal Handling Safety

The ArmOR Hand Animal Handling Gloves are cat handling gloves (and also are used with a variety of other species) and will improve the animal handling experience. These cat scratch gloves are also bite resistant as well. Here are a few things that cat handlers can do to increase workplace safety:

1. Wear proper personal protective equipment. This is key when working with animals. We must change the negative connotation that protecting ourselves is “bad.” It is not bad – it is necessary. Every day, animal caregivers are being injured on the job. This results in expensive and painful injuries. When we are working with a patient who is showing signs of anxiety or are fearful, it is important to place our health and safety as a priority (along with the comfort and safety of our patient). The ArmOR Hand Animal Handling Gloves are made for animal caregivers. Please do not use bulky, welding gloves when handling your feline patients. Pet owners do notice what you are using! Download ArmOR Hand waiting room/exam room flyers to educate your clients that when you use ArmOR Hand you are using a compassionate handling glove made specifically for pets.
2. Use a clean pair of gloves. Our feline patients are extra sensitive to smells! One of the many unique benefits of ArmOR Hand is that the gloves are machine washable. This unique property of ArmOR Hand is vital when working with animals in order to decrease the risk of infectious disease transmission to you, your staff, and your patients. Infectious disease transmission is real. By using ArmOR Hand Gloves, you are taking a small step to support the One Health Initiative.
3. Use a pheromone spray product directly on a clean pair of gloves to help decrease patient stress and anxiety. Pheromone plug-ins in the exam room help as well. Some patients respond very well to pheromone-based products. It is definitely worth a try to use a product along with ArmOR Hand Gloves.
4. Make sure that your feline patient has hiding spaces in the exam room. Under benches, boxes, anything that allows them a safe space will help to decrease their anxiety. Providing hiding places can absolutely make a big difference in decreasing feline stress and anxiety. Avoid loud noises as well and any equipment that turns on automatically that may startle the patient.
5. Approach with the “less is more” technique. Never use excessive force. The ArmOR Hand Animal Handling Gloves are made for low-stress and compassionate handling techniques. The tagline of ArmOR Hand is “More Feels. Less Force.” A unique property to ArmOR Hand is the superior flexibility and dexterity the gloves provide. By using ArmOR Hand you can achieve the safest and most compassionate animal handling techniques.

You can download our Exam & Waiting Room Posters here and check out our article on The One Health Mission and helping to control the spread of infectious disease.