Play-and-retreat observation note

Not a diagnosis, product test or preference score. Keep the established refuge available. Observe voluntary activity without trapping, chasing or withholding access to essentials. No winner is calculated.

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Item and condition

For example: dry box, openings clear. Note damage.

Location and access

Who can approach or block the way out?

Was anything added?

No prompt / toy or human play / food / scent / several / not sure

What did you see?

Not observed / explored / played / rested / entered after a disturbance / avoided or left / mixed or unclear

Context, not a diagnosis

Time, people, other cats, sounds. Describe what happened.

Next step without forcing a choice

Keep the refuge; inspect the item; ask for advice if behaviour changed.

Not observed does not mean rejected. A prompted entry is not proof of a resting preference. Increased hiding or concerns about eating, drinking or toileting need veterinary advice, not a shopping comparison.

Source and method

Original editorial observation aid by André Ribeiro, Félinscope. Fictional examples in the accompanying article are not study findings. Free to use without an account, purchase or required backlink.