Shelter Cats Learning To High-Five To Help Adoption Chances

(CBS Local) - An animal behaviorist is giving shelter cats a hand in getting adopted by loving families. In an effort to make them more adoptable, cats are learning how to give their new owners a friendly high-five.

Jackson Galaxy, host of the TV series "My Cat From Hell," has created a project known as Cat Pawsitive, which aims to help felines maintain their social skills while waiting to be adopted. "The genesis of Cat Pawsitive stemmed from the simple desire to duplicate the 'AHA!' moment I had in the early stages of my life with cats as a shelter worker," Jackson told Mother Nature Network.

"Big life changes can lead to cats losing their mojo, their confidence and their raw cat essence," Cat Pawsitive manager Christie Rogero added. "When suddenly faced with a noisy shelter or an unfamiliar foster home, even the most outgoing and friendly cats can become nervous, shut down or even just bored. This can lead to behaviors that make them seem less 'adoptable.'"

According to reports, nearly 30 shelters have joined The Jackson Galaxy Project in order to teach their furry residents how to sit, jump, and even high-five on command. Another 50 shelters around the country are excepted to join the cat training program by the end of 2018.

"They get the kind of enrichment that cats need to be themselves and show their true personalities to potential adopters. This helps them to make connections and to get adopted more quickly," Rogero said.