The cats on the Dumb Mates League in Denver, Colorado obtained an infinite care for earlier this 12 months with a specific Catification makeover! Jackson and I helped them out with a plan to overtake 5 cat rooms, reworking them from ho-hum to cat-tastic. We added enrichment selections for each cats and completely different people with fairly a number of little particulars that will hopefully encourage utterly completely different shelters to Catify their cage-free colony rooms, too.
These 5 rooms dwelling a mixture of social cats together with some shier cats, so the design wished to contemplate these totally utterly completely different cat teams together with the workers, volunteers and firm who use the house. The general mission had three major targets:
- CATIFICATION – create areas the place the cats truly actually really feel cosy and the place their personalities can truly shine. Staff and volunteers must have the flexibleness to simply work with the cats all through the rooms and introduce them to potential adopters.
- CLEANING & MAINTENANCE – create a design that may stand as lots as rigorous cleansing protocols and common use by cats over time with devices which can be merely and inexpensively modified as wished.
- BRANDING & IMAGE – coordinate with the DFL model picture, introducing the company colours and presenting a surprising and alluring actually really feel and appear.
We created an identical Catification plan for every of the 5 rooms with a wide range of parts to grasp the next:
- present vertical residence at fairly a number of ranges — low, mid-range and excessive (however nonetheless inside easy attain)
- reap the benefits of the home residence home windows and views
- give cats protected areas the place they’ll disguise however nonetheless be merely monitored and reached if needed
- eradicate any lifeless ends or areas the place cats may very well actually really feel trapped
- designate areas for litter, meals and water, clear bedding, and toy storage
- incorporate areas for folks to sit down down down
- scale back litter all through the rooms
- make it easy for upkeep workers to scrub and sanitize
Litter Hider & Seating Bench
We began by creating an infinite seating bench that doubles as a spot for the litter space. Two separate compartments, one giant and one smaller, have fairly a number of openings and hinge-open entrance panels for simple entry when cleansing. A full 24″ depth and peak offers cats a substantial amount of room inside whereas creating an infinite floor on prime for folks to sit down down down and for cats to lounge.
Cubby Packing containers
These sturdy packing containers will most likely be moved and stacked in any configuration, making a multi-level climber for cats and a few additional seating for folks. Every space has a hinged panel to permit for cleansing entry, together with giant openings on fairly a number of sides so cats acquired’t truly actually really feel trapped. Mild bedding inside creates a comfy retreat the place cats can have some privateness however nonetheless see what’s occurring all through the room.
Climbing Cabinets
When creating vertical residence and a Cat Superhighway, it’s essential to eradicate any lifeless ends. In a smaller room, this often is a matter and often it is a should to get creative. One method to permit cats to climb from one diploma to the following is so as in order so as to add a passthrough gap like we did beneath. Merely make certain that the home between the cabinets permits cats to simply leap up or down by way of the outlet.
Elevated Hideaways
Along with the hiding areas that the Cubby Packing containers present down low, we furthermore added some hideaways up excessive with these wall-mounted packing containers. The packing containers present a raised, semi-enclosed spot for cats, making them truly actually really feel like they’re hiding all through the leaves of a tree, peeking out at their setting. Add a clear mattress or possibly a hammock inside to make it additional cozy.
Windowsill Perches & Window Bridges
Among the many many climbing cabinets align with the underside of the home residence home windows, creating an extension of the windowsill the place cats can lounge and look exterior. In every room, thought-about certainly one of many cabinets extends all by way of the decrease window, making a bridge that permits two cats to look out directly, maximizing the view.
Toy Storage
It’s essential to have a wide range of toys all through the room however some toys, like wand toys, shouldn’t be not well-known when there will not be any folks the room for security causes. We created a built-in storage compartment that could be utilized for toys or one different offers which is more likely to be wished for working with the cats, like grooming units, clickers or treats. The doorway of the compartment has a hinged door that’s held closed with a powerful magnet latch.
The Dumb Mates League did a unbelievable job bringing this design to life and we’re thrilled to see these comfortable cats having pleasurable with their new Catified rooms! Subsequent time you’re in Denver (when factors get as soon as extra to frequent!) please cease by the Dumb Mates League for a go to! Additional particulars about their functions at ddfl.org.
Footage courtesy of the Dumb Mates League. Renderings by Kate Benjamin.