The cats on the Dumb Mates League in Denver, Colorado obtained an infinite take care of earlier this 12 months with a selected Catification makeover! Jackson and I helped them out with a plan to overhaul 5 cat rooms, transforming them from ho-hum to cat-tastic. We added enrichment choices for every cats and different individuals with quite a few little particulars that may hopefully encourage completely different shelters to Catify their cage-free colony rooms, too.
These 5 rooms dwelling a mix of social cats along with some shier cats, so the design wished to consider these utterly completely different cat groups along with the employees, volunteers and company who use the home. The overall mission had three main objectives:
- CATIFICATION – create areas the place the cats actually really feel cosy and the place their personalities can actually shine. Workers and volunteers need to have the flexibility to easily work with the cats throughout the rooms and introduce them to potential adopters.
- CLEANING & MAINTENANCE – create a design that will stand as a lot as rigorous cleaning protocols and regular use by cats over time with gadgets which may be merely and inexpensively modified as wished.
- BRANDING & IMAGE – coordinate with the DFL mannequin image, introducing the corporate colors and presenting a stunning and alluring really feel and seem.
We created a similar Catification plan for each of the 5 rooms with a variety of elements to comprehend the following:
- current vertical home at quite a few ranges — low, mid-range and extreme (nevertheless nonetheless inside simple attain)
- reap the advantages of the house home windows and views
- give cats protected areas the place they’re going to disguise nevertheless nonetheless be merely monitored and reached if wanted
- eradicate any lifeless ends or areas the place cats may actually really feel trapped
- designate areas for litter, meals and water, clean bedding, and toy storage
- incorporate areas for people to sit down down
- reduce litter throughout the rooms
- make it simple for maintenance staff to wash and sanitize
Litter Hider & Seating Bench
We started by creating an enormous seating bench that doubles as a spot for the litter area. Two separate compartments, one large and one smaller, have quite a few openings and hinge-open entrance panels for easy entry when cleaning. A full 24″ depth and peak provides cats a great deal of room inside whereas creating an enormous ground on prime for people to sit down down and for cats to lounge.
Cubby Packing containers
These sturdy packing containers will probably be moved and stacked in any configuration, making a multi-level climber for cats and some further seating for people. Each area has a hinged panel to allow for cleaning entry, along with large openings on quite a few sides so cats acquired’t actually really feel trapped. Light bedding inside creates a cushty retreat the place cats can have some privateness nevertheless nonetheless see what’s occurring throughout the room.
Climbing Cupboards
When creating vertical home and a Cat Superhighway, it’s important to eradicate any lifeless ends. In a smaller room, this usually is an issue and usually it’s a must to get inventive. One approach to allow cats to climb from one diploma to the next is in order so as to add a passthrough hole like we did beneath. Merely be sure that the house between the cupboards permits cats to easily leap up or down through the outlet.
Increased Hideaways
Together with the hiding areas that the Cubby Packing containers current down low, we moreover added some hideaways up extreme with these wall-mounted packing containers. The packing containers current a raised, semi-enclosed spot for cats, making them actually really feel like they’re hiding throughout the leaves of a tree, peeking out at their setting. Add a clean mattress or maybe a hammock inside to make it further cozy.
Windowsill Perches & Window Bridges
Among the many climbing cupboards align with the underside of the house home windows, creating an extension of the windowsill the place cats can lounge and look exterior. In each room, considered one of many cupboards extends all through the lower window, making a bridge that allows two cats to look out at once, maximizing the view.
Toy Storage
It’s important to have a variety of toys throughout the room nevertheless some toys, like wand toys, should not be not famous when there are not any people the room for safety causes. We created a built-in storage compartment that may be utilized for toys or one other gives which is likely to be wished for working with the cats, like grooming devices, clickers or treats. The doorway of the compartment has a hinged door that is held closed with a strong magnet latch.
The Dumb Mates League did a unbelievable job bringing this design to life and we’re thrilled to see these comfy cats having enjoyable with their new Catified rooms! Subsequent time you’re in Denver (when points get once more to common!) please stop by the Dumb Mates League for a go to! Further particulars about their purposes at ddfl.org.
Pictures courtesy of the Dumb Mates League. Renderings by Kate Benjamin.