Cheatham County Animal Control: Cat Enrichment Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

We have used the Cat Enrichment Grant to improve the quality of life in our "Kat Kondos" area of the shelter. This area of our small shelter is for the cats or kittens who are haven't been spayed or neutered or just need a little extra medical attention and are not quite ready for the free-roam adoption room.

We used the funding to purchase a TV on which we can play cat enrichment videos. We rearranged the cat kennels to face the TV. We purchased clear cube windows that will be installed to provide more natural light. We purchased new soft-florescent tube lights that mimic sunshine. We were able to purchase a large indoor catio that provides cats time outside their kennels.

How many pets did this grant help?

350

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Mickey (first and second photos) entered the shelter with extreme displacement issues. He frequently hissed and growled when anyone walked by his kennel.

After a few days, we decided to move Mickey to the catio. After one day in the catio, Mickey stopped hissing and became much more approachable. Our kennel staff and volunteers were able to enter the catio and sit with Mickey.

After a few days of socializing in the catio, and a much improved mental state, Mickey went to the free-roam adoption room with other cats and was adopted a few days later. Yay, Mickey!