T. Russell Reitz Manhattan Regional Animal Shelter: Cat Castles Grant Report

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

The product was used to help homeless cats be presented in a becoming manner to adopters. The Cat Castles allowed shy cats to hide and invite visitors to interact rather than just walk on past. The more outgoing kitties loved perching on the castle tops, and were more engaging to visitors.

Shy cats were able to express thier shyness by hiding, and not stressing over the exposure they normally cope with. Interactive and friendly kitties were able to interact at face level with visitors and invite handling.

How many pets did this grant help?

We have placed 80 cats since the arrival of the Castles.

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

Sour Patch is a red tabby adult male. He was adopted from another shelter and surrendered to our shelter by a family who could no longer care for him. He was very stressed and very shy. His Cat Castle was his safe spot for several weeks. After time, with gentle attention from visitors, he felt secure and safe enough to move from the lower portion to the upper portion, where he could continue to hide but be more curious. Today, Sour Patch is much more outgoing and confident, so much so that he is able to go to adoption display at the local Petco. We attribute his recovery of character to the Cat Castle as a tool. (Sour Patch is the first photo.)