Cat-colony housing is one way to enrich the lives of shelter cats, but it’s by no means the only way. Here are some simple things you can add to both single-cat and multiple-cat housing to help the felines cope with their short stay in your shelter.

• Install modern fiberglass caging that includes portals allowing for separation between the litter box and napping areas.
• Add perches and disposable hideaways in the form of bags and boxes.
• Provide texture-rich places to curl up in, including cotton towels, donated polyester fleece beds, and fuzzy toilet-seat covers.
• Add something for the cats to scratch and mark, such as disposable “rush matting,” carpet, and wood. (These items cannot be disinfected, so toss or send home with adopters.)
• Challenge the cats with food puzzles: Put kibble or treats into containers with holes through which the cat extracts the goodies.
• Use cage bars as “extra space” for draping a towel to help that new shy kitty unwind, or as a place to hang linked plastic shower curtain rings for rambunctious kitties to use as a “punching bag.”
• Add some playthings, such as toilet paper rolls or film canisters. Cats quickly lose interest, so replace toys with different ones to stimulate activity. Also, studies indicate that singly-caged cats prefer to play with small, mobile objects with an interesting texture, such as ping-pong balls or tennis balls. (Again, toss or send home any objects that cannot be completely disinfected.)
• Treat cats to a bit of catnip, or give them “cat grass” to chew (helps them eliminate furballs, too).
• Make litter pans out of square or oblong stainless steel table inserts available from restaurant supply stores. These cafeteria-style serving dishes are inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk; easy to disinfect; and roomy enough for a big kitty to do his business in.
• Remove the cat—well, just for a while. Give cats some individual attention or run-around time in your get-acquainted room. Don’t have a get-acquainted room? A laundry room or large empty closet that’s kitty-proofed can also work well.
• Give the cats regular doses of petting and affection from staff or volunteers.

Reproduced from the March-April 2003 issue of Animal Sheltering magazine.