Hot Springs Village Animal Welfare League: Cat Enrichment Grant Report

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

The grant monies have covered the purchase of scratch pads -- with catnip! Since the grant covers usage needs for about six months, the monies are in reserve for the spring increase in cats and kittens.

The cats and kittens in our care all receive a scratch pad unless they're declawed. A scratch pad helps with boredom and the frustration of being inside. This grant allowed us to be flexible with funds and allow for lifesaving surgery on Bumbles, whose story is below.

How many pets did this grant help?

Adoptions for the period from November 2020 through January 2021 are approximately 70. A purchase to replenish stock was made for half that number.

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

All of the cats pictured are adopted except for Bumbles (first photo), who is still in rehab. Bumbles was found with swollen belly and sneezing lung worms. The surgery removed rubber mulch, which Bumbles had been desperate enough to eat. He is only 11 months old.

The story for DJ (second photo) and Nash (third photo) is the same, but they are 10 years apart in age. Both were found sick and emaciated. After medical treatment, proper feeding and lots of petting, DJ and Nash vented their newfound energy on their scratch pads.

Libby (fourth photo) became BFFs with her scratch pads — yes, her scratch pads — when she had a protracted fight against worms.