Calling All Cats Rescues: Stretch and Scratch Cat Scratchers Grant Report

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

The scratch posts were used to help ease cats' transitions from our care to their new homes by reducing the stress level. We also used them at our adoption events to reduce anxiety and stress.

The scratch post helped us with socialization of the cats when they entered foster care. We do not always know the background of our cats and being able to give them a stress reliever was a big help. We also use them in our cages at Petco, where we house cats that were about to be euthanized from the local shelter. This gives these cats a way to relieve anxiety and stress while waiting for their forever homes.

How many pets did this grant help?

apx 100

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

Zoe was a little on the shy side. She had been trapped with littermates in a backyard at 4-1/2 months old. Some of her littermates were too feral to tame and find homes for. Zoe and two others ended up in foster care and eventually found loving homes. The scratchers helped them by relieving their stress and anxiety during the socialization process and their adoption. Pictured here is Zoe at the adoption event the day she went home.

Although I do not have a picture of Marshall with his scratch post, he loved it. Marshall was saved from a shelter and we found out he had cancer in his leg. He had to have his leg amputated. The comfort of something familiar seemed to help him with his transition after surgery and the loss of his leg. He is also an amazing cat in general.