Memphis Animal Services: Cat Enrichment Grant Report

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

This grant was approved by City Council on May 21, and we were able to access the funds on May 31. We purchased 712 hanging cat scratchers from stretchandscratch.com, and due to the volume we purchased, they donated an extra 50 scratchers. They arrived on June 7, and we have begun putting them on adult-cat kennels.

They are cardboard scratchers that hang on kennel bars via twist ties on the back. They help our cats practice normal cat behavior (scratching), reduce stress, and help make them more adoptable.

We haven't had to euthanize a cat for space in over two years. That is great, but does mean that we sometimes have cats that stay here for months. It's really helpful for us to be able to offer them 24/7 at-will enrichment to help combat kennel stress.

How many pets did this grant help?

762

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

Penny is an FeLV+ cat who has been with us since April 30. She’s very friendly and social but, unfortunately, due to her specific adoption needs, she hasn’t found the right match yet. Being in a shelter long-term is stressful for any pet and compromises their immune system, but an FeLV+ cat especially needs to minimize stress and maximize immune system functioning. When we put the scratcher in her kennel, she immediately began playing, scratching, and even climbing. This scratcher is going to help keep her stress level down and show adopters just how fun and lively she is! Meet Penny here.