PAWS adding ’catio’ for cats

The cats at PAWS & More Animal Shelter in Washington will soon have a new space to roam while they wait to be adopted.

The shelter is adding on a “catio” onto the front side of its building.

“The best way to describe it is like a four-seasons room on a home,” PAWS Director Amber Talbot said. “It will have wall-to-wall windows to create something like an outdoor space for the cats.”

The catio will be fully insulated, so the cats will be able to use the space year-round, Talbot said.

“The cats will have access to more natural light,” she said. “It will give the cats more enrichment to be able to enjoy the outside.”

The space will be used by prospective cat adopters to have one-on-one time with potential adoptees.

Talbot said that the catio will have benches, catwalks and window perches.

PAWS is looking at adding cat grass and catnip to the space.

“We’re still looking at some natural elements for the interior design,” Talbot said. “There are so many fun things we’ll be able to do.”

Construction has begun on the addition, and Talbot said she expects that it will be completed in about six weeks.

The nationwide shortage of building supplies gave PAWS a bit of a setback when they were told the original windows in the design were on a 12-week back order.

“We switched to some windows they had in stock,” Talbot said. “Because of that, we had to modify the design a little.”

The project, which Talbot says will cost approximately $25,000, is being funded by a longtime friend of the shelter.

“We had a dear friend of the shelter, who wants to remain anonymous, donate the money and request a catio for the cats,” Talbot said. “We’re honoring his wishes.”