The physical facility affects virtually every aspect of shelter operations, from animal health and welfare; to cost of operations and staffing efficiency; to public perception and the number of animals served. Good shelter design embodies the goals and mandates of the sheltering organization and optimizes the experiences of animals, staff, volunteers, adopters, and the community, now and into the future.

Direct Links to Information Sheets

• Facility Design, Shelter Animal Housing and Shelter Population Management
• Facility Design and Animal Housing
• Cat Portals: Order Information and Instruction for Installation

Portalize It

When cats don’t have enough space to take a few steps or lie in normal postures, they can get stressed, which makes them much more susceptible to diseases like URI. Portals offer a cost-effective way to transform cat housing from cramped cages to double-sided cat condos with separate eating/sleeping and bathroom areas. Find out more about Portals: Opening the Door to Lifesaving.

Cat Housing Assessment Tool

How’s your housing? Grab a tape measure and use our Cat Housing Assessment Tool (nicknamed LeCHAT) to find out if your current individual cat cage housing meets guidelines for providing the best care.