I just wanted to share with you something special my friend Robin Olson is doing for the families of Newtown, Connecticut. Robin runs Kitten Associates Cat Rescue in Newtown. As a way to help families heal from the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, Kitten Associates created the “Kitties for Kids” program, opening their doors to families, first responders, and anyone from the Newtown community to make an appointment and come visit with their foster kittens. Each child will also receive a free plush kitty to take home.

The program has been very popular and has already brought smiles to the faces of many. You can get more information on the Kitten Associates website or follow along on their Facebook page.

And here we have it! The results of our Catification Makeover contest sponsored by The Vertical Cat! Carol’s Ferals, the lucky winner of the contest, is now a kitty dream come true. The main room of their facility has truly been catified!

Thanks to the team at The Vertical Cat, Carol’s Ferals received $1,000 of products plus a private consultation on the design with yours truly, the design team at The Vertical Cat, and none other than Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist extraordinaire. We looked at photos and videos of the space and made some suggestions for features that we though would make the cats more comfortable while they wait to be adopted. And from the look of these happy kitties, it seems to be a success!

Shelves, perches, cat stairs, hideaways, and window walks were used to create what Jackson refers to as a “cat superhighway.” What we love about this highway is that there are no dead ends and there are multiple traffic lanes. There are always options for cats to easily move past one another without being trapped in a corner. In a space with this many cats, this is essential for keeping the peace.

All of the pieces were custom painted in Carol’s Feral’s signature orange. These cats have so many options now!

Thanks again to The Vertical Cat for this incredible makeover!

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing any of the fabulous scratchers, cat trees or climbing shelves from Mountain Cat Trees, now is the time! Now through November 14, they will donate 10% of each sale to The Cat House on the Kings cat sanctuary and adoption center! You can get some great products for your cats and help support this outstanding organization. Visit MountainCatTrees.com.

I recently had to say goodbye to one of my beloved cats, Theo. If you’ve been following Moderncat over the years, you’ve seen him here and there with his silvery gray stripes and his tipped left ear. I haven’t known what to write about losing him, but today being National Feral Cat Day, I want to remember Theo by telling you why it is that I am an advocate for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), a humane method of feral cat management, from a very personal perspective.

Before he came to live with me, Theo was living in the feral colony that I help feed. Theo, his brother Sherman, and my fluffy little McKinley actually all came from the same colony. They are three of the best cats anyone could ever ask for. Actually, most of my cats came straight off the street — Ando, Andy, Little Bear, and Sylvia, as well.

Theo and Sherman were not actually “feral” since it was apparent from the outset that they had both been socialized. McKinley, on the other hand, was pretty darn scared, but came around quickly. Ando was socialized at an early age but still living on the street. Andy, Little Bear, and Sylvia were all very young when I took them in, so I got to see how easy it is for kittens to learn to trust people.

What these experiences — and these cats — have taught me is that all cats have the potential to be loving companions. That is what I believe. There is absolutely no difference between the cats sleeping under a dumpster and the cats sleeping on your bed. Yes, some are tougher cases than others, and some cats will never be snugglers, but house cats — and that’s what we’re talking about here — are incredible, intelligent, loving creatures that do not deserve to be abandoned, left to fend for themselves — or exterminated.

There are TNR opponents out there who consider free-roaming cats to be vermin and they want to deal with them accordingly. I could not disagree more. I cannot stand the thought of Theo, Sherman, Ando, or any of the others being exterminated. Sadly, this is the fate of so, so many cats.

Free-roaming cats can include unsocialized feral cats that were born outdoors, indoor-outdoor pet cats, cats that were previously owned but then lost or put outside for bad behavior, or cats that were simply abandoned or left behind when their owners moved. It can be difficult to tell if an outdoor cat is social since they are often on alert, or just plain frightened out of their minds. Unfortunately, they typically display the same behavior if they’re brought to a shelter, which dramatically reduces their chances of being adopted.

The cat overpopulation problem is a massive and extremely complicated issue. We have to tackle it one step at a time. TNR is the first step in helping to prevent more and more cats from being born. Adopting rescued cats is another part of the equation. Also, volunteering at shelters — working specifically with the scared cats to get them to be more social, or fostering them in your home to teach them that they can relax and enjoy being loved. These are all things that we can do to help.

So, National Feral Cat Day is not just about the truly feral cats — “feral” is just shorthand for unowned/community/unsocialized cats. Theo and my other street cats have made me look at all cats differently. I hope that you will, too.

Here is Theo on the first night I brought him home. I planned to adopt him out, but he was just so darn sweet, he had to stay.

Theo was a good candidate when I needed a model for a photo shoot, because of his easy-going personality.

Theo LOVED to snuggle with the other cats, and they all loved him. I always joked that they called him “Uncle Theo.”

Theo really knew how to get comfortable. He had a thing for donut beds.

Theo was only five or six years old, but he had a tumor above his soft palate that took over very quickly. He was FIV+ so his immune system was no match for the cancer. I lost him over the course of several months, but he was such a trooper, hanging on until the very end. He had the sweetest soul and is truly missed.

It’s National Feral Cat Day and we’re celebrating with a giveaway from Catnip Hill! One lucky reader is going to win a Feral Cat Hat in the color and size of their choice!

These cozy fleece hats will keep you warm this winter as you care for your colony, plus you’ll fit right in with a tipped left ear. Feral Cat Hats are available from the Catnip Hill Etsy shop and 10% of all sales in the month of October will be donated to Alley Cat Allies!

ENTER TO WIN!

To enter to win your very own Feral Cat Hat, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on October 23, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere!

Wow! What incredible support we received for the fundraiser to help Animalkind in Hudson, New York rebuild their shelter and get back on their feet! We surpassed our original goal of $1,000 on the first day, and then we crushed our new goal and raised more than $6,000! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and to everyone who helped spread the word. These funds will go a long way in helping with the rebuild, plus The Vertical Cat will now donate $500 worth of products to the new shelter so the kitties will be climbing in style!

Out of everyone who made a donation, three luck winners have been randomly selected to receive the prizes. One will receive the grand prize of $250 worth of climbing products from The Vertical Cat, plus two other contributors will each receive a 3-step Cat Stair. A big thank you to Kathie and her team over at The Vertical Cat for these amazing prizes! Please check your email for a message from me via GiveForward notifying you if you won.

Here’s a message from the Director of Animalkind, Katrin Hecker:

Many many thanks and purrs to all of you who donated so generously to help us rebuild our facility and to Moderncat for organizing this incredible fundraiser for Animalkind!

We are deeply touched by your support and want you to know that you made a big difference in the lives of homeless and unwanted felines as well as in our hearts and souls! Your support not only gives us a head start to rebuild, it also gave us a boost of hope, knowing that so many people are out there with a heart for the animals and compassion for the forgotten felines.

Our heart felt thanks to all of you who made this miracle happen — you are our angels!

We would love to hear from you at animalkind@mhcable.com, so we can update you on the progress and invite you all to our GRAND OPENING in the spring!

At this point we have the design ready and will start putting the renovation job out for bids. We will keep you posted on our website: www.animalkind.info.

Created by Alley Cat Allies a decade ago, National Feral Cat Day is a opportunity to promote humane care for feral cats through awareness and education. Each year one day is designated for this special effort, however, many organizations like Alley Cat Allies, Stray Cat Alliance, and Alley Cat Rescue work year round advocating for feral, stray and abandoned cats, so really everyday could be National Feral Cat Day!

National Feral Cat Day 2012 will be held on Tuesday, October 16. Alley Cat Allies provides tons of useful resources to help you participate in NFCD. Visit the official NFCD section on the ACA website to find links to the following:

• A list of events scheduled for NFCD – you can still register your event!
• Get ideas for planning an event in your area.
• Download resources and materials to help spread the word about the humane care of feral cats.
• Check out the winners of the 2012 Community Impact Awards.

You can also purchase official NFCD 2012 merchandise including t-shirts, mugs, buttons, and  posters.

We’ll have several special posts over the next few days leading up to National Feral Cat Day. What will you be doing to mark the occasion?

Check this out! Xenotees made a special ear-tipped version of their awesome cat silhouette just for National Feral Cat Day! Tipping the left ear of a feral cat is the universal symbol that the cat has already been TNRed, or Trapped-Neutered-Returned. This is the most humane way to manage the feral cat population. To learn more, check out the guest post that Peter Wolf wrote for our TNR theme week in 2010.

The Xenotees ear-tipped design is available on pillow cases and tote bags, plus they are donating 100% of the profits to Four The Paws, a rescue organization in the Philadelphia area. The ear-tipped designs are available from the Xenotees website.

With just a few days left, we’ve almost reached our goal of raising $6,000 to help Animalkind in Hudson, New York rebuild their shelter after a devastating fire and flood! If we reach $6,000 by October 14, The Vertical Cat will donate $500 worth of cat products to the new Animalkind shelter, plus one donor will receive $250 worth of products and two more donors will each receive a 3-step Cat Stair.

We can do it! Please consider making even just a small donation, any amount will qualify you for the prizes. Thank you to everyone for your support!

> click here to make a donation and enter to win!

We’re spreading the love with this special giveaway from Kittyblock! This is your chance to win a free Kittyblock for yourself, plus a second Kittyblock for your favorite cat rescue! Kitties love this sturdy 15″ cube of extra thick corrugated cardboard. They can lounge in it and on it, plus every surface is perfect for scratching.

The Kittyblock is a cat magnet! Check out photos of cats enjoying the Kittyblock on the Kittyblock Facebook page, and be sure to add your own.

ENTER TO WIN!

To enter this special giveaway, please leave a comment on this post with the name of the cat rescue or shelter where you would like the second Kittyblock to be donated. The winner will be selected in a random drawing and announced on October 16, 2012. One entry per person. Winners and winning cat rescues must be in the US. International readers are welcome to enter and designate a cat rescue in the US to receive both Kittyblocks.

Thank you to everyone for the generous outpouring of support for the Animalkind fundraiser! It is truly overwhelming to see how many people want to help this outstanding organization get back on their feet and rebuild their shelter after the devastating fire and flood.

We originally set a conservative fundraising goal of $1,000, which was surpassed in the first day. To date, the we have raised more than $4,000, which will go directly toward rebuilding the shelter. This is fabulous, however, Animalkind’s expenses are quite significant, so we’ve set a new goal of raising $6,000, and if we meet this goal, The Vertical Cat will donate another $250 of products ($500 total!) to the new Animalkind shelter, plus they are adding two more prizes for donors! In addition to one winner receiving $250 worth of Vertical Cat products, two more winners will each receive a 3-step Cat Stair!

This is our way of thanking everyone for the incredible support! Please help us meet our goal!

> click here to make a donation and enter to win!

Back in May we held a Catification Makeover sponsored by The Vertical Cat and we received more than 800 nominations for cat shelters and rescues that all absolutely deserved to win. In the nomination process, one shelter in particular, Animalkind, Inc. in Hudson, NY, received an overwhelming amount of support — 350 of the 800 nominations were for Animalkind. This was due, in part, to a terrible fire and flood that had just devastated the Animalkind facility. 150 cats had to be evacuated. Luckily, no lives were lost, but the damage to the facility was unthinkable. A fire in the building triggered the sprinkler system, which flooded three floors, including the basement, where Animalkind housed all of their cats. The cats were relocated to foster homes and other temporary facilities, but Animalkind was left with the massive undertaking of rebuilding.

I’m happy to report that Animalkind is on their way to recovery! They are rebuilding their facility now, but they are in need of extra support to complete the project. As you can see from the photos, the floors that housed the shelter were completely devastated by the flood. Robin Olson from Covered In Cat Hair visited the facility and wrote about Animalkind’s progress. You can read Robin’s three- part series over at www.coveredincathair.com. Thanks to Robin for letting us use her photos!

MAKE A DONATION AND ENTER TO WIN!

As promised, we have organized a special fundraiser for Animalkind, and it has some extra fun for everyone! Anyone who makes a contribution of any amount to the fundraiser will be entered to win $250 of cat products from The Vertical Cat! Plus, if we reach our fundraising goal of $1,000, The Vertical Cat will donate another $250 of cat products to the new Animalkind facility!

To make a donation and enter to win, please click the link below to visit the fundraising page at GiveForward. The winner will be selected in a random drawing and announced on October 15, 2012. Thank you for supporting Animalkind!

> make a donation to Animalkind and enter to win!

The folks over at Carol’s Ferals (Remember them? They were the winners of the Catification Shelter Makeover sponsored by The Vertical Cat. We’ll be bringing you an update on that project very soon!) made this awesome cat climbing structure for their shelter by re-purposing a retail store fixture. This is a great example of creative catification! If you’re looking to make something totally one-of-a-kind for your cats, check out your local thrift stores or stop by an equipment liquidation or auction. You never know what you’ll find and with a little imagination, you can make something that both you and your cats will love.

Clearly the kitties at Carol’s Ferals and quite pleased with their awesome accommodations!

Here’s a fun Friday giveaway! It’s your chance to win a full case of 50 Stretch and Scratch scratchers to be donated directly to your favorite cat shelter or rescue! The lovely folks at Stretch and Scratch created their entire business around improving the lives of cats by making and selling these awesome little scratchers. The scratchers help kitties living temporally in caged environments by providing them with exercise and entertainment, plus when the cats get adopted and go to their new homes, they can take their scratcher with them for a little extra comfort.

ENTER TO WIN FOR YOUR FAVORITE CAT SHELTER!

Just like with all of our giveaways, please leave a comment on this post to enter, but be sure to tell us the name and website (if available) of the cat shelter or rescue where you will donate the Stretch and Scratch scratchers if you win. Any cat rescue organization that could benefit from the Stretch and Scratch scratchers is eligible, they don’t need to have a shelter facility. Foster-based rescues also need to place cats in cages during adoption events, so the scratchers would be great for them, too.

The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on September 14, 2012. One entry per person, please. This giveaway includes free shipping in the continental US, so if you’re outside that area, please feel free to enter as long as the shelter you’re picking is in the continental US.

Of course, I wish that all rescued cats awaiting adoption in a shelter could spend their days in open, cage-free cat rooms, but unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet. There are still lots of shelters that, due to space and budget limitations, still have to keep cats in cages. Plus, some kitties need to stay in isolation because of health or behavior issues. Luckily, there are companies out there making products specifically for these kitties, because they need exercise and entertainment so they can stay healthy and shine when potential adopters come by to visit them.

One really great product I’ve been meaning to share with you for a while now is Stretch and Scratch. These simple little cardboard scratchers are designed to meet the needs of cats and kittens staying temporarily in caged environments. The Stretch and Scratch cardboard cat scratcher is just the right size to fit in the cage, plus it’s sturdy, easy to install, and most importantly, it’s affordable.

The scratcher attaches to the bars of the cage with twist ties. Attaching it to the side of the cage keeps it out of the way for easy cleaning. Place it up high for older cats to get a good stretch when scratching, or hang it down low for kittens. Shelters are also encouraged to send the scratchers home with cats when they are adopted so they will have something familiar in their new surroundings.

Stretch and Scratch scratchers are available in quantities or 6, 12, 25 or 50. A full case of 50 scratchers is just $58.95, just a little over $1 per scratcher! And shipping is always just $4.95 per case. This is a great item to donate to your local shelter, or if you work at a shelter, consider putting Stretch and Scratch on your wishlist so your supporters will know to purchase them.

Cat Tee Mission is a terrific new organization created by designer and cat lover Sarah Menzies. Cat Tee Mission sells tee shirts that spread the word about the plight of homeless cats – both in shelters and on the streets – donating 100% of the profits from tee shirt sales to support those cats.

Check out catteemission.com to purchase a tee and see a list of the different cat charities they support.

After writing about the grand opening of Harmony House for Cats’ new eco-friendly cat shelter in Chicago, I received an email from a Moderncat reader letting me know about another amazing green animal shelter. Friends For Life in Houston, Texas recently opened the Don Sanders Adoption Center, the only LEED certified no kill animal shelter in Texas.

The new adoption center includes a welcoming lobby area, an education and training room, meet and greet rooms for adoptable dogs (they are fostered in family homes and brought to the center only for adoption events), and several incredible cat habitat rooms, where the cats in FFL’s care enjoy beautiful surroundings while waiting to be adopted.

The principal architects on the project were from the Houston office of the progressive Gensler architecture firm. FFL also consulted with Animal Arts from Boulder, Colorado, an architecture firm specializing in the design of some of the most spectacular, award-winning animal care facilities.

Clearly, the design team took into careful consideration the needs all who would be using the space — both animal and human. According to the FFL website:

“Our goal was to create a space that is truly animal-friendly from the animals’ point of view. Their sense of smell and hearing are much more acute than ours. They are generally stressed just to be in a shelter environment to begin with. The fact that we know them at all means something has already gone wrong in their lives. It is our task, in part, to provide as stress-free, healthy and interesting an environment as possible. The Don Sanders Adoption Center is adopter/visitor friendly and follows the highest standards of shelter management.”

In addition to installing a state-of-the-art in-wall wet vac cleaning system for sanitizing the rooms, the air purification system is top notch. The system brings in 100% fresh air from outside, completely turning over the air in each room 15 times an hour. The building’s design brings natural sunlight into every single animal room and every human workspace, plus a professional acoustician was hired to plan the sound environment throughout the facility.

The cat habitats are large cageless playrooms with 19 foot ceilings. Each room is outfitted with streamlined modern furniture and built-in elements that allow the cats to climb and perch in comfort, while making it easy for shelter workers to keep things neat and clean. The rooms are equipped with a slat-wall system that allows shelves and perches to be re-positioned as needed. FFL has a special room devoted to senior cats, as well as a feline leukemia positive kitty room and a kitten nursery.

If you’re ever in Houston, please make it a point to stop by Friends For Life to see this incredible new adoption center.

Thank you so much to everyone who nominated Moderncat for a 2012 Petties Award! We are a finalist in the “Best Pet Product Review Blog” category! These awards are sometimes referred to as the “Oscars of the pet blogging community,” so it’s truly an honor to receive this nomination.

The winner in each category will get to choose an animal-related charity to receive a $1,000 donation from Petties Award sponsor DogTime Media. If Moderncat wins in the Best Pet Product Review Blog category, our donation will go to FixNation, an outstanding organization working to reduce the population of homeless cats in the Los Angeles area, and serving as a model for TNR programs nationwide.

So how can you help us help FixNation? Vote once a day, every day from now until July 31. It’s that simple. You can login with Facebook, or if you don’t do Facebook, simply enter your email address to register to vote. Winners will be announced in September.

Thank you for your support!

>> click to vote for Moderncat in the 2012 Petties Awards

You can vote once a day. Voting closes July 31, 2012.

This Sunday, July 8, 2012, Harmony House for Cats will celebrate the grand opening of their new eco-friendly cat shelter in Chicago. The 7,085 square-foot shelter features three adoption playrooms, three admission rooms, four special needs suites, a medical ward, a treatment room, a conference room, and two mechanical rooms that house the equipment that runs and monitors the cutting-edge technology in the new shelter. The building’s heating and cooling needs are powered by 14 geothermal wells, 20 solar thermal panels, plus solar photovoltaics. The design is organized around a central landscaped courtyard for day-lighting and easy access to a beautiful natural setting.

“Cats in every room of the new shelter will be able to nap in the sunshine, and look out at the trees and plants,” said Board President Ann Dieter, “plus the new building provides a sustainable operational future for Harmony House through the construction of a high-performance building that provides a replicable model to other non-profit organizations.” The new building is a gift from an anonymous donor who hopes that it will inspire other individuals, companies and organizations to incorporate green technology in their new homes and commercial buildings as well.

The grand opening will be held on Sunday, July 8 from 2 to 6 pm at 2914 N Elston Avenue in Chicago. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

Founded in 1970, Animal Protective Association’s Harmony House for Cats is a cageless, no-kill shelter, dedicated to rescuing and placing injured and abandoned cats. New volunteers, supporters, and adopters are welcome. For more information, please visit www.hhforcats.org.

If you’re a fan of the TV show Portlandia and you’re a TNR advocate, hold on to your hats when you watch this hilarious spoof video Catlandia, from the San Francisco SPCA! This is one of the funniest things ever!

(If you can’t see the video below in your email, click here to watch it on the site.)

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for the $1,000 Catification Makeover finalists! We had 13,523 votes! That’s a lot of support for these wonderful organizations!

The competition for the top spot was stiff. Everyone did a great job getting the word out there! We are pleased to announce that Carol’s Ferals & Friendlies took first place! Congratulations!

Carol’s Ferals will receive the grand prize package including $1,000 of climbing product from The Vertical Cat, plus Jackson Galaxy and I will offer our design suggestions for the project via a phone consultation. Carol’s Ferals will also receive a 40″ sisal scratching post from Sisal Rugs Direct, a Cat’s Trapeze courtesy of Moderncat Distribution, and the prize package with toys from Tipsy Nip, Moderncat Studio, Plain Brown Tabby Treats and Toys, and a case of scratchers courtesy of Old Maid Cat Lady.

But, remember, everyone wins in this contest! Here are the runner-up shelters in order:

• 2nd Place – Cat’s Cradle Shelter
• 3rd Place – Pawsitively Cats
• 4th Place –  SPCA Tompkins County
• 5th Place – Good Mews Animal Foundation
• 6th Place – Cozy Cat Cottage
• 7th Place – MEOW Cat Rescue
• 8th Place – Sante D’Or Foundation
• 9th Place – Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home for Cats
• 10th Place – Friends of Animals Utah

Everyone will receive an awesome sisal scratching product from Sisal Rugs Direct, 2nd place will receive the 5-tier Cat Condo from Auntie Em Creations, 2nd through 6th place will receive a single-tier Cat Hammock, also from Auntie Em. 2nd and 3rd place will receive a double wall shelf from The Vertical Cat and all finalists get 20% off their products for 6 months. Everyone gets a 2-pillow Cat’s Trapeze and the prize package from Tipsy Nip, Moderncat Studio, Plain Brown Tabby Treats and Toys, and Old Maid Cat Lady.

A huge thank you to Kathie and the folks at The Vertical Cat for planning this contest and picking the finalists. We will be in touch with all the finalists shortly to get your prizes to you. Thanks again to everyone for voting and stay tuned for our special fundraiser for AnimalKind coming up soon!

Today is the last day to vote for the Catification Makeover! The voting will close at midnight tonight.

You must vote using the form for your vote to count. Some readers have reported problems getting the form to load. Please follow the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page where you should see a form. Make sure to click the “vote” button at the bottom after making your selection. Individual voters are being logged by cookie and IP address, so if you or someone else has already voted on a particular computer you will not be able to vote again.

We’ll announce the winners tomorrow. Good luck to everyone!

>> click here to cast your vote

(don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the post!)

The team over at The Vertical Cat received over 200 nominations for individual cat shelters for the $1,000 Catification Makeover! After reading the nominations and looking at the pictures for every single shelter, they came to learn that there are many, many great people doing incredible work across the nation, saving cats and putting in their time to make a difference.

Every shelter was nominated for a reason, from large to small and old to new, with most struggling through adversity. There were fires, floods, lost leases, and other impossible challenges. One thing became obvious — every shelter is worthy of winning the big prize. Some need it more than others, but they are all worthy.

The shelters that made the final list below are indeed doing excellent work. Every one of them is saving the lives of cats and kittens, and working to make those lives better, throughout the country. The final 10 were chosen because of the pictures and stories submitted (and because they got back to us when we tried to contact them!) They are all indeed in need of the $1,000 Catification Makeover, and we’re so sorry we can’t give a makeover to every shelter that was nominated!

EVERYONE WINS!

But before we get to the finalists and the voting, we have a special surprise! We wanted to make sure that all of the finalists walk away with something to help the kitties, so Kathie over at The Vertical Cat went to work finding other sponsors to donate prizes for all the finalists! Check out these amazing prizes!

Sisal Rugs Direct is generously offering some of their awesome sisal cat scratching posts for all of the finalists! The Grand Prize winner along with the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winners, will each receive a 40″ sisal scratching post. The 5th and 6th place winners will each receive a 30″ sisal scratching post with ramp. For the 7th and 8th place winners we have the Cat’s Meow scratching post, and finally for the 9th and 10th place winners, a 30″ sisal scratching post with perch. Thank you sisal Rugs Direct!

Auntie Em Creations is helping out, too! They are providing a 5-tier cat condo for the 2nd place winner, and a single-tier cat hammock for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place winners! The winning shelters will get to choose the fabric for their prizes. Thank you, Auntie Em!

In addition to providing the Grand Prize for the 1st place winner, The Vertical Cat is going to send a double wall shelf to the 2nd and 3rd place winners! Plus, all finalists will get 20% off all Vertical Cat products for 6 months!

So all the shelter kitties can climb high, all 10 finalists will receive a 2-pillow Original Cat’s Trapeze, courtesy of Moderncat Distribution!

But wait, there’s more! All 10 finalists will receive a fun pack of donated items for their kitties! They will each receive an assortment of fabulous organic catnip products from Tipsy Nip, a selection of handmade designer cat toys from Moderncat Studio, a Kitty Cuddler Valerian Spiced Catnip Toy from Plain Brown Tabby Toys and Treats, and a case of 12 Stretch and Scratch scratchers, courtesy of Old Maid Cat Lady. WOW! Everyone wins!

TOP 10 FINALISTS

And now, without further ado, here are the top 10 finalists for the $1,000 Catification makeover, in no particular order:

SPCA Tompkins County – Ithaca, NY
Cat Count: Approximately 200
www.spcaonline.com

The SPCA of Tompkins County was incorporated in 1902 and has been a fully operational no-kill shelter since 2001. Their adoption facility, the Dorothy and Roy Park Adoption Center, provides cats, dogs and other companion animals a “comfortable, healthy, home-like” setting, and is registered as the nation’s first “green” animal shelter which is “good for people, good for animals, and good for the planet.”

This not-for-profit organization shelters nearly 3,000 companion animals every year, works to education school-age children and adults, and collaborates with local food pantries to help feed pets.

They also offer adoptions out of The Annex in The Shops at Ithaca Mall, which started out as a temporary facility. However, three years later, The Annex isn’t seeming so temporary, and has also been nominated for a makeover. If they win, we’ll let them choose which location is most in need.

MEOW Cat Rescue – Seattle, WA
Cat Count: Approximately 90
www.meowcatrescue.org

MEOW is a mostly volunteer-run no-kill shelter that was established by a small group of friends in the 1990s, which places about 1,000 animals into permanent homes every year. When it comes to homeless cats, “newborn or senior, healthy, ill or injured, all are valued at MEOW.” Their goal is to help create a “no-kill nation.”

One person who nominated them said: “MEOW has always wanted stairs, shelves and boxes on the walls, but – there isn’t time as they are too busy taking care of the cats! Shelves were attempted, but… the folks at MEOW are great caregivers, but… not very good carpenters.”

MEOW is located in the back storefront of an older strip mall and they’ve just leased the storefront next door in order to “be able to take care of more cats.” The $1,000 makeover would go to helping them with their expansion.

Cozy Cat Cottage – Powell, OH
Cat Count: Approximately 180
www.CozyCatCottage.com

Cozy Cat Cottage is a private non-profit no-kill shelter that provides “refuge, aid and care for abandoned, injured, abused or lost cats and kittens. We refuse to euthanize cats or kittens simply be cause they are unwanted.”

One person who nominated them said that more than 5,000 cats have been rescued from the streets of central Ohio. “Cozy Cat never gives up on any cat. Recently, a cat was placed in a forever home after 8 years with the organization!”

The main back room has plexiglass enclosures for the younger kittens and for stressed out cats, but other cats are free to roam, climb and sleep on the cat trees, hanging beds and counter surfaces. “The room has a very tall ceiling (with very bare and underutilized walls) and is perfect for engaging wall shelves/steps/furniture that the cats can play/hang/walk on.”

Friends of Animals Utah – Park City, UT
Cat Count: Approximately 110
www.foautah.org

Friends of Animals Utah is a private, no-kill rescue organization founded in 1990 that rescues cats from other shelters’ euthanasia lists. They have found homes for over 10,000 pets and do about 80 adoptions a month. While not a traditional shelter, they keep the cats at their facilities until a home can be found.

FOAU’s mission is “to protect and provide for animals while fostering an awareness of their importance in our lives. This mission includes our goal of improving the quality of life of animals and placing them into loving and permanent homes through rescue, extraordinary and compassionate care, and humane education.”

One person who nominated them said: “Recently we had a ringworm outbreak which required us to throw out thousands of dollars of products. We built a few cubes in the wall for our kitties but we now have very little cat furniture left. Help!!!”

Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home for Cats – Boston, MA
Cat count: Approximately 50
www.GiffordCatShelter.org

The Ellen M. Gifford Sheltering Home for Cats was established in 1884 and is the oldest cageless, no-kill shelter for cats in the United States.

Their mission is to “provide homeless cats with high-quality care in a safe, healthy, and loving environment. We work to find safe, healthy, and loving permanent homes for the cats in our care and to educate potential adopters and the general public about cat welfare issues.”

One person who nominated them said: “Although we were a pioneer in the concept of cage-free sheltering of cats, our facility has fallen behind the times. We have many surfaces that cannot be disinfected easily and our cats climb to heights where we cannot reach them to hide. It would be great to have perches and hiding places where we can still care for our cats — many of whom are semi-feral or extremely shy.”

Carol’s Ferals and Friendlies – Grand Rapids, MI
Cat Count: Approximately 35
www.CarolsFerals.org

Carol’s Ferals and Friendlies assists community cat caregivers with TNR and support services. They’ve spayed and neutered over 5,000 cats in 5 years, had 300 adoptions and relocated over 75 ferals to safe barn homes. They are a non-profit that is no-kill and run by volunteers. The organization operates out of a duplex-type house converted into rehab, adoption, and TNR-related rooms.

One person who nominated them said: “We are in dire need of help for our adult cat room. We currently house 35+ adult cats in a combination kitchen/living room/dining room with [no shelving] on the walls… Everything in the room for furnishings are donated and unfortunately, the tallest thing we have in the room is a single cat tree that only has 3 crow’s nests… By utilizing the walls, we know this would make everyone (people and cat alike) much happier and provide enrichment for the cats.”

Cats Cradle Shelter – Fargo, ND
Cat Count: Approximately 54
www.CatsCradleShelter.org

The Cats Cradle Shelter is a no-kill shelter run completely by volunteers. Cats live in colonies of 6-10 cats in individual units based on compatibility. Their efforts have helped Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo go five straight months without euthanizing an adoptable cat.

One of their special needs cats, a young guy named Corky, had “backward and crisscrossed legs,” and has received surgery thanks to the shelter and a local vet. While one of his legs had to be amputated due to infection, he’s on the mend. Corky is rather popular and has over 8,000 likes on his Facebook page.

One person who nominated them said: “They do soooo much for kitties! The kitties would love the enrichment! There is alot of wall space in each room and with shelves available the cats would have that much more of the room to use.”

Good Mews Animal Foundation – Marietta, GA
Cat Count: Approximately 100
www.GoodMews.org

Good Mews is one of the few virtually cage-free, no-kill cat shelters in the state of Georgia. Established in 1988, the shelter has found homes for approximately 5,000 cats. Good Mews also promotes public awareness regarding the value of pets, animal welfare, pet overpopulation, and quality human-animal companionship through education and outreach programs.

One person who nominated them said: “The Good Mews shelter is designed primarily with free-standing cat trees that take up valuable floor space, are difficult to clean and don’t maximize limited space in the shelter. Because they are made of carpet, they wear out quickly in a shelter that houses 100 cats. The Vertical Cat shelves would make perfect use of the space available.”

The shelter takes in many hard to place cats, including one that lost its back legs. Special needs kitties “deserve a special place to live and play that meets their needs.”

Pawsitively Cats – Tucson, AZ
Cat Count: Approximately 125
www.PawsitivelyCats.org

PAWSitively Cats is a no-kill shelter for adoptable and special needs cats rescued in the Tucson area and is largely volunteer-based. They are working to provide compassionate care for homeless cats and trying to find loving, permanent homes for them, while working to promote Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) for feral cats, and to educate the public regarding spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership.

One of the people who nominated them said: “This little shelter and it’s volunteers have done so much to help Tucson’s cats. PawsCats recently took responsibility for all of the cats of another recently closed Tucson cat shelter, so the budget is extremely tight and currently does not allow for shelter renovations. I personally have been working to save money to buy paint and supplies to freshen up the main room at the shelter… I know winning this makeover would be tremendously beneficial to the cats.”

Santé D’Or Foundation – Los Angeles, CA
Cat Count: Approximately 60
www.santedor.org

The Santé D’Or Foundation is a no-kill volunteer run adoption center and community focused rescue. The animals come to them from the streets, are surrendered by residents experiencing extreme financial hardship, a crisis, or those who are no longer able to care for them. They offer a home to adult and some special needs kittys, many who live there for years before finding a forever home.

The last few months Santé D’Or has making many changes and updating the space. But according to a person who nominated them, there’s more to do. “This shelter needs to win the Catification makeover because the love that is given to these animals does not reflect the condition of the shelter… We have been wanting to get the front room redone to feel more open and welcoming. It would be great to have the cats running up the walls!”

EXTRA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Animalkind in Hudson, NY to Receive Special Fundraiser!

Out of the almost 800 nominations we received, over 350 of them were for Animalkind in Hudson, NY. On May 1, there was a massive fire at the AnimalKind shelter. Luckily, no lives were lost, but the 120 cats in their care had to be evacuated and the shelter is devastated. Clearly, Animalkind is desperately in need of the Catification Makeover, but we have decided not to include them in the top 10 finalists for this contest. Instead, Moderncat, Jackson Galaxy, and The Vertical Cat are going to organize a special fundraiser just for Animalkind in the coming weeks. They need some extra help in these difficult times and we are going to give it to them! Stay tuned for more details.

Cast your vote!

Please use the voting form below to cast your vote for the shelter that you want to win the Catification Makeover. Be sure to click the vote button at the bottom to make your vote count. You will only be able to vote once. Voting will close at midnight on May 22, 2012 and the winner will be announced on May 23. Good luck to all the finalists!

Voting in now closed.

We had an overwhelming response to the nominations for the $1,000 Catification Makeover from The Vertical Cat! We received almost 800 nominations for over 200 different shelters! It’s so overwhelming, in fact, that the folks at The Vertical Cat are still trying to choose the 10 finalists, so we need a little more time. We’ll announce the finalists and start the voting tomorrow, instead of today as originally planned. Plus, we’re working on some other fun surprises! Please check back tomorrow for more details.

Do you know a cat shelter that needs a face lift? Well, here’s your chance to help them out! The folks over at The Vertical Cat are generously donating $1,000 worth of their fabulous cat climbing products to help one deserving shelter “catify” their space.

And that’s not all! The winner of the “Catification Makeover” will also receive a free phone consultation with the The Cat Daddy himself, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, and yours truly, Moderncat. Together we are the Catification Team, combining Jackson’s cat behavior expertise and my design tips to create amazing, cat-friendly environments.

We’ll work with the winning shelter to design a cat room using The Vertical Cat’s shelves, stairs and trees. The Vertical Cat has already sent their products to several cat shelters, including the Branford Compassion Club cat rescue in Connecticut, where they created the beautiful blue and white cat room pictured above. Their products are also in use at the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, where the cats are loving their new environment. Just think of the possibilities for your favorite shelter!

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE CAT SHELTER TODAY!

Nominations are now being accepted for the $1,000 Catification Makeover from The Vertical Cat! To nominate your favorite cat shelter, please complete the form below. Your nomination will be sent to the team at The Vertical Cat, who will choose 10 finalists. We will announce the finalists here on Moderncat and everyone will have a chance to vote for the winning shelter. The shelter with the most votes at the end of the voting period will win the $1,000 makeover, including a phone consultation with Jackson Galaxy and Moderncat.

Nominations must be submitted by midnight on May 13, 2012. Finalists will be announced on May 16 and voting will take place May 16 through 22. The winner will be announced here on Moderncat on May 23. This giveaway is only open to shelters in the continental US.

Nominations are now closed.