Spokane Humane Society: Cat Enrichment Grant Report

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

The grant funding has been instrumental in enhancing the well-being of the cats in our care at the Spokane Humane Society (SHS). With the support provided, we were able to purchase a variety of enrichment items, including catnip balls, interactive cat toys, puzzle toys, grass-patch hunting sets, lick mats, interactive automatic toys, and Feliway Optimum Enhanced Pheromones.

These items have significantly improved the quality of life for our feline residents by encouraging natural behaviors, reducing stress, and promoting both mental and physical stimulation. The enrichment program has led to more active, engaged, and happier cats, which in turn has increased their chances of adoption.
Our team members are thoughtful about the care and use of these enrichment toys, ensuring they are properly maintained and rotated to extend their lifespan. This careful management allows us to maximize the benefits of the toys and ensure that our cats continue to enjoy a stimulating environment.

Additionally, the grant has allowed us to maintain our commitment to providing the highest standard of compassionate care. All our volunteers and employees are Fear Free-trained, ensuring that every cat receives gentle and stress-free handling.
Overall, the grant has been a vital resource in helping us create a more stimulating and supportive environment for our feline friends, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the cats and our organization as a whole.

How many pets did this grant help?

200

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

Kulgude brings the classic orange-cat energy. He’s content to play all day long, bouncing off the walls and begging anyone he sees to join in the fun.

This sweet 5-month-old has been at Spokane Humane Society since January receiving medical treatment for various urinary-tract infections. Despite not feeling his best, Kulgude refuses to slow down, which makes enrichment a vital part of keeping him happy while he remains in our care.

Enrichment can come in many forms, such as lick mats, frozen treats, puzzles, and toys. In a shelter environment, animals can quickly become bored and stressed from their repetitive routines. Enrichment helps create new experiences to break up these routines and reduce our animals’ stress and anxiety.

Thanks to a grant from the Petfinder Foundation, we were recently able to purchase new enrichment toys for our felines, and they’ve already made an incredible impact on our kitties as they navigate the shelter environment.

Kulgude has enjoyed exploring his new toys (his favorite is the whack-a-mole feather) and loves to show them off to everyone he sees. Thanks to the Petfinder Foundation, Kulgude has been able to stay stress-free throughout his longer stay at SHS!