Have you ever gone to a humane society where the cats are treated like royalty? Me neither. Most humane societies have stacks of cat carriers as well as a playroom with cat beds and cat furniture. The playrooms are crowded with cats, some of which don't particularly like being with other cats. I thought this was pretty much the norm until I read about the Washington Animal Rescue League.

This place is a true eden for cats who are homeless. Their philosophy is one of healing and well-being. Each cat has their own condo made of Corian and no cages. Instead, tempered glass doors are used. This not only promotes well-being for the cats, but also allows great viewing for the people who come to adopt. Each living area also has a couple of ledges so the cat can view things from different heights. Additionally, each has a private area for their litter box. What I thought was the most unbelievable feature was the air system. They pump fresh air into each living area every four minutes. Pretty sweet!

Of course there is a playroom, but not just your run of the mill cat playroom. This one has a ceiling high waterfall! Can I come stay there? There are ledges on both sides for cats to climb and play. Did I mention that only cats that play well with each other are put in the playroom at one time, and then only eight per play shift? These people thought of everything. They have big tree branches running throughout the playroom that get replaced a couple of times a year. Volunteers spend time with them in the playroom to assist in their socialization. If I were a cat guest, which is what they truly are, I might not want to leave this place!

The calming surroundings has paid off in numerous ways. They state the cats are less stressed. Also, with their state of the art air system, they have seen a 95% reduction in airborne illnesses. This fully supports with their philosophy of recovery and well-being. The facility also reported a significant increase in the number of adoptions. It seems people like to spend a few hours there as well ... go figure.

It looks to me this place is a great model for other facilities to copy. We all want to promote a place for recovery and well-being for cats in shelters and this seems to be top of the line.