Catification: exploring shelter design to improve the quality of life of cats

Abstract

In Canada, twice as many cats are admitted to shelters compared to dogs. Cats are domesticated companion animals that when left outside experience a reduction in lifespan and quality of life. Free-roaming cats are also considered an invasive species and cause great damage to natural ecosystems. Shelters therefore provide important infrastructure for managing both cat wellbeing and overpopulation, yet are routinely over capacity with insufficient funding. This design proposal aims to envision a shelter for Sudbury, Ontario that prioritizes the wellbeing of both cats and local ecosystems by combining the programs of shelter, cat cafe, educational space, and veterinary practice. Informed by primary research of local shelters, the resulting centre creates a safe environment that prioritizes the diverse needs of shelter cats, increases capacity to address overpopulation and cat health, promotes education around cat care and environmental impacts, and provides a revenue-generating community-oriented space that serves both humans and cats.