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  • 1.  Kennels what brand/style do you like and what don't you like?

    Posted 08-23-2023 10:22 AM

    We are building a new animal shelter and we are looking in kennel doors and new cat condos.....we need you likes and dislikes of what you have or have seen!!  What would you want in your shelter that would make life easier if you could get it today?? 


    #AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms

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    Alyson Harms
    Animal Shelter Manager
    The Bullhead City Animal Shelter
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  • 2.  RE: Kennels what brand/style do you like and what don't you like?

    Posted 08-24-2023 07:08 AM

    We had new cat condos installed in 2018 and they work really well for us.

     https://www.tristarvet.com/product/cat-condo-powder-coated-triple/

    Each cat gets 3 compartments, the standard is a vertical set up with LB on the bottom, food, in the middle, and a resting area in the top. They have portals that allow you to change from a vertical set up to a horizontal which is ideal for cats with mobility concerns. You can also connect them for bonded pairs.

    They are a bit noisy and rattle. I would have preferred special door latches that aren't noisy. I believe these can be installed after the fact. We fashioned a DIY work around that helps, but isn't perfect. 

    I wasn't there for the initial install but I was told there were some incomplete pieces and damages when they arrived and the company was difficult to work with. This was 5 years ago, so hopefully things have improved.



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    Sara Post
    Operations Director
    Feline Rescue

    Saint Paul, MN
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Kennels what brand/style do you like and what don't you like?

    Posted 08-25-2023 09:25 AM

    At Lifeline Animal Project Community Animal Center we have an HVAC system that doesn't recycle the air throughout the building, but rather only pulls air from outside and distributes constant fresh air through the building. While it is significantly more expensive than a traditional HVAC system, it reduces the shelter smell significantly,  minimizes the spread of airborne diseases, and any individual pod can function as its own isolation area. It has helped keep any spread of airborne disease localized, and helped significantly during Covid, and allowed us to be able to keep our shelter open to the public through the worst of the pandemic. It was definitely worth the investment. 



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    Justin Sparks
    Lifeline Animal Project
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Kennels what brand/style do you like and what don't you like?

    Posted 08-30-2023 12:18 PM

    Hi Alyson,

    I'm with the Koret Shelter Medicine Program Facility Design team and wanted to share some of the general things we tend to share with folks who reach out to us. 

    In terms of materials, we really like stainless steel (holds up well, easy to clean, relatively inexpensive), PVC, and fiberglass.

    We want every cat in individual cage housing to have a minimum of 11 sq ft of floor space (two cages 30" wide by 28" deep) separated into two compartments. More compartments (as long as they come with more space) are great! ShorLine aka Midmark sells a bank of 4 cages that can come with side-side portals AND up-down portals so that you can flex use to either house 2 cats in 2 units, or 1 cat in 4 compartments when populations are low enough in the shelter.  We don't like the housing units that have one large compartment and 2 mini compartments on the side- these don't support cats' space needs adequately. 

    We do recommend having compartments, not just really big enclosures, as this supports efficient, safe, and low stress caretaking and allows cats to have separate living and toileting area. However, we have also seen folks house cats in covered dog kennels (single or double compartment) and this is a great option for the cats. 

    Quiet latches and hinges are a FANTASTIC investment if you can swing it (haha! I made a pun :) ). Avoid solid cage doors- we prefer bars or a hybrid of bars and solid. If the cage supports perching this is a great bonus, and make sure there's enough space to provide a hiding spot within the enclosure. 

    Things we don't see often but recommend include indoor-outdoor housing units for cats, individual cat room housing, and in general having a variety of housing types (e.g. don't plan to go exclusively with group room housing) so that you have a greater ability to support the needs of different individual cats. 

    Hope this helps and don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have more questions. 

    PS If you're also interested in talking about dog housing please let me know!

    #FacilityDesign

    #cathousing

    #housing



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    Becky Stuntebeck UCD Koret Shelter Medicine Program Veterinarian
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    Original Message


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