Comforting cat cabins for needy kittens
It’s kitten season, and as Ontario SPCA and Humane Society staff and volunteers work hard caring for litters of orphaned kittens, pregnant cats and feline families, Pet Valu has provided a $180,000 Companions for Change sponsorship to support the felines in the Ontario SPCA’s care. The sponsorship will renew the Cat Cabin Program, which helps cats and kittens settle during their stay in a shelter or foster home and eases their transition to their forever homes. Pet Valu provides the sponsorship amount over the 3-year agreement term in three equal annual instalments.
“The unfamiliar setting of a shelter or foster home is very stressful for cats and kittens, and a cat cabin can make a real difference as it provides them with a calm, enriching place where they can perch, hide and mark their scent. Cat cabins play an essential role all year round, and they are particularly helpful during kitten season when we are caring and finding homes for so many cats and kittens,” says Sonya Reichel, Vice President of Operations, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “Cat cabins make for happier and healthier cats, and we’re very grateful for the ongoing support we receive from Pet Valu through its Companions for Change sponsorship.”
Made from sturdy cardboard, cat cabins provide a safe, comfortable place where cats and kittens can hide and play. Available in two fun themes – Cabin in the Meow-tains and Miami Beach – each cat cabin has two entrances, a flat perch and an enclosed cabin area. While kittens enjoy chasing each other through the entrances, cats and kittens alike enjoy perching securely off the floor or snuggling in the cozy cabin area. When a cat is adopted, their cat cabin can be converted into a carrier to transport them safely to their forever home, where the cabin can be reassembled, providing a safe, familiar environment to help them settle.
“Pet Valu’s Companions for Change sponsorship program was created to provide impactful support for Canadian animal rescues and shelters doing vital work in communities across Canada. Through their unwavering dedication, the Ontario SPCA plays a critical role in caring for the enormous number of pets in need across the province,” says Tanbir Grover, Chief of Marketing and Digital Officer at Pet Valu. “Following the success and impact of our initial sponsorship in Ontario SPCA’s Cat Cabin Program in 2022, we are delighted to renew and expand our support.”
Through the Companions for Change sponsorship, Pet Valu will help fund 5,000 cat cabins to be distributed to Ontario SPCA animal centres in Barrie, Whitby, Brockville, Napanee, Midland, Bracebridge, Orangeville, Orillia, Sudbury, Pembroke, Cornwall and Stouffville this year. Pet Valu will also provide its new Pet Parent Guide, which includes tips, checklists and up to $300 in savings for essentials to all devoted pet lovers who adopt a cat or small animal through an Ontario SPCA animal centre.
People who are interested in adopting a cat or kitten should visit ontariospca.ca/adopt to view animals who are waiting for their forever homes.
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been changing the lives of animals for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. It values all animals and advocates to treat them with respect and kindness. The Society strives to keep pets and families together and does so through a variety of community support services, such as sheltering and adoptions, including emergency sheltering, feral cat management programs, animal transfers, food distribution, humane education, animal advocacy, and spay/neuter services.
The Ontario SPCA does not receive annual government funding and relies on donations to provide programs and services to help animals in need. To learn more or to donate, visit ontariospca.ca.