Wanted: Adult Cats

Contributed by:

Kansas Humane Society
4218 Southeast Boulevard
Wichita, KS 67210
http://www.kshumane.org/

How It Works

To encourage potential adopters to consider adult cats, the Kansas Humane Society set up displays in empty kitten cages. The 8-1/2” x 11” displays featured cute pictures of kittens with humorous messages about kittens becoming cats. It also directed visitors to the adult cat area. The posters were laminated, so that they are easily cleaned and more durable, and were placed on clear plastic frames. A blanket, food bowl, and a few toys were added to give the appearance of a live animal in the cage.

This simple and inexpensive idea generated an increase of adult cat adoptions from 78.4% to 85.1% with no impact on the rate of kitten adoptions during a six-week period.

Cost

Four different posters were created and the lamination and photo frame costs are minimal. Click here (.doc) to see one of the posters.

Things to Keep in Mind

Putting the poster inside the cage rather than hanging it on the cage makes visitors more inquisitive and more apt to peer inside and read your message.

When originally introduced, staff was excited about the idea. The next time it was implemented, newer staff didn’t seem to recognize the value of the program and the photos weren’t always maintained the way they should have been. Having a brief presentation about the project, highlighting the fact that it is an inexpensive, easy way to help more adults find homes may help. Volunteers can also be recruited to help keep the project current.