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SALT LAKE CITY — In an effort to give cats the best chance at adoption possible, the Humane Society of Utah has opened what it calls a one-of-a-kind facility for felines: Kitty City.
"It is a world class facility," said Carl Arky, spokesperson for the HSU. "And the reason we wanted to do this is because we wanted to help the cats as much as we possibly can."
Arky said cats often have the hardest time in shelters, both in Utah and around the nation. Often cats are kept in small cages or in small spaces with many other cats. Kity City, a project that has taken roughly two years and $2 million, is intended to create a more open, more free space for cats that feels like a home rather than a shelter. They'll live in rooms and enclosures where they can "take cat naps, play with other cats and meet all the people who will want to come and experience Kitty City."
"We did an extreme makeover and we created space for them," Arky said.
Arky said that it's not only better for the cats, but for people too, who will be better able to interact with the cats and more likely to spend more time at the shelter getting to know potential adoptees.
"It gives them a better opportunity to be adopted because they are seen in a better light," Arky said. "They're free, they're not caged up."
In addition, over the weekend cat adoptions will be only $9, including vaccinations and spaying or neutering.
"It's a whole new world, it's a whole new era for animal adoption," Arky said.
Kity City is located at the 4242 S. 300 West in Murray.
Contributing: Roger Cary
