Thanks to a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Flathead County Animals Shelter gained a significant bit of feline real estate this spring.

The society donated $3,500 to the shelter last fall, meant to expand the space for cats in the facility. Work finished on the expansion this week, just in time for the shelter’s open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

Shelter Director Cliff Bennett said the money was put to good use.

“The old cat enclosures were very small,” he said. “According to the American Shelter Vet guidelines, which are kind of the standard, you need about double the space we had and a space for litter separate from the rest.”

The money expanded the existing cat spaces outside so a cat can get fresh air while it does its business. The existing cat kennels were more than doubled in size, and the shelter purchased an additional 30 wire-framed spaces for adoptable cats. 

A local metalworker was hired to do the work.

This grant comes on the heels of a large expansion in the last two years that similarly allowed dogs to head outside when the call of nature beckoned. Additionally, a new outbuilding allows the shelter to store equipment away from animals and gives more space for prospective pet adopters to see the cats and dogs.

Smallville, the enclosure for small dogs, was moved closer to the front of the building and foot traffic and has subsequently found a huge amount of success.

“We got these smooth-sided, clear kennels for the little dogs and we had just finished them when seven small dogs came in,” Bennett said. 

“Within three days, all of them had been adopted. I guess that means it’s working.” 

The open house on Saturday will allow the public to see the new cat addition and the moved Smallville along with all the furry friends looking for a new home.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at [email protected].