Most cats are social creatures who prefer living in groups and benefit from the companionship and enriching environment that communal housing provides. We invite you to come to Tree House to see it in action and to meet our cats.
WHEN DID WE START: 
Since 1975, beginning with the Carmen location, Tree House has featured an innovative, cageless sheltering method for cats.
WHY WE DO IT:
Spending their time with us outside of cages greatly minimizes the stress cats feel in a shelter environment. This gives them the freedom to engage in natural feline behaviors, as well as have healthy social contact and companionship with people and other cats. Communal housing can be particularly helpful with nervous cats who may otherwise shut down in a caged environment. Being in a room with friendly cats allows them to re-socialize and learn communication and survival skills. Another benefit to cage-free sheltering is that it creates a home-like environment, which allows a more natural interaction between adopters and cats to help our adopters make the best choice for their homes.
HOW WE DO IT:
When a cat arrives at Tree House, we complete an intake process to assess their wellbeing to ensure they are healthy, prior to co-mingling with other cats. Each cat gets a physical exam to check for illness, and then they are tested for fleas, mites, and ringworm. They are also spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and dewormed prior to making their way to our adoption floor.
Each Tree House resident is individually evaluated based on age, known behavior, and sociability and then placed in an appropriate group. The cats are monitored closely during acclimation to reduce stress and prevent negative interactions within the group. Staff monitor the health and well-being of the cats daily and are trained to recognize subtle signs of stress or illness.
OTHER OPTIONS:
Our vision is to see every cat thrive. Therefore, we provide alternative environments for cats who do not wish to be housed with other cats, such as a solo condos or a foster home.
Come visit us to see our community housing at work. Click below to see which cats are available for adoption right now. The list updates in real time.
