Benson, Olivia (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Technologies; Interior Design)
Feral and stray cats have long been a problem in communities across the nation. In 2014, it was estimated that over sixty million stray and feral cats live in the U.S. Considering that a female cat can have two to three litters a year with up to five kittens in each litter, theoretically speaking, one pair of breeding cats can start a family tree network of 420,000 cats in just over a seven year period. Now you may ask yourself, what is the problem with this large population? A study in 2013 by the Smithsonian Institute revealed that feral cats kill up to 3.7 billion birds a year in the United States and kill between 7-21 billion wild mammals. Aside from disrupting the Eco-system around us, feral cats are also extremely susceptible to rabies which, if contracted, can be transmitted to humans. Since the 1980's, private organizations and governmental agencies in the U.S. have tried to deal with this problem through what is known as Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs. This involves live-trapping stray and feral cats, surgical sterilization and vaccine administration and then releasing the cat back into its neighborhood. While TNR programs stop the cat population from growing, it doesn't address the long-term problems current neighborhood cats cause. Local shelters have tried to tackle this issue but are unable to keep up with the crisis due to lack of funding and the overwhelming population in the area.
In order to fund a shelter that can keep up with demand and stay afloat, an all-in-one cat facility had to be created. Beyond vaccination care that shelters offer, multiple hospitality and commercial settings will be implemented to generate more cash flow which includes a cat cafe, general store, and grooming salon.