I don’t have many new photos this week so I found this photo from this day in 2010.
Sav-R-Cats is a shelter in Surfside, South Carolina (near Myrtle Beach) where we adopted Chris. I started volunteering at the Humane Society there where they had something like 200 cats all separated in individual cages. We were not allowed to take out more than one cat at a time and I just felt so bad every time I went in there. My neighbor told me about Sav-R_Cats and I decided to volunteer there instead. As you can see, they had no problem letting the cats mingle with one another.
To the right of the photo are several pens that are like small rooms. The cats are put in there at night and most are let out during the day. Some of the cats, particularly the long-term residents, are never put in cages. I understand that there is a greater risk of a sick cat infecting others but potentially sick cats are isolated so the risk is small. In my opinion, it is far more important for the cat’s well-being to make them as happy as possible while they are waiting for their forever home. What do you think?
Bad Cat Chris 
I think cats enjoy socializing and in a large room if they don’t they can find their own space but still have access to each other.
Hugs, Pam
At least there they have the freedom to socialize or not socialize. Whatever they want to do.
And there is Chris front and center!
No, the heat just looks like Chris. This was taken after we adopted Chris.
Freedom!!! Well, sort of.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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As long as the cats get along okay and there’s no bullying going on…looks like a good thing for all.
I don’t recall ever seeing any problems when I was there. If there is a problem cat I’m sure that they would keep those cats isolated.
That looks like a cool place, they all look well cared for and happy given their circumstances.
They actually had some cats that were there for more than 10 years. As regulars as they had the free run of the place so I think they had a pretty good life.
I agree completely. I think they get depressed when they’re stuck in cages all the time
I know I would.
They need to mingle…just like people. It helps with well being.
I believe it really does.
I found the term “long term residents” extremely sad. I found the idea of 200 cats in cages all day awful. I sometimes wonder about the ASPCA & Humane Society.
I was volunteering for the SPCA near my home and they have eight rooms, each about 100 square feet with high cielings. Each holds up to eight cats with a bench for humans to visit. They do keep a small number of cats isolated but those cats either just got out of surgury or they are cats that fight with other cats. Since I started volunteering there, I don’t recall seeing cats there much more than a month.
That sounds better.
Yes, it sure is. I think that the Humane Society here is also good with their cats. Since this was 12 years ago, it is possible that the Humane Society in Myrtle Beach has changed.
It sounds to me like the Humane Society isn’t very humane. That is very disturbing about how they keep their cats. I volunteer at The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats, a forever home for cats who loose their humans to usually passing or illness and they live free range, like Sav-R-Cats. We have a system for acclimating new residents to their new “familly” and some kitties may end up living in their own “condo” if they are too guarded, but its roomy. Thank you for sharing. What a great place to volunteer!
The Blue Bell sounds like a good place too. It is possible, hopefully, that the humane society in Myrtle Beach has changed since I was last there. Since I moved back to Florida in 2010 I never thought to look into it.
So many adorable kitties! They look like they are very comfortable living with one another. I suppose every situation is different and you have to adjust for your particular situation. It is really important for the cats to be happy where they are while they wait for a forever home.
Yes, I think there needs to be a good middle ground between keeping them happy and keeping them 100% safe. It is like having children. There is always a danger when they go outside to play but you can’t keep them locked up in the house.
I think this is how it should be, Chris, socializing is so impawtant and what we see here in the picture is what we have seen when they live outside, so naturalšøPawkisses for a Happy Dayš¾š½š
Where I used to work there were at least four stray cats in a group. Sometimes I saw only one at a time but often I saw two or more hanging out together like friends.