Architects for Animals

At Riverfront Cats we specialize in feral cats. We find them (or they find us), feed them, get them spayed/neutered/vaccinated, shower them with attention and affection, and when possible provide cat houses. One of our goals is to build more cat feeding stations for the rainy season. Why not? Feral cats are cats too! They are the neighborhood pets and deserve to live humanely. Sadly our two new stations were taken this past Christmas. But this story gives us hope for something bigger and better this New Year!

In New York City,  a city of forward-thinking ideas, animal lovers and architects are coming together for the

It's a feral cat initiative. How brilliant! You too can help cats in this innovative event. Read on!

For the past three years, some of New York’s most prestigious architectural designers, through an inventive project called Architects for Animals, have been helping these cats by creating imaginative winter shelters to provide feral cats with a refuge from the bitter cold. A new collection of unique, inspired Architects for Animals winter shelters will be displayed for public viewing before they are placed in locations throughout the city to provide comfort for the cats. Just look at the range of creativity in the photos below (taken at the December 2010 and 2011 event).

Doesn't this  "Cat SH3LTER" look like an indestructible bunker? Winters can be brutal up north.

Photo by Lucio Santos

 This is one of our favorites. I wonder if the architect is simulating a tree with  cubby hole? Cats love to perch. Genius!

Photo by Christine Rangel

This one is the white house with moat, bridge, columns, birds and a Christmas tree!

Photo by Dana Edelson

We'll take two sunshine yellow cat houses please.  Do you see those tire wheel feeding bowls? Love them! We feed our cats on empty lots. Those would tie in nicely with loose car parts and other empty lot accessories.

Photo by Dana Edelson

No home is complete without  yarnball.

Photo provided by MayorsAllianceNYC

And the big daddy of them all--rocket boosters. At least that's what it remind me of. Now I can envision those around my hometown near the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Photo by Lucio Santos

So which do you like the best? 

[Leave a comment below]

This year’s participating architectural firms include industry giants H3 Hardy Collaborative Architecture; Francis Cauffman Architects; M Moser Associates; Callison Barteluce; Stonehill & Taylor Architects, with a team of students from City College; Zimmerman Workshop; Kathryn Walton of The American Street Cat (TASC); and Pilot Projects Design Collective, to name a few. At the end of the evening, the shelters will be donated to community cat caretakers around the city.

So head over to the Steelcase Showroom at 4 Columbus Circle on Thursday, January 10 to view the newest collection. Meet the architects, feral cat caretakers, and also the one and only Tamar from I Have Cat!  If you can not attend, you can still donate to this great cause by clicking on this link. 

Admission is a $20 donation ($10 for Certified TNR Caretakers) and includes the exhibit, hors d’oeuvres, and drinks. You may RSVP in advance online. Be sure to drink a Cat-tini for us!

We welcome ideas and efforts to start a similar program in Miami. Contact us at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com

Photo by Dana Edelson