Extra Benefits for Cat Lovers
Free Services
Adoption Fees
We will pay the adoption fees for a cat from Friends of Cats in El Cajon or Grandma Betty's Animal Rescue in Julian once per year for each resident.
Please Note: Haven Homes is not affiliated with either of these organizations.
Yearly Vet Checkups
Once per year, we will pay for all the cats living at Cloud Nine Studios to get a physical health examination from a local veterinarian.
Devices Provided
Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Residents who have two or more cats will be given the use of premium automated self-cleaning litter boxes (these typically cost $600 or more). Upon moving out, residents will be given the option to purchase their litter boxes at a reduced cost.
Self-Filling Water Fountains
To promote your cats’ health, we will provide a filtered water fountain to any resident who needs one. At your option, we will also install an automatic filling device to make sure your fountain never runs dry. If you would prefer to use your own water bowl instead, we will modify your bowl to be automatically filled. (Most designs with a reservoir can be adapted.)
Automatic Cat Feeders
Each resident will be given the use of an automatic cat feeder, which allows the remote control and monitoring of cats’ feeding schedules, even when away from home.
Cat Accessibility Devices
Decorative carpet panels that have been framed to look like artwork are available to give highly mobile and active cats and alternate path from the windowsill near the closet to the cat loft. Also, custom ramps are available to provide alternate routes to the cat loft and other upper living areas for cats with limited mobility who are not able to comfortably use the existing routes.
Lunar Beacons
In addition to the the huge Lunar Beacon on the side of the building, we also made 27 tiny versions of it. Rather than 12 feet, these are only 6 inches in diameter, and each apartment has spaces for three: One in the litter closet, one in the bowl basin, and one in the cat loft. These are designed to be viewed by the cats, not the residents, to serve as behavioral training aids. Combined with the blue vinyl in each of those areas, they help cats to understand which areas are intended for their use. However, the larger purpose is to familiarize them with the appearance of the Lunar Beacon and associate it with home, so that if they are ever accidentally let outside and they see the large Lunar Beacon, it can help guide them home. To that end, wearable Lunar Beacons, in forms such as shirts and jewelry are also available.
For more, see Lunar Beacon.
Photo: Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Photo: Self-Filling Water Fountain
Photo: Automatic Cat Feeder
Photo: Cat Accessibility Devices
Photo: Lunar Beacons
Built-In Cat Features
Each apartment is full of features that build the living needs of cats into the home. Please see the Animal-Supportive Architecture section for more details, but here is an overview:
Litter Closet
It’s hard to imagine having even just one cat in a small home without feeling like you’re living in a litter box, but it’s possible with a litter closet.
These tiny bathrooms for cats can be constantly ventilated to create negative air pressure, which means no air or odor escapes. This is accomplished using a hyper-efficient fan that costs less than a penny a day to operate in California. (A penny-and-a-half in San Diego.)
With a litter closet, the only time you will ever smell or even see your litter box is when you clean it. With an automated litter box (which we can provide), a single litter closet can usually be used by multiple cats—even ones that haven’t liked to share before.
For more, see Litter Closet to learn more about how they work to eliminate litter box odor in your home.
Bowl Basin
These small alcoves keeps your water bowl out of the way and always full, thanks to a water supply line with an automatic shut-off valve. (Should this valve fail, there are other safeguards built in to prevent flooding.)
These bowl basins work with a cat fountain we will provide for your use, but if you want to use your own instead, most bowls with a reservoir can be adapted to work with it (which we will happily do for you).
These basins also have an ideal size and location, which is more important to cats than many people realize.
For more, see Bowl Basin to find out how one can significantly improve the health and happiness of your cat.
Cat Loft
Cat lofts are finished alcoves over closets that provide extra storage and are also the perfect height and location for a quiet living space for cats. Your cats can access these lofts via strategically placed shelves and platforms, which provide a path that integrates naturally into your home.
Cats have an instinctual drive to seek out high perches from which they can observe their surroundings. Also, to feel safe, cats need a secure, reliable place to which they can retreat when they feel threatened. Cats experience anxiety when they lack either of these basic needs, which are especially difficult to provide in a small home, but a cat loft satisfies both. Interestingly enough, research suggests that the overall size of an indoor living space does not matter much to cats, but having access to higher elevations within that space matters deeply. In short, cats experience significantly less anxiety in tiny rooms with accessible high platforms than in large rooms where they are stuck on the floor.
By providing a secure retreat for your cat with a cat loft, you will enjoy the benefits of living with a cat with less anxiety. If you want to spoil your cats rotten, you could turn the entire loft into a luxury feline apartment, which you can decorate and fill with toys and cat-sized furniture. However, you don’t need to use the entire space for cats: You can provide a generous living area for multiple cats and still have plenty of room left over for storage.
For more, see Cat Loft.
Scratch Station
Cats also have an instinctual need to scratch—it is necessary to maintain the health of their claws, plus scratching relieves anxiety and boredom.
Scratch stations provide a consistent, safe place your cats can rely on to take care of this need whenever the urge arises. Each station has a universal scratch pad holder that works with any size of cardboard pad and holds them at the ideal position for most cats to get the most out of scratching.
The scratch station is located inside the litter closet, which lets cats clean their claws immediately after using the litter box rather than track dirty paws around the house. This location also keeps ugly scratch pads out of sight, plus it will keep shredded cardboard and catnip flakes contained to further help keep your home tidy.
For more, see Scratch Station.
Catwalk Cove Light
This is a pair of two long, narrow, decorative panels of solid hardwood that are mounted high on two of the walls of each apartment. The tops of the panels have angled channels that allow LED light strips to be installed to turn them into giant, customizable light fixtures. The panels can also display small décor items like art objects or collectibles, with the light providing ideal illumination. However, those with cats will want to keep them clear, as they provide pathways to access and travel between the cat loft and the other elevated feline living spaces.
For more, see Catwalk Cove Light.
Cat Tunnels with Brushes
Each litter closet is accessed via a decoratively-trimmed archway tunnel that is lined with a rubber brush, so your cats automatically groom themselves every time they go in and out.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much this brush reduces the amount of loose cat hair in the home. With multiple cats in the household, you’ll see a big difference immediately.