Planet Happy Cat
Welcome to our new home at 327 Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs! Only 5 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, we’re off the first Manitou Springs exit from Highway 24 (which is exit 141 from I-25). Go one block past the first light and look for our free parking on the south side!
Hundreds of members of our Happy Cats Family came together to make this dream a reality. We thank all of you from the bottom of our (and our kitties’) hearts for helping in whatever way you could to help complete the building.
This is what we started with, a neglected eyesore at the entrance to Manitou Springs.
- We worked hard to keep our carbon footprint small. Along with reusing over 75% of the original roof plywood and rafters plus recycling all usable metal, we repurposed original windows and doors for the interior.
- Our tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand instead of heating water unnecessarily. Old concrete sidewalks were broken up and used in our garden retaining walls.
- Warm pine salvaged from beetle-kill trees and job site excess plus salvaged rebar make up much of the catwalks, adding to our Southwest industrial vibe.
Photo 1 – Happy Cats Haven Before
Beginnings of Happy Cats Haven
Old concrete as retaining wall.
Catification
The catification in our beautiful rooms is nothing short of amazing, thanks to the expertise of Shannan Longley of Catology and Happy Cats friend and commercial carpenter Alan Obye.
We’re committed to providing a temporary home that’s as cat-friendly and comfortable as possible. This gives our cats the chance to be, well, cats…while they wait for their forever families.
Sekiro finds a comfy bed
Bud snuggles into a hex nesting box
All cats are perfect
Poppy helps out with adoptions.
Digital paintings by Susi Holmes
Our Purrflection Gardens are coming along nicely, with the help of many volunteers, including Girl Scouts, Eagle Scouts and lots of plant donations.
If you have extra plants in your garden to share that might fit into our Purrflection Garden Plant List, please email us or call us at 719-362-4600 about contributing in the fall!
Cats at the Planet
Waterwise lawn visitor
Yarrow in the garden
Shadow cat
With the help of a grant from the Freda Hambrick Foundation, we are continuing work on our second story with even more cat-friendly catification in 6 more sunny colony rooms…each with its own secure outside catio. This will eventually double the number of homeless cats and kittens we can save.
With thousands of cats and kittens in their forever homes thanks to the good work we do, we know you have faith in us. Big purrs to you for believing in this dream that continues to change so many lives–feline and human alike!