In an imaginative idea to increase adoptions at an animal shelter in Illinois they decided to take some of their cats to a local yoga class (Yoga at Connie’s). I have to say that yoga and cats go together quite nicely so the idea has some merit right from the beginning. They were all adult cats and they came from the Homeward Bound no-kill shelter.
As you can see from the photographs, the cats were free to mix with the people doing yoga. I guess they were selected carefully. The idea is the brainchild of Jeanette Skaluba. She wanted to raise awareness of rescue cats that needed homes and hopefully increase adoptions. In addition, they raised $500 for the shelter.
It certainly worked in at least one aspect in that people are writing about it which obviously brings publicity to the shelter which in turn should increase adoptions. I am all in favour of using imaginative and novel methods to find ways to increase adoptions from shelters.
One of the rescue cats appears to be a Ragdoll:
One of the reasons behind this idea is that some people find shelters quite dull places so it is good to see the cats in a different environment. However, a survey indicates that the vast majority of people are happy with adopting a cat from a shelter and find staff very helpful. It is nice though to see cats outside of the shelter interacting with people and demonstrating that they are highly adoptable.
Maybe shelters should offer yoga classes and adoption clinics at the same location.
Monty’s favorite thing in the world is to watch humans do stuff. Especially interesting and novel stuff. He would love a yoga studio. Except that he sees any human on the floor as prey and attacks. Perhaps that wouldn’t work out so well. But I can see how the cats would enjoy watching all those people doing yoga.
I think it’s a great idea, and I’d like to see it happening in more yoga studios. The PR would benefit everyone, the cats, the shelter, and the yoga studio!
This article brought up something I hadn’t thought of, which is that some people find shelters depressing, and don’t go there to adopt. It can be quite overwhelming to choose from all those forlorn caged kittys, longing for a home.
Michael, I saw this a few days ago. What a pawsome idea!! And cats are yoga experts!! I would definitely work out with them!! ♥♥♥