Northeast Animal Shelter Unveils New Cat Play Rooms [VIDEO]

Northeast Animal Shelter employees and representatives from Canyon Creek Ranch looked on with bated breath Wednesday afternoon to see how Henry the cat would react to one of the shelter's three new cat play rooms.

Henry - a two-year-old cat who was brought into the shelter with his siblings about three weeks ago - was one of the shelter's felines that seemed to have too much energy to spend his time all cooped up in a cage.

After spending a couple of minutes sniffing around and stretching out, Henry was happily leaping around the room and thrilled staffers by exploring his new toys and getting a feel for his surroundings.

The recently-completed project was made possible thanks to a $50,000 in-kind donation to the shelter from the Canyon Creek Ranch Better Way Project.

The Northeast Animal Shelter hired Boston-based Rauhaus Freedenfeld & Associates to create the design for the rooms and then hired local contractor Will Lojek to do the renovation.

The project transformed three smaller rooms where cats could be out of their cages into two larger play rooms complete with custom-built features including walkways, ladders and window perches.

"With this renovation, the cats will be able to enjoy a stimulating, fun living environment and show off their best personalities to find their forever homes," a press release read. "With these new play rooms, the cats can be out of cages and enjoy a wonderful environment in which to play, nap and show off their personalities to potential adopters."

Canyon Creek Ranch, a line of natural pet food, is committed to searching for a better way to enhance the lives of pets and the people who love them.

That’s why the brand launched the Better Way Project, "a shared journey to create a future that is happier, brighter and more positive for pets and the people who love them."

Canyon Creek Ranch has committed a minimum of $200,000 in 2013 to bring up to eight Better Way Project ideas to life. In addition to funding the projects, Canyon Creek Ranch may provide on-the-ground volunteers, product donations, and additional resources.