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Photographs by Byron Kerman
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From your first step into Clowder House until your last, you will be followed by cats. As soon as this vast herd (technically a group of cats is called a “clowder,” we learned) of felines realizes that you haz the petting skillz, they will rub up against you until you scratch under their cute little chins. And they will swarm you. Cutely.
There are about 300 cats currently meowing their little lives away at Clowder House, a no-kill, privately run shelter in South City. That includes about 100 that are adoptable, said Director Diane Hurwitz, and 200 permanent residents. Many of the latter group come from owners who’ve gone to nursing homes or passed, she said, but who made a sizable, proactive donation to the non-profit shelter for the perpetual care of their cats.
They are just everywhere, lounging on tuffets, scratching at posts, seeking out people to stroke them, but mostly doing what cats do best—napping.
The cats live in various rooms of the capacious building, and special cats have special rooms. There are designated areas for cats with skin allergies and digestive issues. There are areas for shy cats, and for don’t-much-care-for-other-cats cats. (Aggressive cats are given pause when their challenges are met by other aggressive cats, explained Hurwitz, so they live together.) Senior cats enjoy the relative quiet of one of the bathrooms. Kittens get to know the world gradually from an acclimation area.
First-time visitors will be wowed by the presence of so many cats. There are mellow lumps of cat lounging on every surface. Cats look up languidly through seductive cat eyes as you pass. They eat. They poop. They stretch. They stare into nothing and Zen out. And they are absolutely everywhere.
These cats have been loved-up by a dedicated corps of volunteers, and almost all of them are into people, so you can pet away.
You can make an appointment to meet someone regarding pet adoption, or just come on by and donate paper towels, laundry detergent, and other cleaning supplies, which Clowder House always welcomes.
And you can share the link to this article with everyone you know, because it has many pictures of cute cats. And we must share pictures of cute cats on the Internet. It’s what we do.
Clowder House, 3134 Wyoming. Open by appointment and during 2 to 4 p.m. daily. Sunday visiting hours starting again in September. 314-776-PURR, clowderhouse.org.
