Why would feral cats need architects? LA’s top architects and designers were asked to build a unique, one-of-a-kind outdoor shelter or dwelling that is functional to outdoor or feral cats. These original dwellings were then displayed at the “Giving Shelter” gala event, held at the HermanMiller showroom in Culver City. All proceeds benefit FixNation, a non-profit based in Los Angeles that provides free spay/neuter services for stray, homeless, and feral cats.
Today’s families, as well as single individuals, take animal homelessness very seriously. On any given weekend or holiday, there are fundraisers and promotions to get homeless animals into their fur-ever homes.
But what about feral cats? Let’s define these felines: a feral cat is one who is born in the wild or outdoors and has little to no human interaction. Due to their lack of socialization, they are scared of humans and will lash out. There is a period of time (usually when the kitten is three to eight weeks old) that if exposed to humans, can be socialized and adopted out. The ones who aren’t socialized are feral and live outdoors, but they still need dwellings and protection from the elements.
Some of the architectural design firms that were asked to participate in this year’s sold-out gala included: Abramson Teiger Architects, 3Darchitecture, HOK, Morphosis/Xtech, Perkins & Will, Stantec (fka) RNL, RDC, Standard Architecture and Design, Tracy A. Stone, Word Design & Architecture, among others. These architects created functional designs that the cats would love and use.
Also on display at this gala event were cat food bowls that were decorated by animal-loving celebrities such as William Shatner, Morgan Fairchild, Jason Momoa, Clint Eastwood, and Charlize Theron.
FixNation’s co-founder Karn Myers was pleased with the creativity as well as the level of practical application in the designs. FixNation is a very successful model and example for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for humane feral cat colony management programs globally. Myers and her late husband Mark Dodge, founded FixNation in 2007 as an effective and compassionate alternative to mass euthanasia.
Look for their gala event next year!
From the ADG Jobsite
Sculpture for Malibu home in collaboration with Cami Forte…
by Gerald Olesker, CEO, ADG Lighting