Port Washington's State-Of-The-Art Cat Adoption Center Opens

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Port Washington's new state-of-the-art cat adoption center is officially open for business. The $12-million, 14,000-square-foot expansion at Davis Avenue opened its doors to the public for the first time Thursday.

Folks strolled through various thematic rooms — including two designed with celebrities Billy Joel and Rachael Ray — as adoptable cats and kittens of all kinds and colors climbed, cavorted and, as is often the case with calm felines, catnapped.

Each room featured numerous high places to perch as well as large windows, perfect for bird-watching and allowing natural light to fill every nook and cranny.

The second-floor addition to North Shore Animal League America's existing facility is known as Bianca's Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center. It was named after an English Bulldog belonging to celebrity Howard Stern and his wife, Beth, who is a board member. The facility was the brainchild of Beth Stern and Joanne Yohannan, the organization's senior vice president of operations.

In the Billy Joel-themed room, cats can lay inside cubbies made to resemble music speakers. The speakers feature dials where paws, claws and more can be turned up to 11, a shout-out to the Spinal Tap fans. A large perch enclosure in the shape of a piano also provides cats a cozy place to snooze.

In a New York City-themed room next-door, cats can be found laying about on a model Brooklyn Bridge, inside a small subway car perched high up off the floor, or even inside a large model Empire State Building.

And in the Rachael Ray room, cats can walk from one side of the room to the other using tree limbs.

"It's like a jungle," Yohannan told Patch in a private tour Thursday. "It's so interactive."

Yohannan said the cage-free rooms are a more suitable habitat. Felines are much less stressed in such an environment, meaning they're more comfortable, happier, healthier and stimulated.

"The only problem we're going to have is they're not going to leave," she said, pointing to a cat perching more than six feet above the floor.

Kathleen Lynn, a spokeswoman for the organization, previously said the animal league wanted an area where the cats could be felines.

"Kittens and cats could be cage-free, so they're more comfortable, their personalities show, they become socialized, and therefore they're better able to interact with potential adopters."

The design allows cats to socialize better, and reduces depression and aggression that results from living in cages or near dogs. The cats are all tested beforehand to make sure they'll get along with each other.

The feline center was the result of a six-year fundraising and construction effort. The expansion allowed more room for dogs on the main floor.

In addition to the new digs for cats, the main floor was upgraded with an interactive playground for puppies. New dog runs have been ordered and new kennel enclosures for older dogs will be installed to help them feel more at home. The dog and puppy improvements will be ongoing throughout next year.