The Cat House project will invite local artists and designers to build winter cat shelters in response to Oklahoma City’s feral cat population. Working in tandem with students of Oklahoma City University’s School of Visual Arts (OKCU SVA) and the Central Oklahoma Humane Society (OK Humane), five selected artists will be commissioned for two components of the project. Following training provided by OK Humane on best practices for the creation of the shelters, artists will lead students for two workshops each. During these 10 total workshop days, students will complete 25-50 A-frame shelters under the instruction of the artists. Students will have the benefit of learning new methods, styles, and techniques from professional artists, as they individualize each shelter with its own creative design.

The completed works will be placed in residences surrounding campus, who have been identified for maintaining feral cat colonies. OK Humane and OKCU SVA will work together to determine locations. The second component of the project will commission the selected artists to create functional and beautifully-designed pieces of art doubling as cat shelters. A commission fee, technical support, and materials budget will be provided. Artists benefit from financial support and increased exposure of their work.