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| = Overview =
| | The Haven Homes [[About#About the Project|project]] aims to convince large-scale real estate developers to include pet-friendly features in the homes they build. |
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| The Haven Homes [[Main Page#About the Project|project]] aims to convince large-scale real estate developers to include pet-friendly features in the homes they build.
| | To that end, we have developed several new animal-centric [[Architecture for Animals|architectural concepts]] that would benefit not just the people and pets who will live in these homes, but also the property owners, which makes these features financially viable for rental properties and affordable housing projects. |
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| To that end, we have developed several new animal-centric <u>architectural concepts</u> that would benefit not just the people and pets who will live in these homes, but also the property owners, which makes these features financially viable for rental properties and affordable housing projects. | |
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| To prove these claims, we are building housing complexes that model how several pet-friendly features can be cost-effectively incorporated into new commercial multi-family apartments as well as existing homes. | | To prove these claims, we are building housing complexes that model how several pet-friendly features can be cost-effectively incorporated into new commercial multi-family apartments as well as existing homes. |
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| The first of these complexes is <u>Lion Canyon</u>: A quiet enclave of 11 boutique homes conceived on the idea that pets are essential members of the household, and as such designed to take care of the needs of cats as well as the humans who live with them. | | The first of these complexes is [[Lion Canyon]]: A quiet enclave of 11 boutique homes conceived on the idea that pets are essential members of the household, and as such designed to take care of the needs of cats as well as the humans who live with them. |
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| = Lion Canyon =
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| == Homes ==
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| Nestled in a tranquil <u>location</u> named after the kings of the jungle, the homes at Lion Canyon have been designed to treat cats like royalty.
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| <u>Princess Place</u>A large, traditional single-family home designed for 5 people and 3-6 cats.
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| <u>The Quarters</u>A small, fully furnished home designed for 4 people and up to 2 cats.
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| <u>Felicity Heights</u>Fully furnished studio apartments designed for individuals living with 1-3 cats.
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| All homes at Lion Canyon include several additional <u>free benefits</u> for tenants with cats.
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| === Princess Place ===
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| A traditional family home designed for five people to live in comfort with three to six cats living in absolute luxury.
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| ==== Traditional Features ====
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| ===== Overview =====
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| * 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, roughly 2,000 sq ft.
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| * A full remodel in 2022 makes this feel like a new house.
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| ** Not just a cosmetic remodel: Brand new floors, ceilings, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, bathrooms, windows, lighting, and paint throughout entire house.
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| ** New quartz countertops and refinished cabinets in the kitchen.
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| * An extensive suite of <u>special features</u> that make living with many cats easier and more enjoyable.
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| * Excellent <u>location</u> with off-street parking for two vehicles.
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| * Includes water, gas, and trash service. You pay only for electricity, which is greatly offset by a large solar panel system.
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| * <u>Also includes free access to the fastest internet service in the area: Gigablast from Cox. </u>
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| * Can be combined with adjoining unit (<u>The Quarters</u>) for a total of 8 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and two full kitchens.
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| <div style="margin-left:0.5in;margin-right:0in;">Note: Rent will be reduced $400/mo. to account for noise during the construction of the adjoining unit <u>The Quarters</u>, which should be complete in November 2022. Similarly, rent will be reduced $200/mo. during the construction of <u>Felicity Heights</u> (schedule TBD).</div>
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| ===== Energy Savings =====
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| * Large solar panel system gives free power throughout the day.
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| * Brand new double-paned windows provide great insulation.
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| * Brand new HVAC systems are incredibly efficient.
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| * Whole-house fan cools entire home quickly and inexpensively.
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| * LED lighting throughout house consumes very little power.
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| * Tankless water heater only operates when you need it.
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| * Oversized eaves block most direct sunlight in hotter months.
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| ===== Comfort & Health =====
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| * Enormous master suite is the size of a small apartment—nearly 400 sq. ft.
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| * Split-level design gives the quiet privacy of upstairs living quarters with only a half-staircase.
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| * Versatile fourth bedroom downstairs with en suite half-bath is also perfect for an office or guest room.
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| * Individual HVAC systems in each bedroom let everyone be comfortable without wasting energy.
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| * Lighting throughout the house is recessed and dimmable.
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| * Dim-to-warm lights in bedrooms: These lights automatically turn from cool white to warm yellow light as you dim them, which feels more comfortable and doesn’t interfere with sleep like regular LED lights.
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| * Fireplace in living room offers a cozy heating option in the winter.
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| * Luxury vinyl flooring throughout the home is beautiful and durable.
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| * All materials used throughout home are easy to clean.
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| * Tankless water heater never runs out of hot water.
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| * Premium whole house water filter and salt-free softener ensure high water quality. (To be added in 2023.)
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| * Easy access to shared 1,250 sq. ft. raised patio with 600 sq. ft. covered outdoor living area.
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| * Sitewide noise restrictions enforced by on-site management ensure the quiet enjoyment of your home.
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| ===== Convenience =====
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| * Incredibly convenient <u>location</u>.
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| * Space for two large vehicles in driveway.
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| * Laundry center near bedrooms upstairs.
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| * Large closets in every bedroom, plus abundant common storage space.
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| * On-site management to address any problems.
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| ==== Special Features for Cats ====
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| In additional to the <u>free benefits for cat owners</u> available to all residents of Lion Canyon, Princess Place has a cat-centric floor plan with numerous features designed to solve the problems associated with living with many cats, helping to make you and your pets happier and healthier.
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| ===== Litter Closets =====
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| It’s hard to imagine having many cats without feeling like you’re living in a litter box, but it’s possible with a <u>litter closet</u>, and this house has three of them.
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| These tiny bathrooms for cats can be constantly ventilated to create negative air pressure, which means absolutely no air or odor escapes. This is accomplished using a hyper-efficient fan that costs less than a penny a day to operate.
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| With a litter closet, the only time you will ever smell or even see your litter boxes is when you clean them. With automated litter boxes (which we can provide), a single litter closet can usually be used by multiple cats—even ones that haven’t liked to share before—and all three litter closets are large enough to fit automated litter boxes.
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| Each room having a litter closet means that even if any cat gets accidentally stuck in any bedroom upstairs, they’ll have access to a litter box.
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| <u>Learn about litter closets</u> to find out more about how they work to eliminate litter box odor in your home.
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| ===== Bowl Basin =====
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| This small alcove keeps your water bowl out of the way and always full, thanks to a water supply line with an automatic shut-off valve. (Should this valve fail, there are three other safeguards built in to prevent flooding.)
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| This <u>bowl basin</u> works with a custom premium cat fountain we will provide for your use, but if you want to use your own instead, most bowls with a reservoir can be adapted to work with it (which we will happily do for you).
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| This basin also has an ideal size and location, which is more important to cats than many people realize. <u>Learn about bowl basins</u> to find out how they can significantly improve the health and happiness of your cat.
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| ===== Scratch Stations =====
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| Cats have an instinctual need to scratch—it is necessary to maintain the health of their claws, plus scratching relieves anxiety and boredom.
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| This home features three <u>scratch stations,</u> which provide a consistent, safe place your cats can rely on to take care of this need whenever the urge arises. Each station has a universal scratch pad holder that works with any size of pad and holds them at the ideal position for most cats to get the most out of scratching.
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| The scratch stations are located inside the litter cabinets, which lets cats clean their claws immediately after using the litter box rather than track dirty paws around the house. This location also keeps ugly scratch pads out of sight, plus it will keep shredded cardboard and catnip flakes contained to further help keep your home tidy.
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| ===== Solarium =====
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| Cats love to be up high, lay in the sun, sniff fresh air, and watch wildlife. Your cats can do all this safely from the massive solarium outside a window in the master bedroom. The solarium is positioned so your cats can get the most sun as well as observe the birds and butterflies attracted by the neighbor’s meticulously maintained botanical garden next door.
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| By opening the cat door in the master bedroom, the solarium can always be accessed, even if the bedroom door is closed. Furthermore, because cats access the solarium through a door next to the window instead of through it, the solarium does not interfere with the aesthetic or operation of the windows or shutters.
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| ===== Built-in Cat Gate =====
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| If you live with multiple cats, you already know the frustration of frantically herding them all up when you need to corral them, such as when you must keep the front door open or when you have visitors with toddlers or allergies. More than just a nuisance, this can be a matter of life and death if a cat escapes the home, but it’s just not practical or even always possible to confine multiple cats on a moment’s notice.
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| However, this home has a cat-centric floor plan. Every feature for cats is located on the upper floor, and all that’s required to keep all your cats safely up there is to close the built-in cat gate at the top of the staircase.
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| Virtually all pet gates are useless for cats, since they can climb or jump right over them. However, this custom gate stretches all the way to the ceiling, making it impossible for even the most athletic adult cat to get over it. Made of powder-coated steel by a local artisan, this handsome gate operates easily without a knob and lays flat against the wall, completely out of the way when not in use.
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| ===== Configurable Cat Living Spaces =====
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| Another regular problem in households with multiple cats is the need to keep certain cats away from others, such as when you get a new cat, when two cats aren’t getting along, or when a cat is sick or injured.
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| Each bedroom upstairs has a cat door that be opened to allow access or locked to create a confined area. Along with the pet gate and an additional cat door between two of the bedrooms, there are 32 possible door configurations, allowing you to easily create different living areas as your needs change.
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| As many cats as can get along with each other can enjoy the full benefits of the upstairs cat environment, and any that need to be on their own can easily be quarantined without changing anything but a cat door lock lever.
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| This flexibility allows you to provide an enriching living space for all your cats, even when confined, which is vitally important for their well-being. Cats can be perfectly healthy and happy living indoors their entire lives, but only if they have access to a sufficiently varied environment.
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| On top of giving access to more spaces, even the doors themselves are a source of enrichment, especially with cats who like to play with objects and chase each other. In addition to relieving boredom, when left unlocked these doors can also help relieve anxiety by making it impossible for a cat to be trapped in a room accidentally.
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| ===== Cat Tunnels with Brushes =====
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| Each litter closet is accessed via a decoratively trimmed tunnel that is lined with a pair of stiff brushes, so your cats can groom themselves every time they go in and out.
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| You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much these brushes reduce the amount of loose cat hair in the house. With multiple cats in the household, you’ll see a big difference immediately.
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| Please Note: Unlike the other cat features, these are not an original invention, but rather a commercial product called a <u>Cat Hole</u>—the only difference here is that we used two instead of one to form a tunnel through walls.
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| ===== Cat-Free Bedroom =====
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| In a home full of cats, it can still be important to have a living space that is off-limits to them, such as if you work from home, if you have guests over, or if someone in your household has allergies.
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| In conjunction with the pet gate, the bedroom on the lower floor can be easily maintained as a cat-free environment without restricting the freedom of the cats upstairs.
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| ===== Cat-Friendly Policies =====
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| Two policies help maximize the health and happiness of your cats. First, no dogs (other than trained service animals) are allowed. Second, sitewide noise restrictions are enforced to ensure neither you nor your cats experience any unnecessary anxiety.
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| ==== Photo Gallery ====
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| ==== More Information ====
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| Make sure to read about the <u>location</u> and the <u>additional benefits for cat owners</u>.
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| === The Quarters ===
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| Coming soon.
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| === Felicity Heights ===
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| Coming soon.
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| == Location Details ==
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| As the property manager, I am happy to share all that I know about this location, having lived here for over 20 years. If you have any questions not covered in this section, please feel free to <u>ask</u>.
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| === Neighborhood ===
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| The best feature of this neighborhood is the people who live in it—this area has a curiously high concentration of wonderful, friendly neighbors.* This is a quiet neighborhood of a few cul-de-sacs, so there is no through traffic. In fact, past this location there is only one short street with 18 homes, so few cars ever drive by at all.
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| * The neighbors are mostly seniors, with just a few homes with students, so parties are rare. Unlike many areas around SDSU, the people in this neighborhood are vigilant and don’t let parties get out of hand.
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| * This area is down in a canyon, so it is especially quiet and there is almost no noise from wind or surrounding areas.
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| * Since there is a hill on one side of the property, there is only one neighbor close by, and they are some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. In fact, most of the neighbors here know each other, look out for each other, and are very friendly.
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| This is the best area of a great neighborhood, and I’m constantly grateful for living here.* When bad things are happening in the world, it’s usually not so bad in the US.
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| * When bad things are happening in the US, it’s usually not so bad in California.
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| * When bad things are happening in California, it’s usually not so bad in San Diego.
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| * Of the relatively few problems San Diego does have, practically none of them occur here in this neighborhood.
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| * One of the primary problems in San Diego is high housing costs, but that’s a direct result of having so few other problems that everyone wants to live here.
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| === Transportation / Parking ===
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| [**map]
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| This location is about as close as you can get to freeways without having any freeway noise. It is near the nexus where most major San Diego freeways converge:* I-8 and I-15 are just two miles away.
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| * I-805 is the very next exit from there.
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| * I-163 is only two miles past that.
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| Plus, during typical travel from this location, most of the time traffic is going in the other direction.
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| Parking:* Space for two large vehicles in a deep driveway for residents of <u>Princess Place</u>.
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| * Plentiful street parking, because there is only one other house on the entire block (and they always park in their driveway).
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| With easy access to all three major San Diego public transit systems within walking distance, many people live in this area without cars.* San Diego MTS Bus Stop Montezuma and 54th (0.3 mi.)
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| * San Diego MTS Rapid StopandSan Diego MTS Trolley (Green Line)5260 Campanile Dr. (1.1 mi.)<u>https://www.sdmts.com/transit-services/trolley</u>
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| === Top-Rated Schools ===
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| This is an incredible area for education with top-rated schools at every level, and many people live here specifically to get access to them. These include:* <u>College Park Preschool</u> (less than a mile away)
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| * <u>Hardy Elementary School</u> (just two blocks away)
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| * <u>Lewis Middle School</u> (less than 2 miles away)
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| * <u>Patrick Henry High School</u> (less than 3 miles away)
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| Furthermore, if you need tutoring or childcare services, there are so many college students nearby actively looking for extra work that you can often find graduate students in fields like education or child development who will offer great rates in exchange for convenient work close to home.
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| === SDSU ===
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| If you study or work at SDSU, this location is difficult to beat, as this is one of the closest locations around—just 2-3 blocks away from the campus (near Parking Structure 7).
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| Plus, the SDSU campus is beautiful, and is a great place for anyone to walk, jog, or ride a bike.
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| Even if you are not a full-time student, the location is convenient if you need continuing education credits for your job. Or, if you want, you can even take classes at SDSU without enrolling. (More info: [https://ces.sdsu.edu/open-university https://ces.sdsu.edu/open-university])
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| === Grocery Stores ===
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| Trader Joe’s is so close that you can use it like an extended pantry, but there are several other grocery stores very close by as well.* Trader Joe’s 5140 College Ave. (1.0 mi.)
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| * Grocery Outlet4360 54th Street (1.2 mi.)
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| * Von’s 6155 El Cajon Blvd. (1.7 mi.)
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| * Ralph’s 6670 Montezuma Road (1.9 mi.)
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| * Food 4 Less5975 University Ave (2.5 mi.)
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| === Restaurants ===
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| There are hundreds of restaurants within a few miles of this location. * Fast / Casual There are over 20 fast-food and fast-casual restaurants near the corner of Montezuma and College (about a mile away), with several more coming soon.
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| ** McDonald’s (coming back soon)
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| ** Epic Wings
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| ** Lolita’s Mexican Food
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| ** Everbowl
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| ** Poki One ‘n’ Half
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| ** Which Wich
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| ** Eureka!
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| ** Señor Pancho’s Fresh Mexican Grill
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| ** Trujillo’s Taco Shop
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| ** Jack in the Box
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| ** 55 Thai Kitchen
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| ** African Cuisine
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| ** Domino’s Pizza
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| ** Panda Express
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| ** Rubio’s
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| ** Oggi’s Pizza Express
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| ** Shake Smart
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| ** The Habit Burger Grill
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| ** Chipotle Mexican Grill
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| ** Plant Power Fast Food
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| ** Subway
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| ** The Garden
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| Plus, there are dozens more down Mission Gorge and hundreds on El Cajon Blvd.
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| Some others worth noting:* D.Z. Akin’s6930 Alvarado Road (less than 3 mi. away)(619) 265-0218A San Diego icon that started out with one space in a strip mall, then expanded five times to take over the entire building. This New York-style deli has something for everyone with around 400 items on the menu (they have over 100 types of sandwiches alone), a ridiculously extensive selection of breakfast served all day, a full dinner and dessert menu, plus a full in-house bakery. In over 25 years of going here, I’ve never had anything I didn’t love.
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| * Antica Trattoria5654 Lake Murray Blvd. in the Lake Murray Village Shopping Center(619) 463-9919Speaking of strip malls, don’t let the location of this one fool you. This Italian restaurant has great ambience and the food is on par with the best restaurants in Little Italy, but with a much more convenient location—just one exit east from College Ave on I-8 to Lake Murray Blvd., then turn right to head north—it’s just past the Vons.
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| * Ponce’s4050 Adams Ave.(619) 282-4413Great traditional Mexican food close to home. Closed Sundays.
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| Not close by but worth the drive:* <u>Funky Fries & Burgers</u>101 W Washington Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020 (plus two other locations)(619) 328-2929If you like burgers, it is impossible to overhype this restaurant. Just try it.
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| * Tacos El Gordo689 H St, Chula Vista, CA 91910(619) 207-0144Open very late and serves some of the best Tijuana-style tacos and mulas around. Avoid peak hours, as the line can be almost an hour long.
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| === Hospitals ===
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| Two major hospitals are within a few miles:
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| Alvarado Hospital Medical Center6655 Alvarado Rd. (2.1 mi.)
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| Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center4647 Zion Ave. (3.2 mi.)
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| === Veterinarians ===
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| Several veterinarians are nearby; here are some of the closest:
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| ==== Routine Veterinary Care ====
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| College Animal Hospital5653 El Cajon Blvd.(619) 286-1980
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| Banfield Pet Hospital4585 College Ave.(619) 286-0963
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| ==== 24-Hour Emergency Veterinary Care ====
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| VCA Emergency Animal Hospital2317 Hotel Circle S.(619) 299-2400
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| Pet Emergency & Specialty Center5232 Jackson Dr. #105(619) 462-4800
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| === Shopping ===
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| Mission Valley is just a few exits west on I-8. There you’ll find several shopping centers and two large malls, Fashion Valley and Westfield Mission Valley. Practically every major retail store is only a few minutes away.
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| There are also two Costco locations just a couple of miles away:
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| Costco Mission Valley2345 Fenton Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92108
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| Costco La Mesa8125 Fletcher Pkwy, La Mesa, CA 91942
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| Note: While they are both about the same distance away, the Mission Valley location is used as a national test market, so it often has new and interesting products you may not find at other locations.
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| === Gyms ===
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| There are many gyms close by, but here are just a few worth noting:* ARCIf you are a student or faculty member (or are sponsored by one), then you can’t beat the Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) at SDSU, which has one of the largest gyms in the world and Olympic-level facilities for just about every sport in existence.
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| * Xplicit FitnessFounded by a Golden Glove champion, Xplicit integrates boxing into an intense 40-minute workout that’s fun and feels like you have your own personal trainer.6628 Mission Gorge Rd. (3 mi.)(619) 281-0800https://xplicitfitness.com/https://www.yelp.com/biz/xplicit-fitness-san-diego-25 stars with 131 reviews when checked
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| * CrossFit 858 If you’re into CrossFit, this is highest rated CrossFit gym in the area, according to Yelp (5 stars with 71 reviews when checked).5841 Mission Gorge Rd. (2.2 mi.)(858) 566-4500http://www.crossfit858.comhttps://www.yelp.com/biz/crossfit-858-san-diego
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| === Local Rental Scams to Watch Out For ===
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| [**]
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| Excessive application fees
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| Taking fees for hundreds of applications
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| “You’ll get the keys by mail”
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| Properties that don’t exist
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| === Local Landlord Nightmares ===
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| [**]
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| This is a nice area, with plenty of nice places to rent. However, there are also many landlords here who take advantage of the incredibly high demand in the area to get away with unethical, Illegal, and dangerous practices—to the point where there are constant news reports about it.
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| This is not just a problem with the big apartment complexes—a staggering share of the homes in the area have been bought by giant corporations. Some put up a good front, making it seem like you’re dealing with a mom-and-pop landlord, but soon after the lease is signed, tenants face a host of problems.
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| Below are links to reports from reputable new sources; however, if you check out NextDoor or Reddit for the area, you can find countless more.
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| Alt: I won’t list them publicly, but if you are interested, enter your email address and you’ll get an automatic response with a list of 20+ articles about landlord nightmares in the immediate area.
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| [https://youtu.be/6HP-lLTqwxA https://youtu.be/6HP-lLTqwxA] | |
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| [https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/working-for-you/apartment-near-san-diego-state-university-in-squalor/509-a40d76a0-be8c-451f-903a-6bec2f09d025 https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/working-for-you/apartment-near-san-diego-state-university-in-squalor/509-a40d76a0-be8c-451f-903a-6bec2f09d025] | |
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://youtu.be/2YV_ZUrTxig</u></span>
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/working-for-you/san-diego-student-will-receive-full-refund-after-squalor-apartment/509-df791160-ba06-4d12-a6f4-b7b728b64f8c</u></span>
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://youtu.be/4o4hWswZz64</u></span>
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/working-for-you/more-complaints-against-blvd63-apartment/509-4d2b860e-206e-4760-94d6-97ecddeccfbd</u></span>
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://youtu.be/6HP-lLTqwxA</u></span>
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| <span style="color:#f49100;"><u>https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/working-for-you/apartment-near-san-diego-state-university-in-squalor/509-a40d76a0-be8c-451f-903a-6bec2f09d025</u></span>
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| Look up Lana stories
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| == Free Benefits for Tenants with Cats ==
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| === Adoption Fees ===
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| We will pay the adoption fees for a cat from <u>Friends of Cats</u> in El Cajon once per year for each home.
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| Please Note: Haven Homes is not affiliated with Friends of Cats.
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| === Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes ===
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| Tenants who have more cats than <u>litter closets</u> in their home (four or more cats in <u>Princess Place</u><nowiki>; two or more cats elsewhere) will be given the use of premium automated self-cleaning litter boxes (these typically cost $600 or more). Upon moving out, tenants will be given the option to purchase their litter boxes at a reduced cost.</nowiki>
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| === Automatic Self-Filling Water Fountains ===
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| To promote your cats’ health, we will provide a filtered water fountain for any tenant who needs one.
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| For all homes with a <u>bowl basin</u> (i.e., <u>Princess Place</u> and <u>Felicity Heights</u>), we will also install an automatic filling device to make sure your fountain never runs dry. If you would prefer to use your own water bowl instead, we will modify your bowl to be automatically filled. (Most designs with a reservoir can be adapted.)
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| === Automatic Cat Feeders ===
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| Each home will be given the use of an automatic cat feeder (these typically cast around $200) which allow the remote control and monitoring of cats’ feeding schedules. Upon moving out, tenants will be given the option to purchase their feeders at a reduced cost.
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| === Cat Solariums ===
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| At <u>Felicity Heights</u> or <u>The Quarters</u>, upon request, we will install a cat solarium that has been custom-made to fit in a window in your home. (Note: <u>Princess Place</u> already has a large permanent solarium.)
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| == Site Policies ==
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| === All profits go to promote animal welfare. ===
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| To have any chance of convincing larger developers to copy the model, the homes developed through this project must operate profitably. However, all profits will go toward promoting animal welfare.
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| Charity begins at home (or, in this case, at Haven Homes), so the first animals to benefit will be those living at Lion Canyon through a series of <u>benefits for cats</u> provided at no cost to the tenants.
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| === Lion Canyon is a quiet home for everyone. ===
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| Lion Canyon is designed to be a peaceful refuge for both people and cats, which means excessive noise—like loud music or parties—is not allowed. Because the property manager works from home and lives 100 feet away, this policy will be enforced.
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| If you did not plan on making much noise anyway, then you can see this quiet policy as a pure benefit, since it won’t restrict you and will ensure your sleep, study, work, or enjoyment of your home will not disturbed by your neighbors. (Sleep is important for everyone’s health, especially cats—in fact, kittens need to sleep 16-20 hours a day for proper development.)
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| On the other hand, if you see this quiet policy as uncomfortably restrictive, then Lion Canyon probably isn’t for you. However, since practically no other housing in the area has such restrictions, you should have plenty of other options.
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| === Only cats are allowed. ===
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| Many dogs are wonderful with cats, but a single misbehaving dog could disturb all cats on the property, so no dogs (apart from trained service animals) or any other pets are allowed—only cats.
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| (We love dogs, and the next Haven Homes project planned is for large dogs; however, Lion Canyon is for cats only.)
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| === Everyone can use the patio. ===
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| Since San Diego has famously perfect weather year-round, you may want to spend much of your time outside. You are welcome to do so on the giant 1,250 sq. ft. raised patio, which has outdoor seating and a 600 sq. ft. covered area with lights and fans, for your quiet enjoyment from 8 am to 10 pm.
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| = Animal Architecture =
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| The Haven Houses project seeks to create a collection of architectural concepts that make living with animals better, improving the health and happiness of pets and the people who care for them.
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| While developing these concepts, we adhere to a strict set of <u>design principles</u>, which we are sharing in the hopes that it sparks an idea for a new concept or an improvement to an existing one, or even a way the principles themselves could be improved.
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| Applying these principles has weeded out about 99% of the concepts we have considered so far. Here you can learn about the few that have made the cut so far and been put into production at Haven Homes properties: the <u>litter closet</u>, <u>bowl basin</u>, <u>cat loft</u>, and <u>scratch station</u>.
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| == Design Principles ==
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| There are countless ways to make a home animal-friendly; however, the Haven Homes project focuses on concepts intended to be adopted by large-scale property developers. Therefore, the following stakeholder groups must be considered: * Investors
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| * Construction Managers
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| * Property Managers
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| * Tenants/Buyers without Pets
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| * Tenants/Buyers with Pets
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| * Pets
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| To guide development toward concepts that would maximize the benefit and minimize the cost to each of these groups, the following design principles were applied:
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| === Everything must pencil out. ===
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| Widespread adoption of pet-friendly features could benefit millions of animals; however, to be adopted, these concepts need to appeal to capitalists, not charities, and must make financial sense to people who definitely care about profit, but do not necessarily care about animals.
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| The impact to all stakeholder groups must be considered in financial terms. Therefore, all pet features must…* …be relatively inexpensive when built into new construction.
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| * …have a net positive impact on value and risk management.
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| * …be simple to build using standard construction methods and readily available materials.
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| * …require minimal maintenance.
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| * …not detract from the perceived value of the property for people without pets.
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| * …be seen as a significant value for people with pets, resulting in higher prices and/or lower vacancy rates.
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| * …reduce pet anxiety or otherwise improve pet behavior, resulting in less property damage and less nuisance to other tenants.
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| === Design spaces, not products. ===
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| Products are problematic. Products require continual repair and replacement, whereas spaces are built once and require little to no maintenance. Products get outdated, while spaces are future-proof. Products provide specific functions; spaces are flexible and can serve multiple purposes.
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| Furthermore, no single pet product will ever work for all animals, so it is a waste of time to try to find or invent the perfect one to build into the home. Instead, functional spaces should be designed to work with many existing products, enhancing their features and limiting property damage.
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| The goal is to design a home where animals belong—not as an afterthought but as an essential part of the household—by including spaces for all their essential needs.
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| === Human needs come first. ===
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| Pet features can only be added after all the humans’ needs are met and cannot come at the expense of human utility or enjoyment of the home.
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| This is compatible with even the most animal-centric perspective, because no feature for animals can match the benefit of having a happy, healthy human caregiver who has extra time and energy to spend with them.
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| ==== Transform low-value spaces. ====
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| A great way to balance the needs of people and animals is to put features for animals in spaces that are of little or no value to people.
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| Animals do not care about aesthetics and can squeeze into tight spots. The lowest value space to humans can be of high value to animals, especially cats, who love tiny alcoves and areas up out of reach of most people.
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| ==== First, do no harm. ====
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| As much as we may love them, for this project, a benefit to an animal cannot come at a net cost to humans. Pet features must not detract significant value from the home for people who do not wish to use them, particularly those who do not have pets.
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| Aim for win-win-win solutions where all stakeholder groups benefit, or at the very least, there are no significant drawbacks for any group.
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| ==== Second, do two things. ====
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| Whenever possible, pet features should have a secondary function that has nothing to do with animals so that space and resources are not wasted when the home they are in does not have animals living there.
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| === Everything should look normal. ===
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| Few people—even those who love their pets deeply—want their home’s aesthetic to revolve around their animals. Therefore, pet features must not make a home look like that of an eccentric animal enthusiast who has given their pets priority over all else.
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| On the contrary, pet features should draw no more attention to themselves than a closet door or a bookshelf would. No pet feature can look odd, unplanned, or out-of-place. Through design and material choice, pet features should blend so naturally into the home environment that they appear unremarkable, effectively hidden in plain sight.
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| === Build it for life. ===
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| Pet features should be designed to withstand daily use by multiple tenants and pets, yet still last for decades with minimal maintenance.
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| Anticipate damage that could be caused by animals and take steps to avoid it. Plan for all spaces accessible by animals to get dirty regularly.
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| Through design and material choices, make everything hard to break and easy to clean. For reliability, use tried-and-true materials and construction methods.
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| === Make good habits irresistible. ===
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| For any concept to be worthwhile enough to adopt, it must be used as intended.
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| Humans respond to incentives. Use these to guide people toward good habits. Make the path of least resistance point toward proper usage.
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| ==== Reward the decision-makers. ====
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| Provide compelling benefits directly to the people who will decide whether to use pet features as intended.
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| For example: Suppose keeping an object, like a water bowl or a litter box, in a certain space would help reduce animal anxiety and avoid property damage. These are long-term benefits that primarily affect the pets and the property owner, respectively; however, a tenant will ultimately be deciding how to use this space. In this case, there must be an additional benefit for the tenant as well—such an obvious, significant benefit for keeping that object where it is intended that tenants would need extraordinary reasons not to do so.
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| ==== Nothing can be complicated. ====
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| All pet features must be easy to understand and hard to mess up.
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| A feature that requires training or a manual to use is too complicated. Instead, they must be simple and intuitive, if not completely self-explanatory.
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| ==== Eliminate mistakes by design. ====
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| Whenever feasible, remove all possibilities of incorrect usage.
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| Make it very difficult for humans to cut off access to pet features accidentally, especially those that take care of an animal’s essential needs.
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| ==== Shorten the task list. ====
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| Rational behavior dictates that the path of least resistance will generally be followed.
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| New pet features must require less work than their traditional alternatives; otherwise, they cannot be expected to be used consistently, even if they provide additional benefits.
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| === Foster healthy, happy animals. ===
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| Pet owners already care about the health and wellbeing of their animals, and landlords should too, because unhealthy or anxious pets can cause many kinds of property damage.
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| Happy, healthy pets typically don’t cause nearly as much damage, but few people are experts who know exactly how to properly take care of animals. For that matter, few people know exactly how to take care of humans, either, but we all get constant help from the world around us, including architecture, which guides us toward smarter decisions, helping us constantly avoid conflicts, inconveniences, and injuries without us even knowing it.
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| Living in environments made for our care and comfort reduces our stress and anxiety in countless ways we rarely notice. If just a fraction of the effort put toward designing such environments for people is put toward designing them for animals too, it can make a massive difference in reducing their anxiety as well.
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| ==== Animal lives are essential. ====
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| The vast majority of Americans view their pets as members of their family, yet their homes were not designed for everyone in their family; rather, only the human members were considered.
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| Fix this discrepancy by designing architectural elements that take the needs of these pets seriously and address them with the same importance given to humans’ needs.
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| ==== Focus on the mundane. ====
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| Features that provide novelty or entertainment are often exciting and interesting, but tastes vary widely between various people and their pets, so such features are more likely to be wasted.
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| Instead, provide necessities, not luxuries. Design an environment that helps take care of the boring, everyday needs of all animals, leaving the fun stuff to individual pet owners who know what they and their animals like.
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| ==== Create consistent care routines. ====
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| Inconsistent care causes stress and anxiety in animals, and most pets, like cats and dogs, thrive on routine.
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| Animal-friendly features should help people maintain regular pet care routines. To that end, these features should facilitate the automation of routine pet care tasks that can be automated safely and reliably.
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| ==== Don’t forget senior animals. ====
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| When designing the environment, consider that senior animals often can’t move around as easily as younger animals can. Ensure that the basic necessities are accessible to them and any other animals with limited mobility.
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| == Litter Closet ==
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| === Overview ===
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| Cats are ideal companions for many people, but litter box odor is a major issue — especially in smaller living spaces. However, a litter closet can solve this problem.
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| A litter closet is a small enclosure for a litter box that eliminates odor completely by ventilating it outside the home. Essentially, it is a cat-sized bathroom.
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| Conceptually, a litter closet is the feline counterpart to a dog run — a place for pets to autonomously relieve themselves that prevents the unpleasant sight and odor of animal waste from affecting the household.
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| === Benefits of a Litter Closet ===
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| ==== For cats ====
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| Like their undomesticated relatives in the wild, housecats get instinctually nervous when they cannot react to a threat, which makes using the litter box one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. A litter closet provides cats with a quiet, private room in which to relieve themselves, which helps reduce their stress and anxiety. Some cats have litter box enclosures already, but for those who don’t, this will be a substantial improvement.
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| A litter closet also whisks away the odor from other cats, which makes sharing a litter box much more tolerable for cats who must do so.
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| ==== For people with cats ====
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| A litter closet eliminates all litter box odor, solving the number one complaint about cats.
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| Hands down, a litter closet is the pet feature most cat owners would value above all others. The other features are nice, but a litter closet is the only one that has been called “life-changing.”
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| Having a litter closet means you’ll be happier every time you walk into your home. It means you can invite guests over without feeling embarrassed or apologizing for the litter box smell, because there won’t be any.
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| It may even mean you can get another cat. The factor preventing many people from getting more cats is a lack of litter box space, especially in smaller homes. However, when combined with an automatic self-cleaning litter box, a litter closet can often be shared by two, three, or even more cats with no conflicts, since it effectively feels like a fresh litter box every time it is used.
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| Plus, with the right hyper-efficient fan, you’ll get all these benefits for less than a penny a day in electricity in the United States, even in the markets with the most expensive power.
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| ==== For people without cats ====
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| If you don’t have a cat, a litter closet is simply a built-in cabinet with a finished countertop that can be used for storage.
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| You can still use the fan, though, which will ventilate out just enough stale air to keep your living space feeling fresh, as well as help prevent problems that occur with inadequate ventilation, like mold and mildew.
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| ==== For rental property owners ====
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| It benefits rental property owners to create a bathroom that a cat would prefer using. If a cat isn’t happy with its litter box, it will just go somewhere else. And you cannot trust people to thoughtfully consider that perhaps their choice of litter box location has anything to do with their cats’ behavioral problems.
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| If you do not provide spaces for a litter boxes, each tenant will put them in different places, which can eventually spread foul-smelling damage throughout the entire home. By providing a litter closet, you can contain all such damage to a controlled location, where you can mitigate or even prevent it entirely by using protective materials.
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| You also cannot count on tenants to use ventilation fans every time they should, such as when using the shower. However, the ultra-low trickle ventilation provided by the litter closet fan helps prevent property damage that occurs when moisture accumulates and is not properly ventilated, such as mold and wood decay.
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| However, the biggest benefit to you as an owner is that litter closets will add a massive amount of perceived value to your property because tenants love them so much.
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| Although the Haven Homes project is aiming to keep rent prices moderate, you could charge a significant premium for this feature alone, because it makes an enormous difference in the lives of people with cats. For tenants it will mean the difference between feeling like they’re living in a litter box compared to, for the first time in their lives, having cats in a house that smells normal. This will feel like magic at first, and then become a feature they can’t imagine living without. As long as you do not raise rents abusively, offering litter closets can maximize your revenue by significantly lowering vacancies and turnover, since once your tenants have lived with a litter closet, they won’t want to live somewhere without one.
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| === How to Build a Litter Closet ===
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| ==== Pick the Right Location ====
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| Cats don’t like their litter boxes to be by their water or their food, so if you are also installing a <u>bowl basin</u>, make sure they are not right next to each other.
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| The litter closet should also ideally be in a quiet location away from foot traffic.
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| Look for a location where a counter-height cabinet would not look out of place, and ideally one that can be ventilated easily.
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| ==== Install a Ventilation Fan ====
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| Install a vent duct just as you would for a bathroom vent fan. This will normally be a 4”/100mm duct, but it may vary depending on the fan and the run length.
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| It is crucial to use a fan designed for continuous use that can run at extremely low power. The ideal fan is:* SmallThe fan should not be large; in fact, the smaller the better. An 80 mm fan is more than adequate.
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| * EfficientThe fan should be able to operate drawing 3 watts or less.
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| * SilentThe fan should produce no more than 30 dB of noise, which means you shouldn’t hear it outside the litter closet.
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| Fans designed for this specific purpose are known as continuous extract fans. Other fans have an extreme low-power option built-in (often called “trickle speed”), while still others can be modified to operate at very low power by using a variable-speed controller, which you can install inline or in place of a regular switch.
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| ===== Tips =====
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| ====== Get a DC brushless motor. ======
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| Although more expensive, DC brushless motor technology is designed for low noise, low energy use, and extremely long life.
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| ====== Add an outlet. ======
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| While you’re running electrical service to the fan, add an outlet as well to allow the use of automatic litter boxes and night lights.
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| Locate the outlet away from the entrance and behind where the litter box will go so the electrical cord will not be in the pathway. Also, position the outlet near the top of the litter closet to provide an effective location for a night light.
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| ====== Add a filter. ======
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| Get a fan case with a screen or filter slot to prevent cat hair from clogging the rotor; however, the fan should be operating at such a low power that hair is not easily sucked into it.
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| ====== Bigger is not better. ======
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| It’s best to use a very small fan. A litter closet requires only a tiny amount of constant airflow to work. In fact, you don’t want any more airflow than is necessary since it will be venting some of your indoor air outside. A small amount of constant ventilation is good for your health, your pets’ health, and helps prevent problems like mold and mildew; however, too much ventilation would make your heating and air conditioning inefficient. Rule of thumb: If you can perceive any draft or sound outside the cabinet, the fan is probably too powerful.
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| ==== Build the Enclosure ====
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| The next step is to build an enclosure that will be ventilated by the fan. This is typically a cabinet, but it can also be built into the lower portion of a closet.
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| Make the enclosure big enough to accommodate an automatic self-cleaning litter box as well as space to maneuver in and out of the litter box.
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| If you build an enclosure with interior dimensions of at least 30”H x 25”W x 40”L, you will be able to fit all the most popular automatic litter boxes while leaving enough room for most cats to comfortably maneuver. It’s a good idea to accommodate multiple models instead of just one, as technology changes rapidly and your litter closet will long outlive any automated litter box.
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| While width and length will vary widely depending on your environment, if you are building a cabinet, it’s almost always best to make it standard counter height (34-1/2” cabinets, typically finished to 36” outer height). Here are several reasons why:* It’s only a little taller than the tallest major self-cleaning litter box.
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| * Adding a countertop makes a useful surface at comfortable height.
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| * The space inside will be more useful when used for storage.
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| * It will be easier to clean (very important).
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| * Fans will burn out if the volume is too small.
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| * Extra space makes it more comfortable for cats to use.
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| * Pre-made cabinetry components are plentiful at this height.
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| * Counter height cabinets look normal; other heights do not.
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| * It’s the perfect height to house a <u>scratch station</u>. (Read <u>why scratch stations belong in litter closets</u> for more information.)
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| The floor of cabinet should be treated with a waterproof material, like epoxy paint or vinyl tiles. To be safe, you should also coat at least the lower 12” of the interior walls and seal the lower joints.
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| If you are building a cabinet, add an access door, which should close snugly without any large gaps. Do not add a gasket to form an airtight seal—it is not required, and the airflow through the small space around the door will help ventilation. The door needs to be wide enough to comfortably remove the litter box and clean the cabinet, and it needs a secure latch to prevent the cats from pushing it open.
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| Ideally, build the cabinet without any face frame below the door to allow the litter box to slide out easily—although for aesthetic purposes, you may opt to attach a faux face frame strip to the door that looks like part of the frame when the door is closed. Since a heavy litter box will be repeatedly slid across the bottom edge, it is advisable to cover that edge with a durable material and/or build a small ramp to the floor to prevent damage.
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| Alternately, if the enclosure is built into the lower portion of a closet, the existing closet door can be used for access. To ensure proper ventilation, the lowest shelf in the closet that forms the roof of the litter closet should be deep enough to nearly touch the closet door when closed to separate the space below from the top portion of the cabinet.
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| The disadvantage of building into a closet is that every time you open the closet door, air escapes, and the rest of the closet shares airspace with the litter box. In practice this still works well, because with proper ventilation, the air from the litter closet does not flow into the rest of the closet. However, people may still be uncomfortable with the proximity nevertheless. If building for renters, stick with cabinets.
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| ==== Add a Cat Entry Door ====
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| Add a cat-sized entry door to the enclosure. It is best to use an open door rather than one with a flap, since this will dramatically extend the life of the fan. The negative air pressure caused by the ventilation will ensure no air escapes.
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| Put the door in a location that cannot be blocked by normal, everyday actions, like leaving a nearby door open.
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| A cat door with an integrated brush is highly recommended, so cats can groom themselves each time they use the litter box. These significantly reduce the amount of loose cat hair, especially in homes with multiple cats.
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| === Recommended Accessories ===
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| ==== Automatic Self-Cleaning Litter Box ====
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| Using an automatic self-cleaning litter box will reduce the frequency with which the litter cabinet must be opened, but that’s not nearly the best part.
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| When combined with an automatic self-cleaning litter box, between the frequent litter cleaning and ventilation, the litter box feels like a consistently fresh environment to most cats, which will encourage finicky cats to use it.
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| This also means that a litter closet can often be shared harmoniously by multiple cats that otherwise would not share a litter box. This in turn means that people may be able to get more cats without conflicts or more litter boxes, which is especially important for people in small homes with room for only one litter box.
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| ==== Scratch Station ====
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| The litter closet is a great place to put a <u>scratch station</u>, so cats can clean their claws immediately after using the litter box, among many other reasons.
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| See <u>why scratch stations belong in litter closets</u> for more information.
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| ==== Nightlight ====
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| Cats require very little light to see, but at night the interior of the cabinet may be too dark for even a cat to navigate comfortably. A tiny nightlight will provide more than enough light to remedy this.
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| == Bowl Basin ==
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| === Overview ===
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| There is no ideal place to put a water bowl for pets in most homes. This may sound like just a minor inconvenience, but a bowl of water on the floor is a serious hazard. At the very least it is a regular source of water damage; at worst it can result in people tripping over either the bowl or the animals near them, seriously harming themselves or their pets in the process. These problems, as well as several others, can be solved by a bowl basin.
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| A bowl basin is a small alcove built to keep a water bowl out of the way and always full. Structurally, it is basically a tiny, open shower stall: It has two or three waterproof walls surrounding a drain pan, along with a valve nearby to supply water. Ideally, this valve will be connected to an auto-filling device, and the basin will include multiple safeguards against flooding.
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| === Benefits of a Bowl Basin ===
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| ==== For pets ====
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| Drinking sufficient water is crucial to animals’ long-term health, especially when they are older. Bowl basins help ensure this happens by providing consistent water availability and a secure drinking location.
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| ===== Consistent Water Availability =====
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| Humans, being fallible, will inevitably let water bowls run dry sometimes, even bowls with large reservoirs.
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| Depending on the animal and the frequency of unavailability, this can lead to behavioral changes. For example, pets may drink more than is ideal if they are uncertain whether their bowl will have water the next time they check. In general, though, if the water bowl is sometimes full and sometimes empty, it can lead to anxiety.
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| Bowl basins allow pet bowls to be safely connected to water sources indoors, which eliminates this potential source of anxiety.
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| <u>[Video: How automation reduces pet anxiety]</u>
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| ===== Secure Drinking Location =====
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| Still, having water always available doesn’t necessarily mean pets will get all the water they need to be healthy. Improper water bowl placement can also cause animals—especially older ones—to drink less than they should and live in a state of constant dehydration and anxiety.
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| For many animals, drinking water is an instinctually risky activity because it places them in a vulnerable state. In the wild, cats drink in groups, with some keeping watch while others drink, but housecats typically must brave it alone.
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| Cats and small dogs live in an environment where giants twenty times their size stomp around, giants who can kick or crush them if they aren’t paying attention. A single accident where they get hurt or even just scared can cause animals to feel anxious about a drinking location for years and can permanently change their behavior.
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| This is more important than it may sound, because if animals cannot drink comfortably, then they may not drink as much. Over time, chronic dehydration leads to a plethora of serious health problems, especially in older animals.
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| On the contrary, if pets have a place where they can consistently drink undisturbed, they are more likely to have lower anxiety and to drink healthy amounts of water, which can mean several more years of healthy life in a senior animal.
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| (Note: The proper location of the bowl is even more important and complex for cats. See <u>Find the right space</u> for details.)<u> </u>
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| ==== For people with pets ====
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| Beyond enjoying your happier, healthier pets, with a bowl basin you will also enjoy more peace of mind. Having your pet’s water bowl filled automatically is like putting a bill on autopay—it means one fewer frequent chore to do, plus never worrying about your animals going thirsty or feeling guilty when you let the bowl go dry.
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| Tripping over the water bowl or slipping on spilled water will be a thing of the past, as will water damage around the bowl. Plus, as with every feature that reduces your pet’s anxiety, you may find your animals engaging in destructive behavior less frequently.
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| Finally, whether used for a bowl or not, the basin is also an ideal location for a pet bed to prevent damage from elderly pets who have become incontinent.
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| ==== For people without pets ====
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| If not used to house a water dish, the bowl basin can simply serve as a general storage area. However, due to its durable, waterproof construction, this versatile space can also perform additional functions.
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| For example, it can store wet or dirty items, then be easily hosed down afterward. It also functions as a mop sink, which can aid in messy jobs like cleaning floors or rinsing off shoes.
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| ==== For rental property owners ====
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| Bowl basins can deliver a strong return on investment for rental property owners by preventing water damage—the leading cause of property damage.
| |
| | |
| ===== Water bowls are inevitable. =====
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| Water bowls are inevitable. Water damage doesn’t have to be. Virtually all rental properties will have animals in them at some point. Even if you have a strict “no pets” policy, some people will still sneak in cats.''' '''Also, service animals (and in some cases emotional support animals) must be allowed as they are not considered pets under the Fair Housing Act.
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| The bottom line is that your rental properties will have animals in them, and those animals will need water, which means bowls of water on the floor. If you don’t provide the perfect place to put those bowls, tenants will put them anywhere and everywhere. They’ll drip water when they’re filling the bowls, the animals will splash water around, and periodically the whole bowl will be knocked over.
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| To make matters worse, many modern pet bowls have circulating pumps and reservoirs that can hold a few gallons of water. When the return path gets clogged (which happens frequently when animals are involved), the pump will send those gallons of water all over the floor. Since this can all happen while unattended, this water can sit for days if your tenant is out of town.
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| Vinyl flooring or tile help a lot, but it can still be weak at the seams. Even if you have perfectly waterproof floors, your walls and cabinets will still get damaged. A one-time investment in a bowl basin that costs less than one moderate water damage repair can avoid all this expense, in addition to adding a feature that tenants with pets will love.
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| ===== Manage your risk. =====
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| You can give your tenants a smart place to put the water bowl. In fact, a bowl basin gives them such a smart place that they would be foolish to put the bowl anywhere else.
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| You can put a clause in your lease’s pet addendum that states that as a condition of being allowed pets, tenants agree to certain practices, such as keeping the water bowl in the bowl basin.
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| However, while you can’t always count on people to follow legal agreements, you can always count on them to follow incentives, and a bowl auto-filler is the ultimate incentive to get people to put the water bowl exactly where you want.
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| The auto-filler is also a risk, but this risk is managed by adding several safeguards:* Float or Hudson valve
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| * Floor drain
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| * Overflow drain
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| * Shut-off valve (Continuous volume limiting or leak detector/solenoid)
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| Any one of these measures alone will prevent flooding, which means all four would have to fail simultaneously for overflow to occur. This makes a bowl basin a tiny risk compared to all other plumbed appliances in the home, such as a sink or shower, which lack such redundant protection. Plus, it’s all but guaranteed to keep water bowls in a location where they cannot cause damage, eliminating this significant source of risk.
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| === How to Build a Bowl Basin ===
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| ==== Find the right space ====
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| ===== Location =====
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| When evaluating the location of a bowl basin, it is important to follow these guidelines:* Avoid areas with regular human foot traffic (especially for cats or small dogs).
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| * Avoid areas that require stairs to access them, since senior animals develop arthritis and won’t drink as much if it’s uncomfortable to get to the bowl.
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| In addition, cats have an instinctual need for cleanliness that requires more rules:* Do not place the bowl basin near the litter box.
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| * Do not place the bowl basin near the food dish.
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| ===== Size =====
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| Although the bowl basin alcove only needs to be about 18” tall to operate for small animals only, it’s best to make it at least 24” tall to make the space compatible with more animals, more versatile for alternate uses, and easier to clean. For large dogs, consider counter height (36”) or at least table height (30”).
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| If there will be nothing else above the bowl basin, stick with counter height (36”) regardless of the intended animal usage—which will create a counter/shelf at a useful height above the bowl basin. Counters shorter this typically won’t line up with other horizontal visual elements, leaving them looking awkward and out-of-place.
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| When designing for cats, make the basin at least long or wide enough to allow a cat to enter the basin and be completely out of the way while drinking. (This depends on the size of the bowl used, but 24” is usually big enough.)
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| Later, when placing the bowl within the basin, position it so that your cat can look out of the alcove while drinking if possible. Many cats will be more comfortable being able to view the surroundings rather than having their backs to an area where they could be surprised from behind.
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| With these guidelines in mind, look for a space that isn’t very useful to people, but has easy access to a water supply and drain line. Some great places to put a bowl basin:* In dead space behind blind kitchen cabinet corners
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| * In dead space under staircases
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| * In the otherwise hard-to-use space next to appliances mandated by ADA (especially dishwashers or washing machines, which have drains and water supply lines)
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| * In the bottom portions of closets
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| ==== Create a bowl auto-filler ====
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| ===== Install a water shut-off valve =====
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| To prevent flooding, you can install any manner of leak detection devices connected to a solenoid valve.
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| Alternately, you can install a continuous volume limiting shut-off valve, which is triggered after a certain amount of water has flowed through the valve without stopping. Use a cutoff threshold higher than the capacity of your pet bowl (which allows you to fill the bowl completely after washing it) but well under the capacity of the basin to prevent overflow.
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| For example, if your bowl reservoir holds 1.5 gallons, and you have a 24” square basin with a 4” curb, which holds roughly 10 gallons, you can use a shut-off threshold of 3-5 gallons and be well protected against flooding even if your drain and overflow were to be fully clogged.
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| ===== Add the fill hose =====
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| Terminate this water line in a recessed ice maker water valve box installed in one of the walls around the basin, either above or through the surround. To reduce the points of failure, choose a valve pipe size that matches the size of the inlet for your float valve to avoid needing any additional pipe fittings. Connect one end of a short stainless steel water supply line to the recessed valve and the other end to the float valve. Place the float valve in the water bowl’s reservoir, and that reservoir will now be automatically filled.
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| The easiest bowl designs to adapt are those with reservoirs that are either open on top or have lids. In the latter case, you’ll need to cut a small notch in the lid the size of the water hose, which will allow the lid to be affixed while the float valve is inside without requiring any permanent installation. This makes removing the auto-filler a snap when the bowl needs to be cleaned.
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| Note: Hudson valves are a compact, elegant alternative that perform the function of a float valve, but without the moving parts, which makes them durable and reliable. They are more expensive—and well worth it—but only if your bowl design allows you to mount them securely. If you want to be able to easily remove the auto-filler for cleaning, stick with a cheaper enclosed float valve.
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| ==== Build or buy the basin ====
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| The basin can be built using any standard construction techniques used to build a shower pan.
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| Alternatively, you may be able to find a premade basin. For instance, mop sinks come in several common sizes that may work for your space. (Look for mop sinks with one wall lower than the others for bucket pours; otherwise, you’ll need to remove a large portion of one wall for pet access.)
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| Waterproof material on the walls, such as tile, only needs to be as tall as the curb to form a basin, although you may choose to build the surround higher for aesthetic purposes. If not, coat the walls above with waterproof paint to prevent damage from splashed water.
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| It is highly advisable to install both a floor drain as well as an overflow drain in the wall, as the overflow drain is the most reliable failsafe of all. For best results, do not connect the overflow drain to the sewer system, but rather to a safe, conspicuous location outdoors to help create awareness of an overflow.
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| | |
| == Cat Loft ==
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| === Overview ===
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| The space above typical closets is mostly wasted. However, framing and finishing that area creates an alcove that is far more useful for storage, especially in homes with higher ceilings.
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| Such an alcove also happens to be the perfect height and location for a quiet living space for cats, hence the name: cat loft.
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| | |
| === Benefits of a Cat Loft ===
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| ==== For cats ====
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| Cats have an instinctual drive to seek out high perches from which they can observe their surroundings. Also, to feel safe, cats need a secure, reliable place to which they can retreat when they feel threatened. Cats experience anxiety when they lack either of these basic needs, which are especially difficult to provide in a small home, but a cat loft satisfies both.
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| Interestingly enough, research suggests that the overall size of an indoor living space does not matter much to cats, but having access to higher elevations within that space matters deeply. In short, cats experience significantly less anxiety in tiny rooms with accessible high platforms than in large rooms where they are stuck on the floor.
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| In fact, of the primary new concepts for cats developed through this project—litter closet, bowl basin, cat loft, and scratch station—the cat loft would make the biggest difference to many cats. Even without architecture designed especially for these purposes, cat owners can still provide their cats with an immaculately maintained litter box, plenty of scratch pads, and constantly fresh water in a comfortable location—the new features just make it much easier to do so. However, most homes lack such an ideal feline living space that a cat loft would provide.
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| ==== For people with cats ====
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| By providing a secure retreat for your cat with a cat loft, you will enjoy the benefits of living with a cat with less anxiety.
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| If you want to spoil your cats rotten, you could turn the entire loft into a luxury feline apartment, which you can decorate and fill with toys and cat-sized furniture.
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| However, you don’t need to use the entire space for cats. You can provide a generous living area for multiple cats and still have plenty of room left over for storage, as described in the next section.
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| ==== For people without cats ====
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| A cat loft is incredibly useful to people even if it is never used for cats.
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| This versatile alcove provides a durable, secure storage space that is much larger and easier to access than if the same space were enclosed in the closet below.
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| [**3D Diagram/video: closet vs. cat loft]
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| As you can see in the [diagram/video], a cat loft provides over double the secure storage space of a shelf within a closet, because obstrcted shelves are functionally limited to half the depth of the closet, and most are shallower. In addition, the front wall of the closet makes this area difficult to access, especially with large items, reducing your ability to use what little space is available.
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| On the contrary, the open design of a cat loft makes it easy to get the most out of a much larger space, especially by using baskets or storage bins to take advantage of the full height and depth without sacrificing convenience.
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| A cat loft adds the storage capacity of several large cabinets or a small linen closet, all at a fraction of the price and without using any valuable square footage. A cat loft also exposes more ceiling, which makes your home feel more open and less cramped.
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| ==== For rental property owners ====
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| As with other pet-friendly features, a cat loft can prevent property damage by helping to reduce the overall anxiety of any cats living there. In addition, a properly prepared cat loft can prevent damage from older, incontinent cats.
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| However, this feature is a great addition to your units even if you’re not building pet-friendly housing. Cat lofts are inexpensive to build and require virtually no maintenance; because of their location, they can take a lot of abuse and no damage will be visible.
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| The right trim will add architectural interest to your interior design, and the additional exposed ceiling will make your homes appear larger without the cost of additional square footage. Most importantly, a cat loft adds a large amount of functional storage that all tenants will appreciate, which is especially valuable in smaller units.
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| === How to Build a Cat Loft ===
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| In short, cat lofts are constructed by framing the cat loft opening and adding a platform shelf above the headers of the closet doors, then finishing the open space with durable materials.
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| The following guidelines will help you optimize your cat loft and avoid pitfalls:
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| ==== Picking the right height ====
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| To be usable as a cat living area, the loft needs to be a minimum of about 12” tall. However, it is highly advisable to build it at least 16”-18” tall to make the storage area more useful and to make it easier to access for cleaning.
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| ===== For 9’ ceilings =====
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| Cat lofts work extremely well with the building sizes most commonly used in new construction today in the US: 9’ ceilings and standard 80” doors.
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| In this situation, a 16” cat loft leaves 12” of wall above the closet door before the cat loft begins, which looks very well-proportioned aesthetically and still leaves a good amount of space at the top of the closet. Most typical storage bins can be used in a 16” cat loft, but it will be a tight fit.
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| An 18” cat loft is a good compromise that will still look good but be far more usable, as the extra 2” will allow typical storage bins to be moved in and out much more easily.
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| Taller cat lofts are possible, of course, but be advised that at 20” and beyond, the aesthetics will suffer, and even though the actual structural integrity will be no different, the cat loft and closet areas may start to look flimsy and unstable.
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| ===== For lower ceilings =====
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| With 8’ 6” ceilings, you will need to make a slightly smaller cat loft and have a little less space at the top of the closet, but it will still work.
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| Cat lofts are not advisable with 8’ or lower ceilings.
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| ===== For higher ceilings =====
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| With ceilings higher than 9’, how well cat lofts look and function will depend on the door height. If the doors are 7’ or less, you’ll have no problems. However, many homes with 10’ or higher ceilings use 8’ doors. A cat loft up that high may look odd and will be difficult to reach. In homes with these proportions, storage space is rarely a concern and there are likely better options for making a dedicated living area for cats.
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| ==== Framing the loft opening ====
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| (**get proper terminology from framer / structural engineer)
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| ===== New construction =====
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| Building a cat loft during original construction is simple:
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| To maximize the width of the cat loft opening, frame the closet as you would a loft, without king studs on either side of the closet door, and instead hang the headers from… [**]
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| ===== Remodel =====
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| In many cases, it is also simple to add a cat loft over an existing closet without reframing the doors, although the opening to the cat loft will likely be limited to the width of the closet doors below.
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| Typical closet doors have king studs on either side, with multiple cripple studs over the header. These cripple studs are supposed to be non-structural and should be able to be removed or shortened to provide space for the opening to the cat loft.
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| ==== Framing the loft platform shelf ====
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| The cat loft platform shelf does not need to be framed with full joist construction. Structurally, this surface is essentially a shelf or the top of a large cabinet and should be constructed similarly.
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| For example, a thick plywood platform supported by cleats around the perimeter of the closet and sufficient supports across the middle to prevent sagging will provide all the structural integrity required for a cat loft while maximizing the amount of loft and interior closet space available.
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| ==== Finishing the floor ====
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| The bottom plane of the cat loft is a floor, not a wall, so do not cover it with drywall, which is thick, heavy, absorbent, and serves no purpose in this location.
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| Instead, finish it with thin and durable waterproof flooring material, such as vinyl planks or tiles. Avoid sheet vinyl or linoleum, as it will be too difficult to install in this location (and even more difficult to remove).
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| In most cases, this surface will not be visible from the living area, so it’s a good opportunity to use inexpensive or surplus flooring material.
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| ==== Trimming the edge ====
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| People aren’t always going to get a ladder and move items carefully around in a cat loft. Rather, they’re going to slide heavy storage bins up and down right over the front edge—so a drywall corner there would get ruined. Instead, install a durable trim along that edge.
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| For aesthetics, the material should be one used nearby in the home. In most cases, a simple strip of wood painted the same color as the trim in the room will blend naturally. Using a trim that is the thickness of the plywood platform plus the flooring material will create a smooth surface for sliding objects.
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| In upscale homes, consider using more expensive materials, such as the same granite or quartz used in the countertops. You don’t need to cover the entire platform, since from below only a small strip of material is visible; however, be careful not to use so little material that it can become dislodged when heavy items are inevitably rolled over the edge.
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| ==== Protecting the walls ====
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| The side and rear walls of the cat loft alcove should be coated with at least a water-resistant paint to protect against cat urine. Since those walls will take a beating from objects being moved in and out of storage, consider using something even tougher, like epoxy paint or decorative vinyl, to prevent marks and scratches.
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| ==== Adding utility ====
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| An electrical outlet in the cat loft is a nice touch, which can provide power for such devices as heated cat beds, stereos, or remote-controlled light strips.
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| | |
| == Scratch Station ==
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| | |
| === Overview ===
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| Cats have an instinctual need to scratch—it is necessary to maintain the health of their claws, plus scratching relieves anxiety and boredom.
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| A scratch station is a small, sheltered area dedicated to allowing cats to scratch, giving them a consistent, safe place they can rely on to take care of this need whenever the urge arises.
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| A scratch station includes a permanently mounted device that works with all sizes of scratch pads, securely holding them with sufficient resistance and at an ideal height to provide optimal scratching. The ideal scratch station space also includes enough horizontal room to allow cats to comfortably approach the scratch pad as well as enough vertical room to stretch their legs completely upward to scratch.
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| Please note: It is hardly a new concept to mount a scratch pad on a wall. The only new part of this approach is recognizing a cat’s need to scratch as a fundamental necessity, to the point that a space dedicated to fulfilling that need should be planned on an architectural level.
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| The development of a universal scratch pad holder is novel; however, this is a device, not an architectural concept, designed out of necessity to make the concept of the scratch station possible. The scratch station concept does not rely on this specific device design—dozens of other designs that fulfill the same function would work.
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| === Benefits of a Scratch Station ===
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| ==== For cats ====
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| Cats thrive on routine, especially with hygiene. Having a scratch station allows cats to form regular scratching habits, which improves health and reduces anxiety. A scratch pad that is always available in a consistent location increases the chances that cats will use it instead of another surface, which could potentially harm them.
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| A station with a good scratch pad holder also improves the scratching experience, because it holds them at a height that lets cats stand on their hind legs and stretch while using them, which is the ideal position for scratching. Furthermore, the holder can tightly secure the scratch pads, giving the much-needed resistance necessary to scratching that is lacking when the pads are not mounted firmly.
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| ==== For people with cats ====
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| Cardboard scratch pads are cheap and plentiful, but there is no standard size or mounting method for them.
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| Universal scratch pad holders help save money, since they work with any size scratch pad and don’t lock you into using any particular brand, plus they make it quick and easy to rotate and flip a scratch pad to get the most out of both sides of it. They reduce waste too, since they require no additional mounting materials, like Velcro. Most importantly, a scratch station in the right spot increases the likelihood your cats will use it instead of destroying your furniture or damaging your home when they need to scratch.
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| Finally, a scratch station can help keep your home clean. When placed inside a litter cabinet, it lets cats clean their claws immediately after using the litter box instead of walking around with dirty paws. This location hides ugly scratch pads out-of-sight, plus it contains the shredded cardboard and catnip flakes to help keep your home tidy.
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| ==== For people without cats ====
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| No other common use for a scratch station has been identified yet. However, it is mostly empty space, and the universal scratch pad holder is very small—when installed in a litter closet, it will rarely be seen, if ever at all.
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| | |
| ==== For rental property owners ====
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| Cats don’t just like to scratch; they need to scratch. If nobody gives them something that’s designed to be scratched, they’ll destroy something else instead—like the corners of your cabinets, for instance. Furthermore, cats who are not able to regularly scratch have increased anxiety, which can lead to other destructive behaviors as well.
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| This can be prevented by proper care, but not all pet owners are particularly responsible or knowledgeable about animals. Many cat owners don’t know that scratching is necessary to cat health and think of scratch pads and posts as optional toys for entertainment only. (The fact that these are commonly referred to as “scratch toys” doesn’t help.)
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| To prevent damage, you want to make it as easy as possible for tenants to take proper care of their pets, and a scratch station may be the cheapest and easiest way to do just that.
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| You can add a clause your lease’s pet addendum that states that, as a condition of being allowed cats, tenants agree to provide them with scratching materials. Adding this clause and showing tenants where the scratch station is can avoid a costly cabinet replacement down the road.
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| | |
| === How to Build a Scratch Station ===
| |
| | |
| A scratch station is exceptionally easy and inexpensive to build, and consists of two elements: A universal scratch pad holder, and the space in front of it required to use it.
| |
| | |
| ==== Finding the right space ====
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| A scratch station needs to be in a secure location, where a cat can reliably use it undisturbed. Furthermore, the station needs to have enough space in front of it for a cat to comfortably approach. Finally, the station must have enough vertical space to allow cats to stretch their legs fully upward before scratching down, which is around 32” for most housecats.
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| Fortunately, if you have a litter closet, you probably already have the perfect space for a scratch station.
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| | |
| ===== Why scratch stations belong in litter closets =====
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| * Litter closets are already safe, secure spaces where cats know they will not be disturbed, which increases the chances they’ll use it when they have the urge to scratch.
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| * Cats are fastidious and will seek to clean their paws whenever they are dirty. Placing a scratch station inside the litter closet lets them scratch immediately after using the litter box, keeping any mess contained rather than tracking it through the home. This is also why it is ideal to use cardboard scratchers here, as they are inexpensive and disposable, leaving more expensive and durable sisal-style scratchers for elsewhere in the home.
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| * Any litter, shredded cardboard, and catnip flakes that come off during scratching will be contained in the litter closet for easy cleanup.
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| * Cardboard scratch pads are ugly, especially after they’ve been used. This keeps them out of sight.
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| * This placement makes use of the height of the litter cabinet, which, if built at the recommended standard cabinet height, has a roof that is just over the perfect height cats need to stretch to scratch.
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| * This placement makes another use of the space in front of the litter box rather than taking up space elsewhere.
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| | |
| ===== Additional considerations =====
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| Most cats want to scratch immediately after using the litter box, but some just want to get away and won’t scratch anywhere near the litter box, in which case you may want to install a scratch pad holder elsewhere.
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| In all cases, it’s advisable to give your cats at least one other location to scratch, such as a scratching post covered with sisal rope, which does not need to be hidden since it looks better and doesn’t cause as much of a mess as cardboard scratch pads.
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| | |
| ==== Building a universal scratch pad holder ====
| |
| | |
| ===== Design Requirements =====
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| | |
| There are countless ways to affix a scratch pad to a surface; however, for this purpose, an acceptably designed holder must…* …be inexpensive.
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| * …be durable.
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| * …be easy to build from readily available materials.
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| * …be easy to use.
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| * …be operable with one hand.
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| * …be operable by touch alone (since these are often installed around blind corners or other awkward places).
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| * …fit all common sizes of scratch pads.
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| * …hold the pads at a fixed height regardless of pad size.
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| * …not have parts that could harm cats.
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| * …not take up much space.
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| * …be able to be installed at an angle.
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| | |
| For this project, the important part of this concept is contemplating a space for a scratch station and providing a universal holder, not any specific design. However, for purposes of illustration, here is one design that meets all the criteria listed above.
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| ===== Required Materials =====
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| * A 36” F-style steel bar clamp with a ball-joint clamp pad
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| * 1” x 4” metal mounting plate
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| * Adhesive capable of bonding plastic to metal
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| * 1/4" wood or plastic shims (exact size depends on bar clamp)
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| * 2 wood screws, bolts, or drywall anchors, depending on your installation
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| ===== Required Tools =====
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| * A drill press (or a power drill and a very steady hand)
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| * Saw capable of cutting steel, such as a hacksaw or table saw
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| ===== Assembly Instructions =====
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| * Cut the clamp bar to fit the height of the mounting area.
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| * Glue the mounting plate to the ball-joint clamp pad on the moveable jaw.
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| * Drill two holes through the clamp bar: one near the top and one near the bottom.
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| ===== Mounting Instructions =====
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| * Mount the clamp bar to the wall through the drilled holes, using shims to provide enough clearance for the sliding arm to move.
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| * Note: To install the clamp bar at an angle, which many cats prefer and will help retain catnip flakes, simply use thicker, angled shims. However, be advised that loading pads will then require two hands, since pads will no longer be able to be rested flat against the wall while loading.
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| ===== Operating Instructions =====
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| To load a new pad:* Place the pad on the mounting plate
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| * Pull the sliding arm up until the pad is held firmly between the mounting plate below and the fixed jaw above.
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| * Turn the handle clockwise to provide a stronger hold.
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| To remove the pad:* Press the quick-release lever and move the sliding arm down.
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| = Contact =
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| == Rental Inquiries ==
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| == Project Inquiries ==
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| = About =
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| == About the Project ==
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| === Overview ===
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| [Mirrored at top]
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| The Haven Homes project aims to convince large-scale real estate developers to include pet-friendly features in the homes they build.
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| To that end, we have developed several new animal-centric <u>architectural concepts</u> that would benefit not just the people and pets who will live in these homes, but also the property owners, which makes these features financially viable for rental properties and affordable housing projects.
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| To prove these claims, we are building housing complexes that model how several pet-friendly features can be cost-effectively incorporated into new commercial multi-family apartments as well as existing homes.
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| The first of these complexes is <u>Lion Canyon</u>: A [quiet] enclave of 11 boutique homes conceived on the idea that pets are essential members of the household, and as such designed to take care of the needs of cats as well as the humans who live with them.
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| === Problem ===
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| Homes are built around humans, not animals, which means almost all household pets live in a space that was not designed for their needs. This can cause anxiety and health problems in animals as well as property damage, all of which could be mitigated.
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| For wealthy owners of large homes, these problems usually only amount to inconveniences, but they affect lower-income households disproportionately. The problems are amplified in smaller homes and can severely limit housing options for renters or prevent them from having pets at all.
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| Ultimately, the lack of purposeful design results in fewer animals having homes and a lower quality of life for those who do have homes.
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| === Theory ===
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| Many universal animal-related problems can be alleviated through architecture, and a few key pet-friendly features would make a big difference to millions of people.
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| This has been overlooked due to the lack of profit incentive: Products can relatively easily be patented and sold for profit, but architectural concepts cannot.
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| However, desirable animal-friendly features can be independently developed and proven to be cost-effective to those who could profit the most from them: real estate investors who own rental properties.
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| Large-scale developers can then profitably add these features to their new rental housing complexes, which will benefit the investors, the tenants, and their pets.
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| ==== Investors ====
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| * Pet-friendly features increase the property value and command higher rents.
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| * Most pet-friendly features help prevent costly property damage, such as water damage or destructive behavior by anxious animals.
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| * Higher tenant satisfaction means less turnover costs and higher overall occupancy rates. Once tenants get used to a lifestyle improved by these features, they will be reluctant to leave them, especially when few other properties offer them.
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| * By increasing income and lowering costs, investment in pet-friendly features can be recouped in just a few years, after which profit continues indefinitely.
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| * The first to market will reap outsized rewards; while others will eventually be forced to follow suit to remain competitive after pet-friendly features become standard.
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| ==== Tenants ====
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| * Pet-friendly features will allow some tenants to have pets who otherwise could not.
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| * Having happier, healthier pets contributes to a positive feedback loop that leads to greater enjoyment of their pets.
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| * Work required to care for pets will be dramatically reduced, leading to increased freedom and flexibility.
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| * Tenants will enjoy a safer, cleaner, more comfortable home with less property damage.
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| ==== Pets ====
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| * By removing several barriers to pet ownership, more animals will have homes.
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| * More homes will have multiple animals, providing socialization and companionship.
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| * Pet features will reduce animal stress and anxiety, as well as improve health and longevity.
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| === Goals & Metrics ===
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| * Goal: Normalize the concept of pet-friendly features. Increase recognition and usage of general terms for new animal-centric architectural concepts.Metrics: Google search result volume, Wikipedia article activity, inclusion in major real estate search engine filters.
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| * Goal: Increase demand for pet-friendly features.Metrics: Google keyword search trends, real estate market research.
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| * Goal: Increase the number of homes built with pet-friendly features.Metrics: Real estate market research.
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| === Strategy ===
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| ==== Target large-scale developers. ====
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| ===== Large developers drive the market. =====
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| A significant portion of this project involves increasing awareness of and demand for pet-friendly features. Not only do large developers build many units at once, they also constantly advertise their homes and the features therein.
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| The earliest adopters in each real estate market will enjoy the free publicity that comes with introducing new, media-friendly features to their local areas, which will benefit the developers as well as the overall project goals.
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| Finally, having large-scale builders offer these features will help shift the public perception of animal-centric architecture toward the mainstream, rather than being thought of only as luxury features in custom homes.
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| ===== New construction is more cost-effective. =====
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| The best time to add features to a home is during the initial design.
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| After a structure is built, it can be incredibly expensive to add certain elements. For example, adding a new drain to a kitchen could require demolishing the floor, cutting into the foundation, destroying cabinetry—a good portion of an entire kitchen remodel—whereas adding a floor drain during original construction is cheap and simple.
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| The path of least resistance to getting pet-friendly features into homes is to target those who do the most original construction, i.e., large-scale developers.
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| ==== Develop concepts worth stealing. ====
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| ===== Profitability must come first. =====
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| For any pet-friendly concepts to be adopted, they must deliver a positive return on investment to real estate developers.
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| If the benefits don’t outweigh the costs—if they are expensive, or hard to build, or break easily, or people simply don’t like them—developers will never build them.
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| ===== Focus on basic needs. =====
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| Create architectural concepts with a broad appeal by addressing the most fundamental needs of animals and the people living with them. Create general solutions to basic problems that nearly all people and animals can use.
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| ===== Follow universal design principles. =====
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| All concepts should be simple, flexible, and intuitive, with a high tolerance for error. They should be as easy to understand and use as other common household features, like a sink or a garage door.
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| ===== Limit risk through design. =====
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| The first developers to adopt these features will be taking a risk, so care must be taken to limit that risk at every possible step.
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| For example, units with pet features should not be unappealing to people without pets. All pet-friendly features should be integrated seamlessly into the home so they do not call attention to themselves, and most features should provide a secondary use so they add value to all inhabitants, not just those with pets.
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| ==== Create common trade terms. ====
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| When trying to popularize an idea, what the concepts are called can be as important as the concepts themselves. The right terminology is crucial for entering the common vernacular.
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| The names for these concepts should not be cute, clever, or catchy, but rather simple and self-descriptive and should be consistent with common trade terms used in architecture and various construction trades. Concept names should be linguistically similar to “dog run” and “dog door”– some of the only common terms for pet-friendly architecture in existence today.
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| ==== Prove the concepts. ====
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| Large-scale developers are in the business of risk management and are unlikely to experiment with unproven theoretical concepts, or even those built into private residences, which are barely regulated compared to commercial multi-family properties.
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| They know that when developing real estate on a large scale, any new building concept faces dozens of potential practical or regulatory obstacles. Until these obstacles are overcome, such concepts have no real value to them.
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| For large developers to seriously consider them, all new concepts must be built into a commercial multi-family housing complex to demonstrate their efficacy and illustrate how they can be executed at scale with real-world constraints.
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| ==== Start small. ====
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| The problems caused by living with animals are compounded in smaller homes, so pet-friendly features will have their largest impact in the smallest living spaces.
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| Since features can always be adapted to plans with more resources and square footage to spare, but smaller budgets and spaces present more challenges, these concepts should be designed around the lower end of both spectrums.
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| Ultimately, designing modest features that fit in small apartments will help ensure they can be executed in affordable housing projects.
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| ==== Give everything away. ====
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| Do not treat developed concepts as trade secrets, but rather as gifts to the world. Publicly share all information learned through researching and developing the concepts. Solicit input from professionals in relevant trades and encourage open-source development for improvements and new concepts.
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| Do not try to capture profit through intellectual property protections; use such protections only in ways that incentivize development.
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| === Tactics ===
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| ==== Housing Complexes ====
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| Build and manage housing complexes to prove the efficacy of animal-centric architecture.
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| Construct commercial multi-family apartment buildings and remodel existing structures to illustrate how pet features can be built into new and existing homes.
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| Maintain detailed maintenance records and collect feedback from tenants to refine the concepts and guide future development.
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| ==== Animal Architecture Resource Center ====
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| ===== Share the concepts. =====
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| Create documents that describe each pet-friendly concept in detail. Share building guidelines, common options for methods and materials, and tips for getting the best results. Record the building process of each housing complex to create informational videos.
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| In short, share all information required for others to incorporate any new animal-friendly architectural concept into their own project successfully.
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| ===== Explain the process. =====
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| Detail the underlying principles that were followed to create the pet-friendly features developed for this project—not just to explain where they came from, but more importantly to foster suggestions of new and better ideas that could benefit animals and the people who live with them.
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| ===== Ask for input. =====
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| Foster open-source development with experts in animal behavior, architecture, and all major building trades to collaboratively improve upon existing ideas and develop new ones. Make it clear that all new concepts are starting points for a discussion, not decrees set in stone.
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| Solicit suggestions for:* Improvements to any pet-friendly features
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| * Improvements to the underlying design principles
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| * Additional research to consider
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| * New pet-friendly feature concepts
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| ===== Offer to help. =====
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| Offer free assistance to anyone seeking to include the pet-friendly features described here in their building project.
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| ==== Developer Outreach ====
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| Prepare a case study based on the project, framing it as an inexpensive way to add value to rental units and affordable housing projects. Submit the case study to developer trade publications.
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| Deliver presentations to large development companies to persuade them to copy the model. Show how the first to market will reap outsized rewards; while eventually others will be forced to follow suit to remain competitive.
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| == The Pack ==
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| Collection of photos of animals living their best lives at homes developed through the Haven Homes project.
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| == Credits ==
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