OLD Lion Canyon
Homes
Nestled in a tranquil site named after the kings of the jungle, the homes at Lion Canyon have been designed to treat cats like royalty.
All homes at Lion Canyon are fully furnished and include several free benefits for tenants with cats. Each home also has a different set of special architectural features designed to improve the lives of cats and their owners.
Highgate
A large, traditional single-family home designed for 4-5 people and 3-6 cats. (More Info)
The Quarters
A small home designed for 4 people and up to 2 cats. (More Info)
Highgate + Quarters
A combined home designed for 8-9 people and up to 8 cats. (More Info)
Cloud Nine Studios
Studio apartments designed for individuals living with 1-3 cats. (More Info)
Location Details
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 ask.
Neighborhood
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.
- 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.
- This area is down in a canyon, so it is especially quiet and there is almost no noise from wind or surrounding areas.
- 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.
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.
- When bad things are happening in the US, it’s usually not so bad in California.
- When bad things are happening in California, it’s usually not so bad in San Diego.
- Of the relatively few problems San Diego does have, practically none of them occur here in this neighborhood.
- One of the largest 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.
Freeway Access
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.
- I-805 is the very next exit from there.
- I-163 is only two miles past that.
Plus, during typical travel from this location, most of the time traffic is going in the other direction.
Public Transit
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.) - San Diego MTS Rapid Stop and
San Diego MTS Trolley (Green Line)
5260 Campanile Dr. (1.1 mi.)
Top-Rated Schools
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:
- College Park Preschool
5075 Campanile Dr. (less than a mile away) - Hardy Elementary School
5420 Montezuma Rd. (just two blocks away) - Lewis Middle School
5170 Greenbrier Ave. (less than 2 miles away) - Patrick Henry High School
6702 Wandermere Dr. (less than 3 miles away)
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.
SDSU
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).
Plus, the SDSU campus is beautiful, and is a great place for anyone to walk, jog, or ride a bike.
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: SDSU Open University)
Grocery Stores
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.) - Grocery Outlet
4360 54th Street (1.2 mi.) - Von’s
6155 El Cajon Blvd. (1.7 mi.) - Ralph’s
6670 Montezuma Road (1.9 mi.) - Food 4 Less
5975 University Ave (2.5 mi.)
Restaurants
There are hundreds of restaurants within a few miles of this location.
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.
- McDonald’s (coming back soon)
- Epic Wings
- Lolita’s Mexican Food
- Everbowl
- Poki One ‘n’ Half
- Which Wich
- Eureka!
- Señor Pancho’s Fresh Mexican Grill
- Trujillo’s Taco Shop
- Jack in the Box
- 55 Thai Kitchen
- African Cuisine
- Domino’s Pizza
- Panda Express
- Rubio’s
- Oggi’s Pizza Express
- Shake Smart
- The Habit Burger Grill
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Plant Power Fast Food
- Subway
- The Garden
Plus, there are dozens more down Mission Gorge and hundreds on El Cajon Blvd.
Some others close by worth noting:
- D.Z. Akin’s
6930 Alvarado Road (less than 3 mi. away)
(619) 265-0218
A 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. - Antica Trattoria
5654 Lake Murray Blvd. in the Lake Murray Village Shopping Center
(619) 463-9919
Speaking 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. - Ponce’s
4050 Adams Ave.
(619) 282-4413
Great traditional Mexican food close to home. Closed Sundays.
Not close by but worth the drive:
- Funky Fries & Burgers
101 W Washington Ave
El Cajon, CA 92020 (plus two other locations)
(619) 328-2929
If you like burgers, it is impossible to overhype this restaurant. People come down from LA to get burgers here. Just try it. - Regents Pizzeria
4150 Regents Park Row #100
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 550-0406
The only place I’ve ever seen that can make excellent New York and Chicago pizza. - Royal India Miramar
8990 Miramar Rd #200
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 457-9999
Excellent recipes, very high quality ingredients (just look at the rice), and perfectly cooked vegetables, but nothing compares to the taste that comes from their spices, which they dry and grind themselves. - Tacos El Gordo
556 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 207-0144
Open very late and serves some of the best Tijuana-style tacos and mulas around. Avoid peak hours, as the line can be an hour long (for good reason).
Hospitals
Many major hospitals within a few miles:
- Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices
4405 Vandever Ave, San Diego, CA 92120
(2.1 mi.) - UCSD Health/Alvarado Hospital Medical Center
6655 Alvarado Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
(2.4 mi.) - Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center
4647 Zion Ave, San Diego, CA 92120
(3.2 mi.) - Kaiser Permanente La Mesa Medical Offices
8080 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
(4.5 mi.) - Sharp Grossmont Hospital
5555 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
(6 mi.) - Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123
(7 mi.) - Rady Children's Hospital
3020 Children's Way, San Diego, CA 92123
(7 mi.) - Sharp Memorial Hospital
7901 Frost St, San Diego, CA 92123
(7 mi.) - UCSD Medical Center
200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
(8 mi.) - Kaiser Permanente Clairemont Mesa Medical Offices
6911 Convoy Ct, San Diego, CA 92111
(9 mi.) - Naval Medical Center San Diego
34800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Diego, CA 92134
(9 mi.) - Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
9888 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92037
(14 mi.)
Veterinarians
Several veterinarians are nearby; below are some of the closest.
For routine veterinary care:
- College Animal Hospital
5653 El Cajon Blvd.
(619) 286-1980 - Banfield Pet Hospital
4585 College Ave.
(619) 286-0963
For 24-hour emergency veterinary care:
- VCA Emergency Animal Hospital
2317 Hotel Circle S.
(619) 299-2400 - Pet Emergency & Specialty Center
5232 Jackson Dr. #105
(619) 462-4800
Shopping
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.
There are also two Costco locations just a couple of miles away:
- Costco Mission Valley
2345 Fenton Pkwy
San Diego, CA 92108 - Costco La Mesa
8125 Fletcher Pkwy
La Mesa, CA 91942
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.
Gyms
There are many gyms close by, but here are just a few worth noting:
- ARC
If 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. - Xplicit Fitness
6628 Mission Gorge Rd. (3 mi.)
(619) 281-0800
Founded 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. (Yelp: 5 stars when last checked.) - CrossFit 858
5841 Mission Gorge Rd. (2.2 mi.)
(858) 566-4500
If you’re into CrossFit, this is highest rated CrossFit gym in the area, according to Yelp. (5 stars when last checked).
Special Features for Cats
Here are some of the special features for cats built into the homes at Lion Canyon. Not all homes have every feature, and some homes have features not listed here. See the page for each home for details.
Litter Closets
It’s hard to imagine having many cats in a large home or even just one cat in a small home without feeling like you’re living in a litter box, but it’s possible with a litter closet.
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 in California. (A penny-and-a-half in San Diego.)
With a litter closet, the only time you will ever smell or even see your litter box is when you clean it. With an automated litter box (which we can provide), a single litter closet can usually be used by multiple cats—even ones that haven’t liked to share before.
Learn about litter closets to find out more about how they work to eliminate litter box odor in your home.
All homes at Lion Canyon include litter closets. Highgate has three, The Quarters has two, and each apartment at Cloud Nine Studios has one.
Bowl Basins
These small alcoves 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.)
These bowl basins work with a 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).
These basins also have an ideal size and location, which is more important to cats than many people realize. Learn about bowl basins to find out how they can significantly improve the health and happiness of your cat.
Cat Lofts
Cat lofts are finished alcoves over closets that provide extra storage and are also the perfect height and location for a quiet living space for cats. Your cats can access these lofts via strategically placed shelves and platforms, which provide a path that integrates naturally into your home.
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.
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.
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. 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. 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.
The Quarters has two cat lofts and each apartment at Cloud Nine Studios has one.
Scratch Stations
Cats have an instinctual need to scratch—it is necessary to maintain the health of their claws, plus scratching relieves anxiety and boredom.
Scratch stations 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.
The scratch stations are located inside the litter closets, 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.
All homes at Lion Canyon include a scratch station inside each litter closet.
Cat Tunnels with Brushes
Each litter closet is accessed via a decoratively trimmed tunnel that is lined with a stiff brush, so your cats automatically groom themselves every time they go in and out.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much this brush reduces the amount of loose cat hair in the home. With multiple cats in the household, you’ll see a big difference immediately.
All homes at Lion Canyon include cat tunnels with brushes that lead to each litter closet.
Cat-Friendly Policies
Several policies help maximize the health and happiness of your cats. First, no pet dogs are allowed. Sitewide noise restrictions are enforced to ensure neither you nor your cats experience any unnecessary anxiety. Also prohibited are smoking, candles, incense burners, and anything that produces smoke or vapor other than steam, to reduce fire danger as well as to protect the health and comfort of cats.
Free Benefits for Cats
Adoption Fees
We will pay the adoption fees for a cat from Friends of Cats in El Cajon once per year for each home.
Please Note: Haven Homes is not affiliated with Friends of Cats.
Yearly Vet Checkups
Once per year, we will pay for all the cats living at Lion Canyon to get a physical health examination from a local veterinarian.
Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Tenants who have more cats than litter closets in their home (four or more cats in Highgate; 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.
Self-Filling Water Fountains
To promote your cats’ health, we will provide a filtered water fountain for any tenant who needs one.
For all homes with a bowl basin (i.e., Highgate and Cloud Nine Studios), 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.)
Automatic Cat Feeders
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.
Photo: Self-Cleaning Litter Box
Photo: Self-Filling Water Fountain
Photo: Automatic Cat Feeder