The Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) hosted its first cat yoga classes this month, combining relaxation with the chance to meet adoptable felines. Christina Nesbitt, fundraising coordinator, says they held the event in the shelter's main cat room, Whisker Haven, and the sessions featured 10 participants per class, ensuring an intimate and engaging experience.
"We moved everything out of the center, and then we had 10 people per class; it was perfect," says Nesbitt.
While the yoga classes were led by instructors Lynne Bereza and Erin McLeod, the cats remained a key part of the experience, doing what cats do best throughout each session.
“They were roaming, climbing on top of people, and running around, playing together. Kingston was lying on someone's mat, preventing her from lying down. Lynne [Bereza] noticed and changed things up, so they weren’t lying flat on the mat because Kingston got very cozy and did not want to move,” says Nesbitt.
The event wasn’t just about yoga—it served a greater purpose: connecting people with animals that are in need. By inviting the public into the shelter space, PAWS hopes to spark interest in cat adoptions while encouraging more community members to get involved behind the scenes.
"It helps with adoption or even having people interested in volunteering. We're always in need of volunteers, either to do cat care at the shelter here or with some of our events that we have in the community," adds Nesbitt.
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Following the enthusiastic response to their first event, PAWS is looking to make cat yoga a regular part of its community outreach efforts, forming plans to bring classes back during the summer months.
"We are going to do some more. I don't think we'll do any in June because it is quite busy with the end of school, but I think we will try for July," says Nesbitt.
Currently, the shelter has 14 cats in care and six dogs in foster homes.
"Our dogs don't get housed here; they get fostered. So, they get to interact with someone every day. With a foster, they're not in a kennel, they can be with a family and possibly other pets, depending on the foster themselves," says Nesbitt.
Donations are always welcome and go toward essential supplies like food, litter, and vet bills. PAWS also hopes to hold future fundraising events. They have a 50/50 draw in June, and Nesbitt hopes to host trivia or paint nights to support the shelter's needs.
"Doing a paint night here would be fun, and it would give the cats more interaction with people," she says. "When you come for an event like that, it gives you the opportunity to sit and enjoy the animals and see if they come to you."
As PAWS looks ahead to more events, they hope the community will continue showing up for furry friends in need. Whether to stretch, snuggle, adopt, or support the animals. Every visit, she says, makes a difference.