Newly renovated Bradenton cat-adoption center - 'Downtown MeowTown'- officially opens its doors

BRADENTON -- Most of the cats purred and were all too happy to be petted. One shy cat preferred to hide as visitors came in and out.

Manatee County Animal Services downtown Bradenton adoption center opened its doors to cat lovers during a grand-opening event Saturday.

Employees and volunteers warmly greeted people as they came in, some to consider taking a kitty home, others just for snuggles.

Susana Stein and her son, Emerson, weren't looking to adopt but they had plenty of love for the cats at the adoption center Saturday.

Recently moved to Bradenton, their family had to leave their two cats behind with a foster family until they can get settled.

"Both my sons really miss them," she said.

She decided to bring Emerson, 11, with her to the newly reopened adoption center so they could find out about volunteering, she said.

Emerson couldn't wait to get into one of the cages to play with Puss N Boats, who was also happy to receive the attention.

The room featured custom-made verandas on the walls for the cats to jump up into and perch.

"It's pretty cool," Emerson said as he looked around the specially decorated room.

"He loves cats," his mom said as she sat next to him while he got to know another cat, Ruby.

Emerson doesn't play favorites,

either, she said, adding that he didn't want to hurt any one cat's feelings.

"They're all my favorite," he said.

The satellite center, 1002 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, had previously housed dogs and cats, but closed last summer. All the animals were moved to the county's shelter in Palmetto.

Now, some of the cats will be brought to the renovated adoption center, where they might find a home with visitors.

Samantha Wolfe, volunteer coordinator for the county Animal Services Division, was there to greet visitors and potential adopters. And she wasn't alone.

Major, a dog she is fostering, also came for the day.

"We don't have dogs here, but we have people that bring them down on Saturdays," Wolfe said.

All the cats that have been moved to the downtown adoption center, nicknamed "Downtown MeowTown," are healthy and are monitored to make sure they remain that way.

"Our volunteers are all trained," she said. "Twice a day, every day, they check them."

Volunteer workers are provided with a checklist with conditions to look for in the cats' fur, eyes, breathing and activity levels.

Any cat that presents with symptoms, will be returned to the main shelter for treatment by the veterinarian technician, she said.

Ann Barton was on her first day on the job, keeping some of the cats company.

"It's a wonderful thing," she said of the downtown center. "I was just so impressed, it was so bright and clean."

New to Bradenton, she said she loved cats.

Barton described her tasks on the mornings she comes.

"We come in and collect the food plates," she said. "Everything is clean and sanitized then."

Volunteers sweep, clean the litter boxes and any other mishaps that may have occurred overnight. Fresh water and food is then put out.

"Then we love and pet and see how each cat is doing," she said. "We just make sure they're happy and healthy."

Manatee County Commissioner Betsy Benac came out to show her support, having left her dog at home, she said.

"He hates it when I leave him on Saturdays, but I didn't know how he would react," Benac said. "This is a great opportunity for people who love animals to volunteer and we have so many."

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published January 11, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Newly renovated Bradenton cat-adoption center - 'Downtown MeowTown'- officially opens its doors ."