Description
The Ogena Flipbed/Hidey Box: A Powerful Tool for Pet Well-being
“Supporting pets in adapting to a new and often busy shelter environment is essential for their well-being as well as achieving positive outcomes.”*
Why an Ogena Flipbed/Hidey Box for animals housed in Shelters?
- Providing hiding spaces help cats acclimate to a new environment
- Reduce stress and thus reduce risk for disease – especially upper respiratory infections
- Provide enrichment which allows cats to make choices inside their housing unit
- Multi-species use:
- Cats – as a hiding structure with a built in perch/or raised bed
- Dogs – as a high sided cozy bed for small to medium dogs and puppies
- Economical
- Durable and cleanable
- Stackable
Why a High Sided Bed for Dogs Housed in Shelters?
- Retreat space helps dogs acclimate to the shelter environment and a high sided bed can be a great way to provide retreat space.
- Many kennel spaces are built on concrete and can be too cold for some dogs. When the Ogena Flipbed is used as a high sided bed it forms a place for a warm cozy resting spot while keeping the bedding contained.
- Provides a more draft free sleeping area
Providing hiding places for shelter-housed cats offers numerous benefits that significantly improve their welfare. Hiding spots reduce stress levels in cats by allowing them a safe retreat in an often busy shelter environment, which helps them cope with anxiety and fear more effectively.
Cats with access to hiding places exhibit more relaxed behaviors, lower and more stable stress scores, and tend to approach adopters more readily, which can enhance their chances of adoption without delaying the adoption timeline. These spaces fulfill cats’ natural instincts for safety and security, mimicking the concealed environments they seek in the wild to avoid predators and feel in control of their surroundings.
Additionally, providing hiding places supports psychological well-being by giving cats choice and control, which is crucial in reducing chronic stress that can lead to illness and behavioral problems. Simple measures such as cardboard boxes or enclosed cat houses can create these essential refuges, promoting happier, healthier cats in shelters.
*Denae Wagner, DVM, Facility Design Veterinarian, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program
