- February 19, 2025
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Cat Depot Humane Educator Ellie Levine brings Winney to kids to be petted.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoKids start with an enrichment lesson on where cats like to be pets and different types of catnip to detect a healthy weight and different types of cat toys.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoSophie Inverso, Audrey Lindas and Abby Graison make pom poms for their cat toy.
Cat Depot volunteer Louann Laybourn, Mairead Reardon, Blake Brown and Cat Depot Humane Educator Ellie Levine welcome kids to Cat University.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoKids get crafty with making their handmade cat toys.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoSarah Pansey showsoff her finished cat toy.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoKids showoff their handmade cat toys while pretending to be cats.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoCat University students get the wiggles out with some yoga.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoWinney makes a special appearance at Cat University.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoCat Depot Humane Educator Ellie Levine holds Winney as Olivia Albury kisses his head.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoAbby Graison showsoff her cat toy in her cat ears and cat sweater.
Photo by Dariela DelgadoAsked if they would rather have a flying pig or a cat, all nine students that registered for Cat University at Cat Depot Community Center on Feb. 20 belted, “Cats!”
Cat Depot Humane Educator Ellie Levine was a public school teacher for 10 years, so being around kids and teaching the basics of cat caretaking came easy.
Levine was looking at other Florida rescues where kids were involved in animal welfare and saw they were doing similar camps. “I said to myself, ‘we can do that too,’” said Levine.
Students started with an enrichment lesson on where cats like to be petted and different types of catnip to detect a healthy weight and different types of cat toys.
Kids later got creative with making handmade cat toys with chopsticks, fabric and multicolor feathers. They even got the wiggles out with some kid-friendly yoga before meeting the special guest: Winney, the long-hair tabby.
Winney is a senior cat that was surrendered by an assisted living facility because his owner died.
Before kids got the chance to pet Winney, Levine recapped the lesson on where cats like to be petted and how sensitive their hearing and sense of smell can be.
“He was so soft,” said Olivia Albury, 9. “He likes being touched behind the ear.”