  No kitten – it’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month! And we will shout from the rooftops that everyone should have at least one shelter cat! But bringing a cat into your home isn’t just about setting up a litterbox, filling a food bowl, and making sure there’s fresh water. While cats are often seen as more independent pets (ideal for people who work longer hours or have unpredictable schedules) they still need attention, mental stimulation, and environmental enrichment to truly thrive.
Cats are complex, intelligent animals that benefit from daily enrichment. Without it, they can become bored, stressed, or even depressed. While often just brushed off as “cat-itude”, many behavioral problems facing indoor cats can be boiled down to boredom or lack of outlets for their energy. Fortunately, there are many simple, creative ways to help keep them happy and mentally engaged while keeping them inside and safe.
Interactive Playtime Playing with your cat using feather wands or automatic moving toys can mimic the experience of hunting, offering essential mental and physical stimulation. Just like people, cats get bored with repetition. Rotating toys every few days helps keep things fresh. When a toy reappears after a short break, it feels exciting and new again. These do not have to be expensive toys; they can be DIY boas made from leftover felt scraps or springs made from pipe cleaners from your craft box. The possibilities are endless. Check out instructions for some of our favorite DIY toys with AAHA!
Climbing and Viewing Opportunities Vertical space is crucial for cats. Wall shelves, tall cat trees, and window ledges offer safe spaces for resting and observing. Give your cat access to windows so they can watch birds, squirrels, and the world go by. Some cats even enjoy “Cat TV” on YouTube—videos of wildlife created just for feline viewers. Be sure to test these while you're home to ensure your cat isn't overstimulated and can eventually relax while watching.
Feeding With a Twist Puzzle feeders and interactive treat dispensers can transform mealtime into a mentally stimulating activity. These tools encourage natural foraging behaviors, making your cat work just a little to access their food—keeping them busy and engaged while you're away. Just like the toys, these don’t have to be store-bought expensive feeders. At the shelter, we put catnip or cat treats in plastic easter eggs and let the cats learn how to open them and get the reward.
Training and Companionship Believe it or not, cats can be trained to do tricks like "sit" or "high five" using positive reinforcement—think treats, petting, and playtime. These sessions build trust and offer another layer of mental engagement.
Many cats are also social animals. If your lifestyle allows, consider adopting a companion—especially if you're bringing home a kitten. Kittens benefit greatly from having a playmate to learn from and grow with, reducing loneliness and boredom when you’re not around.
With thoughtful enrichment and companionship, your cat can live a happy, healthy life even if your schedule keeps you away for long stretches. When you invest in your cat’s mental and emotional wellbeing, you’re not just giving them a home, you’re giving them a life worth living.
 Dr. Kristin Tvrdik, DVM
Deputy Administrator Veterinarian
We are thrilled to invite you to the event we’ve all been waiting for—the grand opening of DuPage County Animal Services brand-new shelter!
 Date: Saturday, June 14th  Time: 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM  Parking: 140 N County Farm Rd.
Join us for a day of celebration alongside:
 Rescue partners
 Vendors
 DuPage County Board Members
 DuPage Animal Friends Board Members
 Dedicated DCAS Staff
And our amazing community!
What to Expect:
- Guided Tours of our state-of-the-art shelter
- Exciting Raffle Prizes
- Family-Friendly Activities
- Tons of Fun for All Ages!
This is a day to celebrate the incredible journey we’ve been on together and look forward to a bright future for the animals in our care. Bring your friends, family, and enthusiasm—we can’t wait to see you there! Let’s make this day paws-itively unforgettable!
We are so pleased to welcome three seasonal staff members to the team this summer!
Kota
Hailing from South Dakota, Kota prefers the weather of Chicagoland - that and our welcoming communities and amazing animal organizations. An animal lover to the core, Kota has a varied personal background caring for animals - whether it's the alphabet list of pets their family has had (so far, from Cat to Tarantula), or helping injured wild animals get into professional hands for rehabilitation. Kota has a special place in their heart for birds, even blocking traffic to rescue a fledgling pigeon from a local Chicago highway. We asked them what their favorite bird was, but that question flew right over their head.
Kota is especially excited to learn about different pets at DCAS and watching them improve mentally and physically under the watchful care of DCAS staff. When they aren't at work, Kota can be found out exploring nature, baking, or chilling with their three Siamese cats - two adopted from DCAS!
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Rachel
Rachel isn't exactly a "new" face at DCAS. In fact, we can't seem to get rid of her! Rachel is happy to join the DCAS seasonal team for her 4th summer!
Rachel is exploring many professional opportunities this summer, but was able to "paws" her busy schedule to talk about some of her favorite experiences at DCAS. She's met some interesting animals over the past four summers, ferrets, pigs, pigeons, even a peacock, but she hasn't met a chinchilla yet and would love the opportunity to care for one.
The Bashful Buddy cats hold a special place in her heart. Fostering especially shy cats comes with its own challenges, but also its own special rewards when they finally trust and come out of their shells. Like Alvin, pictured, who Rachel adopted earlier this year.
When she's not working three jobs (DCAS, a vet clinic, and as a rehab worker at Willowbrook), Rachel enjoys catching up on television crime dramas and documentaries with her 14 year old Pug Kirie.
With a BS in Biology (and minors in Chemistry and Communications) from Elmhurst College, Rachel is ready for the next leg of her journey: Veterinary school at U of I. We would make a veterinary joke right now, but we're a little sheepish.
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Ray
Ray is a local Chicagoland-er. With a BA from UW - Stevens Point in wildlife management, she has extensive experience working with animals. Her most interesting responsibilities included socializing cockatoos and wolf cubs at the Wildwood Wildlife Park Zoo and Safari in Minocqua, Wisconsin. She's looking forward to being hands-on with the animals at DCAS on a regular basis and seeing the impact our care has on their lives.
Ray's previous pets include a pointer/lab mix named Oscar and a rotty/hound mix named Evan. While her favorite animals include pigeons and possums, she has a soft spot for helping unsocialized animals and hopes to use her previous experience to benefit some of the shyer shelter pets.
Her hobbies outside of work include knitting, reading, solving complex video game puzzles, and foraging for wild food like onion grass. Be sure to ask her for her french onion dip recipe - it's to cry for.
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 DCAS is pleased to announce the return of our popular AniPals Summer Camp for Ages 6-9.
Understand what it means to be a true friend to our pets. Uncover what we do at the Animal Shelter and learn how to safely interact with different kinds of pets through crafts, activities, games, and stories.
Registration Open!
3 sessions available
Meets: Mon–Thurs, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Ages: 6-9
Cost: $225 / session
Can't come to the shelter? Find us at a library near you! See the current list of programs offered and contact your local library to register.
Children
Adults
Community Events
- 6/7/25 West Chicago Touch-a-Truck
We hope to see you at a program soon!
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