The ribbon was cut Friday for a new facility addition to the PAWS & More Animal Shelter in Washington.

The Washington Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors helped celebrate the new “catio” that was built upon the cat room on the south side of the shelter. Shelter Director Amber Talbot says this amenity was not a sought-after dream for the shelter until an anonymous donation was given specifically for an area where cats can roam, take in the sunlight, and prospective adopters and others can spend some time with them out of a cage, “Shelter life is hard and no animal is meant to live in a cage. So the more opportunities we can get them out of those cages the better, so it’s just a really fun place that we can enjoy now for a lot of reasons.”

The four-season catio features benches where adopters can sit, tree-like scratching areas, a cat walk and other structures for felines to roam on. The shelter is also hosting an open house this weekend, where the public can spin their “Wheel of Cats” to determine their cat adoption fee from zero to $25, a reduction from their regular $100 fee. This deal is available from noon to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow, and masks are required.