Evanston Children Read to Cats at Shelter
Young readers practiced empathy by reading books aloud to shelter cats at a recent community event.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Cats
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Local children visited Paws and Claws Cat Rescue to read their favorite books aloud to shelter cats. The community program aims to teach kids how to interact calmly with animals.
Why it matters
Programs like this encourage the development of empathy in children while helping shelter animals become more comfortable with human presence. It also offers a unique way for families to connect with local organizations.
The event featured children reading to cats, including one 9-year-old attendee. The shelter has been operating since its founding in 2020.
The players
Paws and Claws Cat Rescue
A feline rescue organization founded in 2020 that accepts cats from animal control facilities and other shelters.
Evanston Public Library
A local institution that promoted the reading event to the Evanston community.
Ashylnn Boyce
The founder of Paws and Claws Cat Rescue.
The details
Volunteers at Paws and Claws Cat Rescue facilitate these reading sessions by matching children with cats in need of socialization. The children read aloud to the animals, a process designed to help the cats adjust to humans while teaching the young participants how to maintain a calm, quiet demeanor around pets.
Timeline
Paws and Claws Cat Rescue was founded in 2020.
The Read to Cats event occurred on October 8, 2026.
The Home Front
This program aligns with the growing trend of utilizing animal-assisted interactions to foster emotional development in children. Such initiatives serve as a practical community-based approach to teaching pet stewardship to the next generation of animal owners.
If you have a child interested in animals, consider checking your local library or shelter calendars for future reading programs that teach calm animal interaction. These events are a great way to introduce younger family members to the responsibilities of pet care in a safe environment.
The takeaway
Engaging in reading programs with shelter animals can be a transformative experience for children, helping them build patience and empathy. Families interested in these sessions should contact local rescue organizations to ask if they offer similar volunteer or reading opportunities.
Further reading
Learn more about local feline programs at Cats.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
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Do you believe community animal-interaction programs provide meaningful developmental benefits for local children?
