Cats seeking a forever home in Nanton, along with the volunteers that look after them, are hoping plans for a new shelter will be complete by the end of summer.

The Nanton Animal Protection Society has been rescuing cats in the community for the last 10 years and housing them in an old 600 square foot mobile home, with no running water, for $50 a month.

While the space has been appreciated, it's time to move on and the Nanton Vet Clinic has helped to make it happen.

After a five year search for land the clinic is selling the society a piece of their property.

Volunteer Kim Williamson said they just got word that the approvals are all in place for the property to change hands.

"Now we have the land which we have been trying to obtain for the last five years, pretty activity and we need to decide what we are going to do now,"

Discussions are underway debating if they should build a brand new facility or move an older building onto the property.

"We are ready to get out of that building, it is not fun in there," she added.

"No running water, its not very well insulated, a lot of the surfaces are wood, which is rather  porous when we are considering virus and infections and bacteria and it is difficult to keep sanitary."

Volunteers haul milk jugs of water in for every shift they work that then has to be heated in a kettle.

"Its not easy to work with."

The population at the shelter varies as they take in and adopt out about 200 cats per year.

They also neuter feral cats and sometimes turn them back out into the community.

One of the limits at the present shelter is their small quarantine area, they can only take in two or three cats every two weeks.

A new building would have 1500 square feet that would house both cats and dogs, running water and laundry facilities.

And a medical isolation area is a must.

"Running water would be super awesome," Williamson added.

The society would then be able to take in 4 to 5 dogs and probably 45 to 50 cats at a time.

They have about half of the money they need to proceed with their plans, so they are hoping for some community support.

Plans will be announced soon for future fundraisers.