MANKATO — Confetti, an affectionate tortoiseshell cat, snuggles contentedly in the crook of Jesse Bromaghim’s arm emitting a lawn-mower loud purr.

 “This is a cute kitty,” says Bromaghim, a Lifeworks client participating in the Kitty Care program at Petco.

  Who benefits most from the project, Confetti or Bromaghim — or the bigger question, the cats or the clients — is impossible to determine.

  Teams of four people with disabilities travel from Lifeworks in North Mankato to Petco twice a week to clean the six cages housing cats up for adoption from three local animal rescues.

  Kitty Care started almost a year ago when Emily Britz, service facilitator, noticed a flier at Petco requesting volunteers to clean cat cages. This is a project that Britz realized fit Lifeworks’ goal: to help people with disabilities live fuller, more meaningful lives by integrating them into the flow of community experience.

  Britz discussed the opportunity with a Lifeworks supervisor who gave it the green light provided she could assemble a crew. Britz had no problem finding clients to volunteer. “They were excited about it.”

  The Petco job is divided into four stations: bag holder, scooper, cage cleaner and cat lover. In addition to scooping out litter, the volunteers clean each cage, wipe down the walls and shelf, change the kitty blankets and refill the food and water dishes.

  “We laugh and remind each other to breathe through our mouths during the scooping part!” joked Maude Luskey, a Lifeworks service facilitator.

 Becky Lee says, “It sure doesn’t smell like roses.”

 In addition to Bromaghim and Lee, Josh Wegner, Amanda Black, Rich Klossner, Jennifer Bach, Lindsey Grapentine-Green, Stacy Kamrath, Jessica Scofield and Donna Christensen rotate through each station.

  “We bring along a couple extra folks who are animal lovers. They support the folks working and help love the cats,” Luskey says.

  Tracking the rotation, Luskey barks out new assignments like a Marine drill sergeant, sometimes reminding her crew members to “focus!”

  “They get an understanding of what kind of work and responsibility it is to have and take care of a pet,” Britz says.

  “Our volunteers power through the dirty work to get to the loving up the cats station,” Luskey says. “I just love to see the reactions of clients when they finally get to love up the cats.”

   Howie, Snickers, Rolo, Mindy and Charlie turn on their feline charm on que. The cats have a calming effect on everyone, Luskey says.

  She noted that at first Wegner would tense every time a cat would cling to him and quickly put it back in a cage. Now Wegner is relaxed around the warm and happy cats. Wegner agrees with Luskey’s assessment, smiles sunnily, and starts talking about his favorite cat, Panther.

  At the end the clients from Lifeworks clean up, put everything away and, if time allows, pick out their favorite kitties and love them up some more.

  Terry Aspelund, manager of Petco’s dog and cat department, said the store is very grateful for Lifeworks. “It helps to socialize the cats by being handled,” she says. “They love the attention.”

  On the drive back to Lifeworks, the workers reminisce about their favorite kitties.

“We talk about cats from the past who have been adopted, who we loved and now miss, but are happy they have been adopted,” Luskey says.

They mention Happy, a one-eyed cat who was abandoned, rescued and adopted as well as other cats rescued by Blue Earth-Nicollet, Watonwan and Martin county humane societies.

But the ones that bring a quick smile to their faces are the “little stinkers,” including Charlie, who somehow managed to escape and run through the entire store with everyone in pursuit.