In August 2022, Mars Petcare launched a Community Cat Toolkit through our BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program, providing an overview of community cat care, sharing best practices and offering model legislation for cities to support trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.
Building on this, in September we announced grants for six organizations across the U.S. that are making an impact with a variety of innovative programs assisting free-roaming cats. The grant recipients included:
Community Cat Coalition (Mukilteo, WA) for its feeding program. CCC believes that compassionate solutions to cat overpopulation help communities as well as cats. The organization all-volunteer organization provides food to help members care for colonies, provides vouchers for spay/neuter, and assists with veterinary care for ill or injured community cats. communitycatcoalitionwa.org
Indy Neighborhood Cats (Indianapolis, IN) for its winter shelters program. INC works to improve quality of life for free-roaming cats through TNR, a cat food pantry and winter shelters. Three times a year, they host volunteer events to build the shelters using foam coolers. The shelters provide warmth and safety for cat colonies in freezing temperatures. indyneighborhoodcats.org
New Leash on Life (Lebanon, TN) for its rural community cat outreach program. New Leash’s TNR program is unique for its broad impact. Local cats receive TNR through a partnership with the county government, but the organization also helps community cats from many surrounding counties that don’t have low-cost spay/neuter clinics. The JOY Clinic next to the New Leash Adoption Center serves any pet owner or community cat caregiver that needs spay/neuter service. newleashonline.org
SoBe Cats Spay & Neuter (Miami Beach, FL) for its community cat adoption program. SoBe Cats is an all-volunteer organization that assists the city of Miami Beach in controlling its community cat population through TNR, adoption and a registered feeder program. As the community’s first-ever cat rescue, since 2020 the organization has helped over 700 adoptable cats find homes while facilitating spay/neuter for thousands. sobecatsspayandneuter.org
TrapKing Humane (Atlanta, GA) for its trap-neuter-return education program. Led by Sterling “TrapKing” Davis and bringing mobile solutions to cat overpopulation, TrapKing Humane educates about TNR to humanely address overpopulation and disease in cat colonies. Sterling is also leading the way to change stereotypes about men in cat rescue and bridge the gap between black communities and predominantly white animal welfare organizations. trapkinghumane.org
Williamson County Animal Center (Franklin, TN) for its working cat program. Beyond its community cat program that includes trap rentals and free spay/neuter, WCAC’s Working Cat program provides an option for cats that can’t be returned to their colony but would languish in a shelter. Instead, they’re placed with businesses like barns or warehouses where they are fed and cared for while enjoying an outdoor life providing pest control. adoptwcac.org
Visit BetterCitiesForPets.com/CommunityCats to see the Community Cat Toolkit and learn more about how to support free-roaming cats in your city.
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