There are more than 80 million feral or abandoned cats living in the United States. Cats become feral when they lose contact with humans or have never interacted with humans. Abandoned pets will have kittens and over time create family groups known as cat colonies. While cats are able to care for themselves, without human support, they are vulnerable to disease and starvation.
Additionally, feral cats can produce dozens of kittens during their lifetime and cause the stray population to skyrocket. This can have a ripple effect on the ecosystem, as cats kill millions of birds and other small animals every year.
Cat rescue organizations are vital for humanely reducing the stray cat population and ensuring the health of existing cat colonies. People who are interested in starting a cat rescue should begin by learning as much about cat health and behavior as possible.
Successful rescue organizations respond to the community’s needs. Individuals must determine what is the largest contributor to the stray cat issue. Are people abandoning their pets? Is there an existing cat colony that lacks veterinarian care? Identifying the most pressing needs will help shape the rescue’s mission and strategy.
Running a cat rescue requires a wide net of support. Rescue founders can start publicizing their efforts by gaining exposure in local newspapers or sharing in social media forums used by local residents. If people are interested in the rescue, they may contribute as volunteers, board members, or donors.
Before accepting any donations, the founders should register the rescue as a nonprofit. This requires filling out paperwork with the state and IRS. Making agreements with a local veterinary clinic will also be useful for securing inexpensive care for the animals.
Rescue founders should decide how they would like to organize their operation. Some cat rescue organizations focus solely on supporting cat colonies. In this case, the rescue acts as a colony manager. Since feral cats cannot typically be domesticated, the rescue does not attempt to find homes for any members of the colony.
Instead, volunteers will provide the cats with fresh food and water at the colony site. Colony managers often work in tandem with a veterinarian to catch and neuter or spay cats capable of reproducing. This keeps the colony population stable.
In some cases, lost or abandoned cats may join the colony. If the colony manager notices a new, human-friendly cat, they may also check these animals for microchips to possibly connect them with their owners.
Other cat rescues provide shelter to domesticated animals. These rescues work primarily with cats whose owners are no longer able to take care of them. Volunteers care for the animals in the shelter, including feeding and nurturing newborn kittens, spaying and neutering animals, and finding foster and permanent homes.
These types of cat rescues require a location to house the animals. Some rescues operate by creating a list of foster families who agree to temporarily care for cats that are surrendered to the shelter. Others transfer abandoned cats to shelters with available space across the region.
Either approach requires financial support. Rescue organizers should put together a fundraising plan to solicit donations from individuals, local businesses, and grantmaking organizations.
