Spring/Summer 2019

Happy Spring!

Thank you for visiting our page to learn about what Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program does. 

First let me say, that this little organization has made a HUGE impact on Western Iowa's homeless and feral community cats.   We continue to try to help more cats in an often helpless situation.

This year alone,  as of April 2019, despite horrific weather, Lois has managed to help over 50 cats get their "spa treatment", that includes fixing and vaccinations.  There is a list of over 60 cats needing our help so far this spring.  We are looking towards another very busy year.

Our mission remains to be true to TNR and find homes for those who are appropriate for relocating or finding families.  We are grateful to other rescues that we work with, to help us do that.

Please check out our Facebook page to keep up with current activity and opportunities to give!

Winter 2018

Thank you for checking out our website! If you have outdoor cat issues, please
contact us at cats@wifcap.org or call Lois at 402-639-9007

 Please remember...We are not a rescue and cannot remove cats from locations or come to pick up strays.  Please contact your local animal control or city hall.

Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program is nearly six years old in an official sense.   We have been working to help outdoor homeless or feral cats for nearly ten years, however.  Using the effective method of TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate and return), we have been able to help over 2200 cats in Western Iowa so far. Time flies when you are having fun, working hard and fulfilling a great need.

Please browse around our site.  Click on the pages to the right to gain lots of information about TNR, stray and feral cats, barn cats and much more.

We value you as supporters and hope you will stick around and see what a small grassroots effort can do.

Your tax deductible donation can be made by clicking the donate button on the upper left or right side of this page or mail check to WIFCaP 1116 Tower Ridge Dr. Council Bluffs, Ia  51503

Annual Garage Sale - June 3, 2017

June 3rd
710 Antique City Drive
Walnut, Ia  51577
8am -4pm
Cupcake sale! ( get them while they last!)

No items priced!  You pay what you feel the items are worth and what you want to donate to help more kitties in Western Iowa!

I know it seems like we go from one fundraiser to the next.  That is because we do!   Our monthly vet bill runs an average of $2-3,000.    While we seem to be able to get the cats trapped and transported and in for their "spa treatment", we don't have the staff to try to work on grants.  Have you ever tried writing a grant?  I have, and it's not fun.   What I've learned about most grant writing is that it is meticulous and detailed and once it's written and submitted, you are not guaranteed to receive any funds.  And if you are granted the funds, your work isn't done.  You must then substantiate every penny you've received. The other thing I've learned is that most grants want you to project a future project and write it for that.   We are in a very unpredictable business.  We must act immediately when we hear of a cat issue.  To wait is not an option, or we worsen the problem.  We must stay focused on our mission of TNR.   Honestly, the vast majority of the daily work we do is done by Lois and myself.  We are kept very busy with phone calls, emails, face book, trapping, transporting etc.  The accounting etc has fallen on Lois too, and Kathy does the face book and fundraising.  Both of us trap, but mostly Lois (stinks getting older) .  We are still small, very small.   

All this being said, we are so grateful to our other volunteers that step up for events like this Garage Sale!   We will be having a cupcake sale that is going to be totally funded and run by two of our wonderful volunteers, Judy and Susan.   Last year the cupcakes were so beautiful and yummy!    Becky and Molly should be on board to help during the sale too.    

We look to our supporters to keep us going and for almost six years now, you have not let us down.   We love you all !  

Please come out on June 3rd to help us stash away another couple weeks of funds for the kitties!  We would love to see you and give you personal headbutts and whisker kisses!

Our goal is $500!

Kathy

Idea Brought to Fruition!

Several years ago, while trying to trap a semi feral farm cat that simply would not enter a trap, the wonderful caregiver had the idea to drop a cardboard box over the cat.  He had cut a flap on one end.  Once in the trap, he weighted the box down so the cat couldn't scoot away...then we put a transfer cage flush with the flap opened it with a string attached and threaded thru the top of the cage and the cat fled...right into the transfer cage.  It was cumbersome and "iffy" if the cat would actually stay in the box long enough to transfer, but it worked.   Then some time later, on another farm, another caretaker had many cats that were tame enough for him to pet (not pick up) and they would circle his legs and eat in his presence.  He suggested it would be good if we had something to lower over them and said how easy it would be to get some of these semi-friendly cats that needed help.   The ideas from those two men rolled in my head and I started seriously thinking about it.   A hand held drop trap...something with a removable bottom was just what we needed.   We would need to lower it over the cat...put the bottom in and lock it and then we needed a "gate" to open one end so that we could release and remove the cat as needed.   I talked to several people before I found
Chuck at Northern Industries, who agreed to work with us and create this new tool for TNR.   It's finally done and is on the market!  You can order one here:   CaP Trap

CAP TRAP - Original design by WIFCaP!

Not only has Chuck brought our idea into reality, he is sharing a percentage of the sales on this item with us!  This will be a wonderful source of funds for WIFCaP because we know how well it works and every TNR group should have one in their arsenal of TNR tools.   Chuck also will give 7.5% of ANY sale from his website if you mention WIFCap or Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program.  

We are so grateful to Chuck for being community minded and understanding the importance of TNR.  See all their wonderful trapping equipment here.... Northern Industries  Be sure to mention WIFCaP or Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program when you order anything from this site!   Thank you for helping us help other kitties like this !

                                

Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day October 6, 2016

We cannot allow the summer to end without another Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day!  If you have been wanting to do the right thing for your pet and have been short on cash, now is the time.  "Spa treatment" includes spay/neuter and vaccinations for rabies and distemper. 
This event is for spay/neuter only...no additional services can be rendered for your pet during this appointment.
 If you would like to have a flea/mite treatment, that medication is available at the vets office for an additional charge!

When:   October 6th 2016

Where:   Harlan Veterinary Clinic and Referral Center

  910 Chatburn Ave

Harlan, IA

FEMALE: $60 
MALE: $50

How:  Preregister and prepay  fee by calling Kathy @ 712-784-2660

There is a limited number of slots available, so call early!

Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program is holding a HUGE garage sale !

Friday and Saturday June 3-4th

8am-5pm

All sorts of items will be available....vintage, knick knacks, glassware, games, kitchen items, household items, wall art, misc other items.

NOTHING PRICED!

ALL items will be available for your generous free will donations.  All proceeds will help more homeless and feral cats in our area!

SATURDAY ONLY:  Our volunteers will be setting up a cupcake table and selling home made cupcakes for $1 each while supplies last! 

Welcome 2016

Happy New Year!
Wrapping up a year always has it's challenges.  As I'm working on year end reports, looking at numbers, receipts and statistics, many faces of the people we have helped and the felines we have made life better for come back in a vivid way.  It would be impossible and even unfair to highlight a few of them, because they were all equally important and poignant.  If you follow our Facebook page you know the stories.

Another year is over. Another year of helping to fulfill our mission: to reduce the over population of outdoor feral, homeless and community cats.

Our totals for "spa treatments" has grown.  As of December 31, 2015 we have fixed a total of 1353 cats.    In 2015 we fixed 425 cats ( 236 were female) .  Lots of hard work on the part of myself, my volunteers and those folks out there that care about the outdoor cats that have no one else.   This has made an impact in our communities in Southwest Iowa.  I will be making calls to regional rescues and shelters during this month to see if their intake numbers have gone down.   My paws are crossed that they are seeing a difference because of what we are doing.

Aside from that, I believe the other huge difference we are making is in awareness and sensitivity to the plight of the community cat.  Because of my volunteers that have the same passion I do, people are becoming more aware of the fact that not only do these cats deserve respect, they need us to care for them.   On the rural side, we have convinced many farmers and country dwellers that having cats is good, but having "Wifcap'd" cats is even better.   A healthy cat that is fixed and not breeding makes a much better employee.   We have placed many cats in home or shops. We continue to encourage all shops to have a kitty for rodent patrol and customer service.

I am amazed when I think about those out there that have taken on the responsibility of feeding feral cats.  Our volunteers that daily feed, water and watch over little broods of these sweet animals warm my heart.  Your commitment blesses me and while it may seem like your work goes unnoticed, it doesn't.  I wish you could be paid what you are worth, but for now, the look in those fed and cared for kitties must suffice.  If you are like me, that's enough.

So, on to another year.   My gut says we are about to enter the biggest year yet for WIFCaP.  We are small but mighty.  My heart says, I cant wait.  We have some very committed volunteers that are up for the challenge of big trappings and we have two committed veterinarians to help us.  All that only works with the cooperation of property owners, communities, feeders and of course our financial supporters.  Our annual budget is around $25,000.  That is a lot of fundraising, events and asking for donations, but we continue to up for the challenge and hope you are too!  Donations can be made by clicking our "donate" button at the top of this page.  We thank you from the bottom of our kitty loving hearts!

I am excited to start the new year and hope you are too. Thank you for hanging with us.  Thank you for following along and telling your friends about us too.

Happy New Year!  Watch and see what a small grassroots effort can do!

Snow Birds!

Did you say BIRDS????

Mr. Nelson and Mrs. Gray

September is almost gone.  As most of you know, I am a 65 year old retired lady.  I smile as I say the word "retired" because I work harder now than I ever have when I got paid to do a job.   Loving the work you do makes it easy.  So easy, in fact, that you end up working way harder than you probably should.

It's been four years since the start of WIFCaP and I cannot say I am burned out.  BUT I am tired and ready for the change that is about to come for the winter.

My husband will join me in the retired status as of the end of the year.  It is only fitting that we try to spend some of our golden time together and free from commitment, which is what retirement is supposed to mean.

We have purchased a winter home in South Texas and on October 30th we will "head south".   That time is quickly approaching and I'm feeling a little like panicking!    How can I leave what I love to do?  How can I leave the porch kitties?

In my head, it is all worked out.

• I have purchased a Kitty Tube with heater for each of the 3 porch kitties.  They will be warm and dry.
• I have 3 of our board members that will come to be sure they have food and water daily. They will be fed.
• Same 3 and anyone driving by is welcome to come on the porch and give them some love. They will get more comfortable with other people.
• We have a caretaker across the street watching our house (along with everyone else in town..LOL...Small towns are great!)
• We have surveillance cameras and security system to protect them and our house.  I can even watch from my smart phone!

Picture of the new homes purchased for the porch kitties

In my head, I know they will be taken care of and fine, but in my heart, I will miss seeing them every morning for a few months.  I know the time will speed by and before I know it, the spring will be here and I will be back, along with a long list of TNR's to do.  Another busy season will erupt.

So what will I be doing in South Texas?  Number one thing is NOT to over commit.   I tend to jump in with both feet and forge ahead full steam.   My plan is to rest.  I want to be available to participate in the many opportunities to make new friends and do some new things, while also being free to take off on a day trip to the beach or local parks etc.  I am also hoping to begin writing Children's Books about Mrs. Gray, Zeva and Mr. Nelson.  Children's books that adults will like too! 

I am not abandoning WIFCaP by any means.  I will continue fundraising during the winter.  I will continue talking to people about their cat issues and educating about Spay/Neuter and TNR when I can.   I will be keeping the Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts active as I count on our caretakers to take pictures of the porch kitties etc to post.    ALSO, Lois and Lori and even Laura from the clinic will be doing some minor trapping jobs and will be available for emergency issues while I'm gone. 

I'm pretty sure I will be connecting with a rescue or low cost spay and neuter when I am down south...I have one picked out and will visit when I get there.  More on that later, but pray I don't over commit.

Mr. Nelson

Thank you all for sticking with us on Facebook.  My fear is now that Mr. Nelson is "tame" and the challenge of taming him is over, you may become bored with us.  We NEED you....I need you to be part of WIFCaP on Facebook and beyond.  Your support has kept me going for these past 4 years.  We have done amazing things in Western Iowa and I have YOU ALL to thank for it.  

I invite you to stick with us through this first winter's journey south.  There may be some new things,  the continuation of our same things and things we cant even dream of....

We Have an App for That!!!

In this day of smart phones and computers, WIFCaP is staying on the leading edge of what is modern and what our followers want.

Fundraising is changing and the whole corporate world is seeing the advantage and benefit of using incentive and cause driven marketing.

Sounds high-tech and confusing, but in a nutshell, all it means is that you don't have to take out your checkbook to write donation checks all the time!  You can shop, eat and travel  and even exercise while still helping  your chosen cause all at the same time!

If you have a smart phone, you can donate to WIFCaP by downloading these apps and using them to save money, shop at charity minded stores (big box and local) or to take a stroll with a friend!   The apps are FREE!

What could be better?  Shop - Save - Enjoy - be healthy!   All the while part of your investment towards purchases and your investment in your health is donated to a charity of your choice.  We of course hope you will choose Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program!

So take your pick!  Whether you are in the Omaha-Metro area or anywhere around the country, you can help in a fun and painless way!  Businesses what to give part your your expenditures to WIFCaP!  Download the apps from Android app store or AppleStore on your phone!

1. Paid2Save
This one is the most all encompassing app for ALL our fans and friends, no matter where you live!  When downloading use the Reference Code 93241 and a portion of your purchases will come to WIFCaP!  Purchase items online, or use the local offers and coupons and enjoy savings and cash back!   Want double cash back?  A one time fee of $29.95 will get you that for LIFE!  AND $12 of that fee is immediately donated to WIFCaP...this is not an annual fee!

PS. If you are a merchant or know of any other non profits that might like to know how they can use this app to gain new customers and donors, contact Kathy at Kathy@wifcap.org for more information on how to get in on this awesome opportunity to save and earn! 

2.  IGive - get signed up and then download the app.  Be sure to give yourself a password.  If you are allready on Igive you can go into your account settings and add a password before the download.  Thousands of online merchants offer cash back and great values!

3. TAGG - Together a Greater Good - is limited to the Omaha-Metro area and is growing every day!  The merchants listed with give at least 5%  of your purchase directly to WIFCaP if you have the app downloaded, show the cashier and they "tagg" your purchase!  Its amazing how quickly the funds add up!

4. ResQwalk - Great idea to get you out there walking and help a kitty in the meantime!  Download the app, select Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program as your charity and go!  Your miles walked are added to a weekly pool and the funds are divided up at the end of the week and we get a check!  Easy!

So, what is the benefit to WIFCap?  Kathy will say the biggest one is that she can spend more time trapping and helping feral and community cats and less time fund raising!

We hope you will choose at least ONE of these ways to help our cause.   It's easy and fun!  We will be forever grateful and eager to help if you have any questions about how it all works!

Get out your Smart Phone to Help WFCaP!

A brand new way to help Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cats!

This is the new way to donate and to save money (even earn money) for yourself.  

First thing I want to say is that there really are no strings attached.  It is a FREE download app that will give you tons of deals and shopping discounts.  If you use our reference number 93241 when prompted as you download, WIFCAP will begin benefiting from everything you buy and everyone that you show the app to, who downloads it too...forever!

As you know, I spend hours fundraising, and with this app I think I will be able to do less begging for money and more of what our mission is...TNR and helping those outdoor kitties that have no voice.

I have been working with Karla Horn in California for months to get this up and running for us.  It is a wonderful opportunity and I hope you will think so too.  I really appreciate Karla for thinking of us and working so hard to get us going.

Now we need YOU!  Visit our special P2S website at http://p2snonprofit.com/index.php

click the blue box that says "Watch the Video"...it's short, sweet and simple!  Then download the app using our reference # 93241 !  Then use the app to shop!  You will get discounts and deals, you will get cash back (NO annual fee) and only if you want you can get double cash back on your purchases  by purchasing a one time $29.95 option to do that....HALF of that amount is donated to WIFCaP if you use our reference #93241 when downloading!  Remember this is a one time fee , half comes to WIFCaP and you get double cash back on all your purchases....forever!  Many credit card companies are offering double cash back, with $100 annual fees...nope not us!

This can be an amazing way for us to grow our funds without asking you for any money!  Tell your friends!  Tell your Family!   Tell your co workers!  

Also.....One last bit....if you are a shop owner or retailer of any kind, you can apply to offer your own discounts and deals on this app!   There are tabs at the top of our website that explain all that with videos and lots info.   If you have questions, our rep Karla Horn would be more than happy to answer.  You can reach her here!  Just tell her WIFCaP sent you!

Karla Horn
Paid2Save fundraising specialist 
 928.853.1251
karlahorn@msn.com
www.karlahorn.mobi 

We hope you will join us in this new adventure that incorporates social media technology!  Thanks for hanging with us to see what a small grass roots effort can do!

   

OmahaGives 2015 is almost here!

 For the 2nd year, WIFCaP will be part of Omahagives...a 24 hour giving opportunity sponsored by the Omaha Community Foundation.   This event runs from 12:01am to 11:59 pm on Wednesday May 20, 2015.  We have been working HARD to get people excited about this event because the opportunity for WIFCaP to realize a large amount of funds to keep helping outdoor cats is amazing.

We will be having a table at the OmahaGives Fair at Weitz CEC on the UNO Campus, so we are in hopes that many will be able to visit us there and help us keep watch on the leader board!

 Molly has been making Memes like crazy and they are so cool!  Love them all!   We are tweeting and using facebook to market this event and we are so in hopes that many of our followers from all over the world will participate.  I may offer a free T-shirt to the person who donates from the furthest distance.

We will be eligible for hourly prizes and bonuses, but best of all, we have had our own supporters offer up pledges to match funds.  We have $1800 in matching funds.  We are so grateful for the trust our follower put in us...so much that they would be kind enough to offer funds that will double a portion of the donations that come in through OmahaGives.

Last year we raised $2600 from this event.  Was was pleased beyond description, mainly because I didn't put very much effort into it.  I wasn't sure how it all worked and I was out of town during the training sessions and I just plain didn't catch the vision.  This year is different!  I am super excited to see if we can double our gifts from last year...that means $5200....it would be awesome if we can do it and I feel sure we can!

So, please...if you are reading this and you only plan to give ONE Gift to WIFCaP this year, let it be on May 20th!

OmahaGives24.org

Choose WIFCaP!

Mrs. Gray Loves Her Red Swing!

Mrs. Abigail Gray

To me there is no other picture that depicts how happy Mrs. Gray is.  Her list of options was short when I first heard that there was a mother cat with five babies, ravaging the garbage bins in town to find food for herself and her little ones.  If it was going to take anything to get me to jump into developing a TNR program with both feet, this was it!  I realized that if Animal Control got them, their future was bleak.   I think back at the days, weeks, months and years that I trudged thru rain, snow and heat to make sure there was food in their little feeding station and to stick around to visit and build trust.  I watched the numbers reduce really quite quickly (isn't that the point of TNR?).  We will never know what became of Jenny, Tony, McGee and Palmer, but having Mrs. Gray and Zeva stay has been a blessing.  I will never forget the first day Mrs. Gray followed me home.  Zeva followed not long after.  They are HOME here and that warms my heart.  I doubt I will ever really hold either one of them in any place other than my heart...but having them nuzzle me and wind their way around my legs, to see the happiness and the peace they have, makes physically holding them insignificant.   They show me love in so many ways.  I am their "person" and I now count them as family.

April Calendar....FULL!

True to the part of our mission statement that says:"To educate community members on the importance of spay or neutering ", WIFCaP has 6 scheduled meeting/ workshops/ events in April that will focus on the importance of responsible pet ownership, TNR, and ways to help WIFCaP...Just in case you think WIFCaP is asleep at the wheel....LOL!

April 13th: Kathy and Lois will attend a workshop to learn how to effectively fundraise for ‪#‎OmahaGives‬

**Please note:  Omaha Gives is a 24 hour giving day sponsored by the Omaha Community Foundation and American National Bank.  This one day event can raise thousands for WIFCaP.  As YOU donate, we can receive matching funds, and bonuses to go along with your gift!  Mark you calendar for this day!

Later that same day, Kathy will attend the Elliott, Iowa City Council meeting to give them information about TNR and offer assistance to help them get something started in their community.

April 17th: Kathy will attend a student volunteer fair with our Oakland helper, Gayle at Riverside High School in Oakland, Ia. Here, the kids will learn how they could help WIFCaP. Kathy will be helping the students download the ResQwalk App onto their smart phones, to show how easily a person can help our organization!

April 23rd: Kathy will head to Denison Iowa to give a trapping workshop. Denison is expressing interest in starting TNR in that area and they need help to get started on the right foot!

April 25th: Orschlens's Atlantic IA...adoption event and information about TNR, barn cats and responsible pet ownershiip. This is a SWIAC event (Southwest Iowa Animal Coalition). Organizations represented will be WIFCaP, Pott County Animal Shelter, Montgomery County Animal Rescue, People for Paws and Lusco Farms Rescue...

April 30th: Low cost spay and neuter Clinic, Harlan Veterinary Clinic in Harlan. One day only...Cats only...$60 includes vaccinations...call Kathy for details...712-784-2490

 Ongoing- and as ever, we continue to trap in our region.   To date this year, we have given spa treatments to 74 cats.   April is another busy trapping month!  Stay tuned to see what a small grass roots effort can do.   Donate by clicking the donate button at the top left side of this page, or click the Donate page on the right to see ALL the many ways we can use your help!

Spring is Heating Up!

As February comes to an end and Spring is on the horizon, WIFCap is "heating up" for a very busy spring.

Kathy's garage can get quite full during trapping season!

Kathy has been busy taking calls from people with cat overpopulation problems and she has been spotting local kitties that need help too.

Lost or abandoned cats need help!

She is keeping a log of incoming and upcoming problem locations and to date, she has a wait list of 81 cats in the local area that need help.

Some of these cats are running in towns creating issues with mating, howling, fighting and getting in the trash.  We work with communities to get them fixed, vaccinated and hopefully to a location where they can be fed daily.  Our goal is to keep the cats in the area in which they are found because this is HOME to them and if we remove, others will most likely take their place.

Rural cats have a job, but population control is a must!

Some cats are part of a rural colony that is being fed, perhaps by the property owner but are creating a never ending supply of babies that struggle to survive.  Did you know that a tom cat can wander ten miles a day...?  Think all the places he can "visit" during that roam!

We are happy that some communities and many more individuals are coming forward, asking for help and offering to also financially back this effort in part or in full.

You can help by clicking our DONATE button top left sidebar!

We would ask that our supporters and those interested in what we do, to remember that we are not a shelter, or a rescue.  Our focus is on TNR...Trap, Neuter and Return or Release...we have no physical building or place to house surrendered pets.

We want you to keep your kitty - how can we help?

We would, however love to work with people for find ways they can keep their pet and in some instances, we can offer assistance in finding a new home for a cat that cannot be kept.

We are so fortunate to be working with Harlan Veterinary Associates and Referral Center in Harlan Iowa to help as many cats as possible.  We thank them for partnering with us and giving us quality care and kindness!

Dr. Matthew Sternberg and his team are awesome!

Please call  or email us if you have questions !

Tribute to Buddy-Boy

I normally make a new blog post about every few months.  Who knew I would make two in the same day?.  My last post was about how we hate seeing kittens born into the feral world that end up with suffering and disease.

I struggled with whether or not to even post about the events of this afternoon, but I am because if I don't, they will stick in my head and I wont sleep. For that reason, I won't post this on our Face book page. If you've come here from there, expect to be sad.  This post is more for me to vent, than for you to be informed. I try very hard to post positive stories and successes...to keep everyone up beat and laughing.  So I will post here, where I can bear my heart and soul and cry a little. 

At around 4pm today I received a call from our City Clerk from City Hall.  I am on the city council and I am on the city committee for Animal Control and everyone within at least a 20 mile radius of Walnut knows I am the CAT LADY.  I have instructed City Hall to please call me if there is ever a hit by car  or dead cat found in town.  I want to know if it is one of the ferals from our colonies or someones pet that we can gently inform of its demise. 

Today was only the 2nd call informing me of a dead cat that Ive gotten...only this time it was "well, he's almost dead".  I flew to city hall to find "Buddy-Boy" laying at the bottom of a dirty cold plastic bucket in the back of the city pickup.  He had been found at the side of main street almost directly in front of City Hall.  Jim (city supervisor) picked him up  (thinking he would die any second),  and put him in the container, set him in the back of the truck and called me. When I looked in, Buddy encircled the bottom, but he was breathing and he was trying to raise himself.  I knew right away that he was most likely beyond medical help, but I could not stand to see him suffer.  Jim drove me and Buddy back to my house, we loaded him in my car and off to HVA I went.

Would he even live the 20 minutes it took me to get him there?  He did.  When I took him in, he was not only breathing but he'd uttered several "mews".  As we waited for help from Becky at the clinic, I had a chance to get to know him.  He was strong.  Even though his body was literally skin over bone, he was a large long haired male cat...looked like a Himalayan. His fur was matted and dirty...but as I reached into the bucket and stroked his head, he immediately raised it and said hello with a sweet meow and began to purr.  It was apparent to me that he had had no home for a long time.  His weight, the condition of his fur....and then they came to the surface.  The fleas.  There were hundreds if not thousands of fleas on this poor baby.   We were so fortunate that we could get him to a vet that could humanely end his suffering and help him go peacefully to the Rainbow Bridge.

I traveled the 17 miles to the clinic in a panic.  Worried that he wouldn't live long enough to get him there, Worried that he would live til I got him there.   My mind was spinning, wishing there would be a miracle that maybe he would not be as bad as I thought he was, but inside knowing that was a pipe dream.  

I traveled the 17 miles back home in a stupor. A mixture of anger, sadness and confusion.  Wishing I knew his story. Why hadn't I seen him in town EVER before?   How did he get where he was?  Who hit him?  Who left him?  It was apparent that he had known the love of a human before.  He responded to my touch with a purr...he relaxed at the sound of our voices.  He was not feral.  He was old...he was tired and he was gone.

I cant shake the sorrow tonight.  He touched me so.  He made me realize that what we do in TNR and educating people about spay/neuter is so important.  It matters and it works. What happens to lost and abandoned cats is horrific.  They do NOT fend well for themselves. You cannot put a cat out and expect anything other than starvation, infestation, infection and battle scars, let alone the loneliness and the fear.   Buddy is a testament of strength.  If not for that, he would have been gone a long time ago.  His suffering encourages me to keep doing what we do.  I will eventually sleep tonight, knowing that the last thing he felt was the warmth of a clean and caring clinic, the touch of a hand that wanted so much to hold him and love him and the last words he heard...."It's ok Buddy...you will be fine...we love you, beautiful boy...." 

Buddy-Boy -Rest in Peace Sweetheart!

WIFCaP Success Story

People wonder why we push TNR...and why we are so happy there are less litters being born.  Had it not been for WIFCaP and your donations to Figaro's Fund, this sweet little girl may not have lived to adulthood and if she did, she would have most certainly lost 100% of her eyesight.  This is WIFCaP kitty, Arwyn.   She was found during a trapping on a rainy cold spring morning.

The day we found Arwyn

I remember that day like it was yesterday.  Cold, rainy and about as nasty as a morning can be.  The yard where the feral cat colony was located was alive with adult cats and several kittens.  I went into this project with the vow..."Im not taking any kittens!  We cannot deal with kittens right now."  I repeated that mantra to myself until I stooped to look into the shelter housing made of a wooden box set on it's side. The box was filled with a cold damp layer of straw...and inside, sitting just like this was Arwyn.  It was apparent that she could'd see anything.  Had she sight, she would have scattered like popcorn like the rest of the kittens did.  It was immediate that my mantra stalled, replaced by a new one "we have to help this one..." I scooped her up and off we went.   AVC was wonderful to work with as we accessed her eyes and it was determined that she had a severe case of herpes.  It was doubtful that she would ever have 100% sight, but hopeful that some would be regained. Thanks to Figaro's Fund we were able to begin treatment (did I mention the flea infestation??).

We fostered her and it wasn't long before Becky and Don came along and fell in love.  They have taken her to many Vet appointments and have given lots of medicine.  The very best has been done for her.  She is now a sweet adult kitty with enough sight be a typical Tortie....tons of fun, spunk and mischief!  She is loved beyond belief!  And by the way, two of her siblings were also rescued that day and homes were found for them as well.

Arwyn - Christmas 2013

This is why the unwanted litters are so important to prevent.  No only because of the numbers of unwanted cats and the nuisances they create in the community, but because those unwanted cats suffer.  Things like eye infections or upper respiratory infections that we easily treat our pets for, go untreated and the resulting pain and suffering for the animal is sickening.

We thank our supporters for giving funds to our Figaro's Fund to help other kitties like Arwyn get a chance to live healthy and happy lives.

 Figaro was a sweet baby kitty that was brought to us very ill and unable to make it.  We were so sad to see him go, but happy that he was in the warm arms of people that loved and cared for him during his final days.  The wonderful couple that found him donated funds in his memory.  Thus, Figaro's fund was born.  We have helped many kitties make it through medically tough times with funds that are designated there.

Figaro -the sweetest baby ever!

If you would like to donate just hit the donate button at the top left side of this page and be sure to add Figaro's Fund to the memo line.  If you watched the story unfold on our page about little Jasper who passed away of FIP and incurred a vet bill of $1000 and you would like to help, you can also add "Jasper" to the memo .  Find out more about Jasper here...Justice for Jasper

Arwyn's is a happy story of recovery and health.  Sady, not all turn out that way.  But we can sleep at night knowing we do our best from the time we take that first peek into lives of a colony until they are released or rehomed.

First Auction of 2015 is Underway!

Romeo and Juliet - Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Sunday February 1st at 9pm CST, our first auction will begin.   I have approx 60 items listed for bidding and hope that many will join the fun of a lighthearted auction!

Super Bowl Sunday has nothing on us!   We are looking for the best auction total ever, to start our spring TNR off on the right foot.

Our actions are found on Ebay.    It's easy to register as an ebay buyer and if you dont want to pay online, let me know and you can send a check or drop off your payment!    Once the auction is live, all you have to do is type WIFCaP in ebay's search box and all our items will list for you!

We offer all kinds of items...mostly I try to use things that are easy to ship and protect from breakage...

There are cat themed items and not...

We hope everyone will find something they like enough to make a generous bid.

Remember, this is not a bargain basement or a thrift shop.  We are trying to offer quality items with lots of appeal so that the bids will go high and the funds will mount up.

All of our items are donated.  Some are used, some new, some are hand made.

Our auction will run for 7 days, so you have lots of time to bid away!!!  Ends February 7th at 9pm CST.

Have fun.  Remember every $40 gets a full spa treatment for one kitty!

Ending the year in a big way!

Its only 3 days until the end of 2014 and I have to admit, this has been a crazy year!   I've actually had to take out my old calendar pages to review what all has been happening around Western Iowa Feral Cat Land to remember.  It's gone so fast and furious that it all seems a blur!


What I do know is that we TNR'd as many cats in 2014 as we did in the two years before combined.

How did that happen?
 LOTs of time, gas and hard work!

Our volunteer staff has not increased that much.  For one that we gained, we have lost another.  The team that actually does the trapping has remained me and one faithful other.

We've added support volunteers that can do things like print and laminate and go on the road to pick up food at pantries.  I know that it isn't that friends don't want to help, it s that they cant.  Work, family...life gets in the way and not everyone is available to come all the way out here at the crack of dawn and at dusk when trapping is the best.

Adding traps to our inventory has helped a TON...Thanks to Best Friends Animal Society, we added two more traps and that has meant more kitties in for spa treatments!

Adding a wonderful vet to our partnership!   Harlan Veterinary Associates and Referral Center has been wonderful to us.  A great supporter of TNR and offering us a price that affords us the opportunity to fix more kitties locally!

Dr. Sternberg and Anne at work!

More and more people and towns are taking responsibility to their own cat issues.  This means they are open to TNR and open to helping pay for it.

This was kind of a year of discoveries for me.  I discovered that kitten care is hard.  Even with wonderful volunteers to help, it is a difficult and demanding job.  We had lots of kittens this past summer and we are still trying to find homes for the last two.   We found out that they get sick, they carry disease and sometimes they even die.   We know we have made their little lives better and that they have felt loved, but its a strain on volunteers and it's expensive.

We discovered that our focus HAS to remain on TNR and not rescue.  We have no where to hold the strays,  while trying to find homes. Again, the strain of that has been heavy, to the point of even loosing some of the help we had.  It is so hard to say "no" when the call of a friendly stray or a litter of kittens comes in.

We discovered that there are lots of people that want to help us financially!    I can honestly say that we have never had to be late on a bill.  Our friends on Facebook are amazing and without them, we could not TNR ONE cat!  Thanks to everyone that bids on our auctions, purchases from our many fundraisers and/or sends a check or makes a donation to paypal!  We can happily say that ALL your funds go to helping the kitties.  We have very little overhead (I need to buy a ream of copy paper) and we attempt to spend all your dollars on fixing cats!

I've discovered that while this is my passion and none of it feels like work to me (other than maybe the bookkeeping), I have to limit myself.  I have traveled over 80 miles one way to trap cats, then more miles to transport them to the vet and then all the way back home.   I get phone calls at all hours about problems, I spend many hours every day working on TNR, Facebook, accounting etc.

And so, decisions have had to be made.   We held our final meeting of the Board of Directors earlier in December and so far here is what we are considering:

Kittens and Stray Friendly Cats :   We are trying to find a rescue that we can work with to refer these to.

Financial giving:  We will continue our methods of fundraising while adding grant writing.  We have a volunteer that will begin helping us with that in January!

Limiting Scope of Assistance:  While the need is great, we can only do so much.  The communities around us have great need and we will begin focusing on those communities.  The communities are Walnut, Harlan, Avoca,  Hancock, Minden, Oakland, Atlantic, and Shelby.   We will continue to assist other communities with issues by offering education and training in TNR).  Watch for targeted TNR projects over the summer in some of these communities!




So!  Goodbye 2014 and hello 2015!  It's going to be a fun ride!