Thanks to our wonderful board member, Roxanna, we are able to share sewing instructions for our trap covers!    Please show us your work on our Facebook page!

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

SAVE THE DATE!

It is that time of year again!   The Omaha Community Foundation along with Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is sponsoring this one day giving event once more!

This event happens on Wednesday May 24, 2017

GIVE NOW by scheduling your donation

This is 24 hour event, you our supporter can donate to OmahaGives and not only will we get your donation, but we will also be eligible for prizes and awards!  There are hourly prizes, and random prizes graciously sponsored by local businesses. 

We have a Challenge Fund of $$2900 These are pledged donations to match your dollars as they come in.

Last year, our goal was $10,000.  We came SO close and gained just under!   

This year our goal again is $10,000.  Can we do it?  Can you help?

If you can only give once a year, this would be the time to do so.   With the matching Challenge Funds and the potential in prize money, your dollars will go much farther to help more kitties in Western Iowa.

GIVE NOW by scheduling your donation.

For all details of Omahagives Click here!

"WIFCaP" continues to be a small grassroots effort run completely by volunteers!

We are pleased and honored to be part of this awesome event again in 2017 and we cherish your support!

Follow us on Facebook 

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 !

                                

Thank you!

To say this year has been a success is an understatement!  We will have TNR's over 500 cats by the end of 2016!   We have you, our supporters to thank for Lois, Lori and I being able to do what we have been able to do this season.   Without the support of our donors, we could not have helped so many cats have a better life or prevented thousands of kittens from the horrors of living the outdoor life they would have been subjected to.   We know that we have kept many from ever seeing the inside of a shelter from which they most likely would never have left alive and we know those same cats are now sleeping in the shadows somewhere until nightfall or waking up to the a full bowl of food and water supplied by a loving caregiver.

It "takes a village" though, and we also could not have done this without our wonderful vet partners, Dr. Sternberg and Dr. Joyce.   These guys are heroes in our eyes.   For them to be so flexible with us, never knowing for sure how many we are going to end up hauling in for spa treatments,  knowing they are going to be dirty, stinky,riddled with fleas and mites, possibly injured...these guys and their wonderful staff of techs and assistants treat each cat, no matter what, like they belong to a personal client.   We so appreciate everything they do for us almost on a daily basis.

So, the 2016 season ends.  We will take care of the 'fringe" trappings when the weather permits and we will start a new list for the new year.

The new year brings some changes to WIFCaP.   At the final  2016 meeting of the Board of Directors, Kathy asked to step away from the primary position of President and Executive Director, to allow her the freedom to travel, sell her house and actually "retire".   The board of directors unanimously voted Lois Hartje as new President/executive director and Treasurer, Kathy as Vice President, Becky as Secretary.   These positions will be in place for one year.

Kathy will continue to work on Facebook, the website and will mentor Lois.   WIFCaP is in good hands with Lois.  We look forward to 2017 so we can continue to help more kitties in Western Iowa.  Should you have any questions or comments, you may email Kathy at kathy@wifcap.org or Lois at Lois@wifcap.org

Good morning feral and homeless kitty lovers!

Ending the season with a HUGE trapping tomorrow.   I don't feel ready.  I feel exhausted!  BUT it is the last trapping for my 2016 season, so we might as well go out with a BANG!

I want to thank you all for your donations over this year so far.   Without you all, we could not do this project!  Depending on how many we get, our cost could be close to $3000!  I hope Dr. Sternberg eats his Wheaties tomorrow morning!   We will all need energy!  My thanks in advance to Lois and Laura for helping me trap and of course to Doc and Anne, Bri, Kim, Collette and Susie at the office who will all have to put up with us coming and going, and the stink of what will most likely be at least half male cats.

So today, I will get my car packed and ready.   Lois is actually getting a trailer to haul traps, as we will need all 40 of our traps and then some carriers.  We will be able to transfer some of the kitties from traps to carriers so we can reuse the trap.  This will be our biggest trapping ever.

I may do some live feed from the site if I think I have time to do it on Facebook.

That might be fun!

Have a great day.  Headbutts and Whisker Kisses.

Seasons, Stages and Changes....

I've been trying to decide how to make this announcement for weeks, but the time is here ...so here it is.

Hubby and I have decided to put our house in Walnut on the market and seek to move to Omaha. SHOCK!!!

I made the announcement to our board of directors at our last meeting earlier this month, but we've kept it under wraps until we had an appointment for the "FOR SALE" sign to go in the yard.  This is scheduled for this Tuesday.  I've been busy and overwhelmed with trying to get the house ready and uncluttered for a photo shoot etc and trying to maintain my cool and do all my WIFCaP work too.  I'm not so sure I've done a very good job of either one.

There are many reasons for our decision and mostly it's about age...we need to be closer to the city where the majority of our kids are (3 out of 4), where the majority of our grandchildren are (5 out of 8) and where 100%  of our medical resources are. With the accident that Larry had back in June and the activities of family and church, our trips back and forth to Omaha have quadrupled and we don't see it getting any better in the future.

I'm tired of the huge house.   It is a wonderful home and we have made SO many enhancements on it. Walnut is a great little town and its getting better with some restoration going on and revitalization happening.   It's difficult to leave it, but at the same time, there is about 4 times more room than we need and managing it all now is becoming  harder and harder. We are hoping for a smaller home, easier to manage, easier to get to Dr. appointments and easier to see the kids and grandkids.

All this being said, I know you are wondering about WIFCaP.   NOTHING will change other than I will not be able to do the physical trapping in my area any more.  I have been praying that others will come forward to help and that is happening.   I am gaining pockets of helpers in different areas and I know in my heart WIFCaP will not really skip a beat.  I want to keep doing the admin work, fundraising, accounting, teaching, marketing....and I can do that in Omaha.   With as much driving as I do now back and forth, I can still make trips back to Walnut/Harlan etc when I'm needed.

I know the biggest question on your mind.  It's the same one my 9 year old granddaughter asked when we told her.  "What about Mrs. Gray and Zeva??".  Trust me, they will be taken care of.  I am hoping someone will come forward to give them inside homes like Mr. Nelson.   If that doesn't happen, I have several other options I'm looking into.. What I do know is  I cannot take them with me.  Since we will be traveling 5 months out of the year, I  can't get them adjusted to a new place and then leave them or try to put them in carriers and expect two feral cats to travel 1800 miles twice a year.  That wouldn't be fair to them.   Who knows, maybe someone will buy the house and let them stay???  Be assured, they are my top priority if the house sells.

Life is about seasons, stages and changes...some easy, some difficult....some fun, some miserable....some elective and some necessary...

This season of my life,  this stage of the game, these upcoming changes are a little of all those things.  I am emotional about it and hope you will all understand that a LOT has gone into this decision.  We take it very seriously.  We want the best for us, for our family, for my porch kitties and of course for WIFCaP.

Please email me privately if you have comments.  You are all like family to me and your support will mean the world.
Kathy

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! 

GIVE NOW thru May 25th to WIFCaP Biggest event of the Year!

Click here to learn all about Omaha Gives - Pottawattomie Gives

The time is here again and for the 3rd year in a row, WIFCaP will participate in Omaha Gives - Pottawattomie Gives.  This is a one day giving event where YOU, our supporters can join an online giving day with us as your charity and help us with our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Together, the Omaha Community Foundation along with The Pottawatomie County Foundation and the Iowa West Foundation, in addition to YOUR donations made through this page, we could gain more by being eligible for hourly prizes and random drawings!  Wont you help us by having fun with us as we watch our fundraising goals realized.   Last year we finished with nearly $8000.  Our goal this year is lofty...$10,000!  We can do it!

Just click here....OmahaGives24., sign in as a donor, choose WIFCaP and give a minumum $10 donation.  If you are only going to support once this year, let it be on May 25th!  Scared you will forget?  You can schedule your donation ahead of time too!

Spring Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day is April 14th!

It's that time of year again and WIFCaP will be sponsoring a low cost spay and neuter day at Harlan Veterinary Associates and Referral Center in Harlan Iowa!
Your cat will receive spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations for rabies and distemper.  If the cat goes outdoors, we recommend a left ear notch for identification purposes, should he/she ever get trapped.

This event is limited to 30 cats - register early!

Cost is $50

Date: Thursday April 14, 2016

Time:  Drop off 8am   Pick-up same afternoon

Place:  910 Chatburn Ave - Harlan, IA

MUST Pre register and Prepay.   

Email cats@wifcap.org to register and to get payment informaion

Please pass the word....this is a one day only event.  

*Please note: the cost for this proceedure is $10-15 more per cat.  WIFCaP is covering the difference.  Your donation to help with this granted amount is appreciated.

Vetary Foundation is OnBoard!

Finance pet treatment with Vetary and give back to our pet shelter!

Well, this is cool!

Vetery Foundation has contacted us to inform us that we are eligible to recieve cash grants on a quarterly basis!  

All we need to do is let you all know that Vetary Foundation - Save a Bark! is there for you when you are looking for a vet in your area.  

Even if you have a vet you love, keep this in mind when you have a friend in a different area looking for one, or if you are traveling. 

Vetary Foundation also helps finance pet services when the going gets tough.  Take a look at their website and bookmark it, in case you need them. 

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!

The Newest Chapter in Mr. Nelson's Life

Mr. Nelson Lounging in His New Home...inside!

Over four years ago, I began seeing him in the shadows, under a bush, sometimes scooting out of the under the house residence of Mrs. Gray and her family.   So quiet and so afraid.  For 3+ years I watched him roam the streets of Walnut.  Myself and others in town saw his need. He looked beat and battered, worn and torn and we couldn't catch him.  We put food and water out for him and tried over and over and over to trap him, so he could be fixed and vaccinated.   We named him Elusive, for good reason.  Finally in Nov of 2014 I was able to get him in.   At that time, he seemed healthy enough, other than fleas and mites and some battle scars. He was renamed E. Conrad Nelson in honor of the friend that sponsored his medical treatment, he remained elusive for months and then he appeared on "the porch" with Mrs. Gray and Zeva.  Months passed and he became tamer and finally one day just a few months ago, Mr. Nelson decided he could trust Kathy and they began a beautiful relationship.   Taking it slow and easy was the name of the game.  Mr. Nelson would wind between Kathy's legs and allow her to scratch his head and stroke his body, but please don't pick up!  In Kathy's world of porch kitties, having him tame enough to get in for medical treatment if necessary, providing food, water and shelter on the porch and daily visits was a way better life than the one he had previously.  A life that consisted of hiding in the daytime, roaming at night and wondering where the next meal would come from.

Then the facebook message came.  Someone Kathy didn't know, but is a friend and fan of the FB page wanted to know if we might consider him to be adopted.  Honestly, Kathy thought as soon as she discussed the situation with her, we would find it probably not what she was looking for and Mr. Nelson would remain a porch kitty in Walnut.

Not to be.  Rebekah is very experienced with working with animals with special needs and she had fallen in love with Mr. Nelson. References were stellar..not one good reason to say no...

Letting him go was so hard.  But look at him now.   It's been only 11 days since they came to pick him up and he has made huge strides in becoming an indoor cat.

The following is word for word the update I received just a day or so ago...

"Happy Monday!  Mr. Nelson's first week was full of progress and crossing boundaries.He loves talking, in fact he talks all the time.  It's hard to get on video because he mostly talks when Im not giving him attention.  He plays rough and gets spooked very easy, but also is quick to forget, as long as we give him ear rubs.  He is very loving.  The biggest achievement thus far is he is finally using the litter box and no accidents now!!!!  What a success.  Simply by bringing the downstairs litter upstairs with urine in it already.  He is a smart boy.  We are letting him decide when he wants to come explore.  Last night was the first time he walked down the stairs and into the living room.  He only hung out 10 min and as soon as I brought him back to his room, he was relieved and happy.  He feels safe there.  Today when I went to check on him, I was greeted by his sweet face looking out the window from his tower. (he loves that thing!).  He has some pretty bad battle scars: missing a lot of his teeth and a few of his claws. He is full of scabs and even ear damage.  I think he is deaf - either partial or total - Possibly even blind. Which explains a lot.  He clings to me so much when I come to his room.  But he doesnt hear me open the door even greet him.  Most of the time I have to get right up to him before he gets startled and realizes it's me.  It breaks my heart to wonder how long he would have had left outside before he would have been attacked. And having to stand guard his whole existence, deaf or blind is just heartbreaking."

  Im sharing with you all because you were all such a big part of his life.  I shared him with you all because I love him so much and could see what a great cat he is...now he has the chance to be safe and warm and healthy and loved.   Without you all urging me to post his pictures and his condition and all the details of his sweet life, Rebekah would never have fallen for this big sweet guy!   When I think of what he has come from and what he must have had to endure, it breaks my heart too.  I know there are so many more like him and to get to witness the transformation is a blessing and an honor.  He had found some protection and safe harbor on the porch, but this is way beyond what I could have ever provided for him.     You all were part of it! and I thank you.

And to Rebekah...you are his angel and we thank you from the bottom of our kitty loving hearts!

The Best is Yet to be...

Today is going to be a very emotional day for me.

Mr. Nelson will leave for his new furever home.  I've been telling him goodbye for days and trying to convince myself that he's not going far, I will get updates, he is so much better off and has the wonderful chance to be someones beloved indoor pet.  It doesn't change the fact that I will miss his sweet face greeting me every time I go outside.  Anyone who has won the love of a feral, or very frightened and distrustful stray knows what I'm talking about.  There is a bond.    Thank you all for loving him with me.  Some sent support when he was hurt and my friend Conee sponsored his spa treatment when we finally caught him   I woke up this morning to a 27 degree day and I can't tell you how happy I am to know that last night was his last one in the cold.  This is what we are about.  Making their lives better.   Better was when he found the feeding station. Better was when after 3 years he allowed us to catch him for spa treatment.  Better was when he began calling my porch home.  Better was when the wall came down and we connected in a physical way (be still my heart) and he found the warm kitty tube in which to sleep the day away.  But BEST is going "home".  To a place where his new mom knows feral cats and has the time, the love, the patience , the room to let him be "Elusive" as long as he needs to be.   He will blossom there.  He will have people to love him,  He will have kitty and doggie friends when he is ready.  He will be the KING he was born to be.   Mr. Nelson is a lover, not a fighter.  His personality is one of cuddling in bed and napping in the sunshine.  To know that he will be able to do these things and not fight to live on the streets, has made every frustrating attempt to trap, every walk in the snow or rain to feed, every worry that he didn't make it overnight, or that the ear mites were killing him, worth it.  

Mr. Nelson, my job is done.  You are on your way to the best life ever.  Thank you for blessing me with your little presence.  God brought you to me so you could end up right where you are going.  It was all part of His plan and the best is yet to be. "His eye is on the Sparrow" and His eye has also been on you.  I am so grateful to have been part of your sweet life!

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....

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

Mrs. Gray Loves Her Bucket Water!

I can hardly believe that year four for WIFCaP is only weeks from complete!   I've been taking time to step back and take a look at where we have been, where we began and along with that, looking ahead to where we might be going.   It's easy to look back and see the successes (laced with some sadness, disappointments and failures) but looking to the future feels somewhat like looking at a huge mountain that needs climbing, then looking down at my feet and realizing I don't have hiking shoes.

When WIFCaP began it was pretty much me, along with a few very eager and excited friends that wanted to help.   We put together the Face book page and the web page and we hit the ground running for fund raising.  We found a vet that was willing to give us a discount and for almost 3 years, between AVC and SOS in Omaha we were fixing as many cats as our donations would allow.   A year ago we partnered with HVA for an even greater discount which afforded us to do twice as many cats on the same amount of money.   Dr. Sternberg and his crew has been wonderful to us and we value them beyond description!  I have volunteers that help when ever and however they can and their value is immeasurable too!

Along the road, we became incorporated, licensed and obtained our non profit status from the IRS.  All good news.   We have a great board of directors who I lean on for advice and emotional support when the decisions get hard.

Money has never really been an issue.  Our supporters are phenomenal!   When the need is there, they pull through like champs!  I can truly say that other than gas, time and wear and tear on my vehicle, I have not put any of my personal funds into WIFCaP.

In the four years we have been in "business", we have fixed approximately 1200 cats and in total helped around 1400.  That feels like success in any one's book.

We have been honored to be asked to do a workshop at The Iowa Federation of Humane Society's annual conference and will be speaking there again this September.  We have held educational workshops on trapping for several groups and have spoken to many city councils about the benefits of TNR. We've even taught children about the plight of feral cats. More recognition and success!

So why the daunting feeling of a mountain too big to climb?  The mountain is made up of all things TNR and for the most part the vast percentage of it is done my myself.

During year one, I think I had about 3 friends helping.  Most the help was supportive encouragement.  As the years have passed I have gained a couple wonderful volunteers that can actually help me trap and transport, at least during some of the times they have off or are available.  I have volunteers that will help during events and donate items for auctions, bake sales and other fundraising events.

Trapping:    Setting up trapping must co ordinate with Vet hours and property owners schedules and availability. Trapping is done normally very early morning or at dusk, in which case the cats get to spend the night in my garage.  Trapping doesn't just mean trapping, it means getting them to the vet, getting them back from the vet and then back to the property. Cats sometime spend another night  in my garage when it is not healthy for them to be returned the same day.   Then there is the trap cleaning and storage, until the next time.

Social media:  Face book has been one of our most important and wonderful ways to gain support and engage with our friends, fans and followers.   Every day posts are made, with pictures to keep WIFCaP in the forefront of the minds of those we hope will continue to encourage what we do.  Instagram and Pinterest are new venues that I'm now trying to use to offer even more engagement.  I'm guessing I spend at least an hour of my day on social media.  My husband would probably argue that it is even more.

Fundraising:  Constant.  Its seems we need to go from one fundraiser to the next in order to keep a balance in the bank account to stay afloat.  I try to do 4 eBay auctions a year, The Cat's Meow in September, Omaha Gives in the Spring and Tuesday Treasures occasionally.   We have other sources of mobile and internet fundraising like IGive, Paid2Save, Tagged, RESQWalk, and others and these also take constant promotion.

Bazaar and Fundraiser September 19th!

Bookkeeping:  Donations come in the mail and on Paypal...bills are paid...supplies ordered, all kept on Quick books to which I am daily keeping up to date and accurate.  Tax time comes quickly!

Daily correspondence: Phone calls, emails and face book messages come during all hours. These may deal with trappings that need to be scheduled, city community cat issues,  lost or injured cats, found orphaned kittens, or any other cat related question or concern someone might have. Newspaper press releases and other requested articles must be done too!

I want to make it clear that I am NOT complaining.  I LOVE this "job" more than anything I have ever done and my passion for it has not waned n the least bit.   BUT I am also at a point that I know I cannot continue doing it all at the same pace as I'm trying to do it now.  I was hoping that I would have a trapping team in place by this time four years later.  Also a fundraising team.    The truth is I don't.  Not everyone has the same passion for TNR as I do, or the time to do it like I do.  I need to step back and decide what year five will  hold.

The remainder of 2015 is going to be a very busy one for me on a personal level.   I will be headed to VA in September for a week to attend my grand daughter's wedding.  Immediately after that, I head to San Antonio for another week to give my stepsister a break and care for my 93 year old step mother. I get home 3 days before "The Cat's Meow".   In October I am going to Florida and South Carolina to visit my BFF of 50 years to celebrate our years of friendship.  I will be gone for 2 weeks.   In November, my oldest son and his family will be visiting from the east coast, before they make a permanent move to Belgium to head up a Christian kids Camp full time.  THEN sometime in November or early December, my husband will retire.  We have purchased a home in South Texas where we will spend the bitter cold months in winter...hopefully from at least December through March or April.

What does this all mean for WIFCaP?  I'm actually trying to figure that out myself.   I will have a busy August trying to get everything caught up before all the fall activities descend!  I know that Angie and Lois will be able to do some small trappings if necessary when I am gone, even over the winter.   Mrs. Gray, Zeva and Mr. Nelson will be cared for by Becky, Cheryl and Molly...on a daily basis.   I've installed surveillance cameras so I can keep an eye on them (the cats, not Molly, Becky or Cheryl)!  LOL! Much of what I do on face book and social media I can do from Texas.  Also auctions and fund raising.

So, as I write this, I realize that not that much has to change other than my mind set of always wanting to progress and do more.  I am going to need to be happy with what I CAN do  by myself, and be happy for all the extra help I can get.  I need to pace myself and not get sucked into the lie that we have to grow...we have to get bigger and better and do more and more.  Nope...  I am one person and I am 65 years young and I have limits.

So, mountain, you just turned into a molehill.   I can climb you in flip flops!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Help us find our new home!

Two little kittens that need a home!  Both are very friendly and both are female.  They are not litter mates but the get along great!  Please call Kathy at 712-784-2490 if interested..  Both will be fixed and vaccinated before they move on to their new furever home!