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....

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!

Summer Auction Begins on Ebay!

Lenox - Laundry Day Figurine

Three times a year, Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program holds an online Fundraising auction on Ebay!  Auctions are generally held March, July and November.

This summer auction will start Saturday July 12, at noon CST and will end the same time the following Saturday July 19th, 2014.  We are super excited to offer you some fun and interesting items!  Some new, some vintage, and some hand made.

All items offered at our auction are donated by kind supporters and for that we thank you all very much! Many items we get are handmade which to us, make them very special.  We hope you will be generous in your bidding, as we know that much time and love have been put in to each item.

It's easy to participate.   Just be sure you are registered on Ebay, and then once the auction goes live (noon CST on July 12th), you can type WIFCaP in the search box on the ebay site and all our offerings will list out.

Our auctions are a major source of income for WIFCaP and with the funds raised we are able to help more kitties in Western Iowa live a happy healthy outdoor life!

Zeva Comes "Home"?

To say the morning started out like every other morning wouldn't be the truth.   I was up a 5:45 to be ready to meet up with Deb B. to travel nearly 40 miles to trap a colony of 10 outdoor kitties for "spa treatment"...we went  - we trapped and we conquered...4!   We will be going back on Friday to try to get the remaining cats.   After depositing them at AVC, filling out the paperwork and loving up on the clinic kitties ( all 11 of them if you count Peanut and Simon), it was back home to finish out my day.

Little trapped kitten ready for Spa treatment!

  As usual, Mrs. Gray was waiting for me when I arrived and ushered me to the back door.  I went in and got her breakfast and fresh water and visited a while before I went in for my own lunch.

Mrs. Gray escorts me to the back door...

Next it was on to the post office to mail our precious grant application.  I was shocked that Mrs. Gray followed me for a full block...just like a puppy she trotted behind me until I got to the bank.  She's never done that before...always realizing I'm NOT going to Zeva's, she stays put in the yard and watches for me to return.  She waited, but this time more than a block away from her home.

I had brought Zeva's lunch with me and so the two of us continued on to Zeva's house.  We filled her dishes with food and water.  Zeva is always happy to see me. She is more interested in me than the food...I get lots of head butts and whisker kisses... She and Mrs. G however, don't seem to want to be together anymore.  Strange because they are mother and daughter and lived together since Zeva's birth over 2 years ago now.  Since Mrs. G has migrated to my front porch, she and Zeva avoid and physical contact. Who knows what kind of mother-daughter tiff they might have had....

After a few minutes of fellowship, Mrs. Gray and I hurried across the highway to our big white house on the corner....  As I was coming up the steps I hears "Meow...." behind me and yes....

Zeva followed me home!

Zeva had followed us home!   I was totally shocked and happy (I think)...  She checked out everything on the porch.  Found out where the food and water was.   Sniffed the igloo and the straw bale... and even head butted Mrs. Gray.   They actually seemed happy to be together..It could be that Mrs. Gray's jutting away from her before was actually trying to get her to follow her?

Mother and daughter reunion?

So there you are...Mrs. Gray and Zeva both on my porch.   My fear and concern is that Zeva will go back and forth for a time at least...or who knows, maybe this will be her only visit.  So, I will just pray they stay put and avoid the highway.  They are my beauties and I know you all love them too. Thank you for helping us take care of them!

"Fairminded Fran and the three small black Community Cats"

"Finally!....a resource that can used to educate children and adults to the plight of feral and community cats!  Whether taken into the classroom or read to children as a bedtime story, the philosophy of TNR and the process of critical thinking comes through in a clear, precise and fun way!  We plan to put together educational "story times" at our area public libraries.  Thank you for filling a void in the "community" of feral cat lovers!"

Kathy Humann President and Executive Director  Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program

To order this wonderful little book, please visit the website at 

www.fairfranscommunitycats.org

A Winter Wonderland of Wondering!

We are experiencing our first winter storm of 2012.  Looks like we will for sure have a White Christmas!  Its blustery cold out today.  As I watch my indoor kitties look out the window, I wonder what is going on in their head.  Are they happy to be inside?  Are they wishing they could go out and "play" and make kitty angels in the snow?  What goes on in my head is how many there are out there that don't have a warm cozy window to peer out of...I don't mean our community cats so much.  I know they can survive, it's all they have ever known.  They most likely have a warm hole somewhere and even other warm kitty bodies to snuggle with when the going gets tough.  I'm thinking of the ones who have been thrown away, or abandoned or have gotten themselves lost.  How do they handle it, not being "street wise" like Mrs. Gray, Franks and EJ?...

I am grateful that we have been able to rescue several from the throws of winter.  These are at AVC, waiting and hoping for a new home to call their very own.

This is Sylvester.  He was found in a field by a farmer.  Thinking this nice boy had been attacked, he took him to AVC.  We found him to be friendly and very lovable!  He is currently being treated for a severe case of ear mites and a skin infection and very soon he will be ready to find a new home.  We are happy he is out of the field.

This is sweet Roscoe!  I found him on my porch last week crying.  He is a beautiful boy who is just as friendly as anything.  He likes his space, but when given the choice, he will crawl right up into your lap and heart!

So at least these two aren't out in the blizzard, wondering where they are and when and what they will get to eat.  Being in a cage at AVC is much better than that!  BUT what would be the best??? A forever home with a family.....like yours!!

National Feral Cat Day 2012

Today is National Feral Cat Day and I am celebrating! Five years ago as I began every day of every week of every month  feeding a lonely feral cat named Toby, I could not have imagined that today I would be part of feeding over 50 cats on a daily basis, having helped numerous communities set up managed feral colonies, having spoken to five city councils asking for the freedom to let this method have a chance to work; having medically served over 170 cats and kittens  and spayed and neutered over 130 outdoor feral or community cats.   Western Iowa Feral and Homeless Cat Program (WIFCaP) started because two women sat together and worried about an outdoor cat named Toby, and knowing that there must be more like him that needed help..  After much research and study we agreed,  the only solution would be to start a TNR program.  The next step, how???

Not wanting to go into all the finite details of how it all came together, it suffices to say, I decided to dive in head first. alone and pretty much by myself to say " I'm committed, I'm ready and I will do what has to be done to change things."  When I found out that I couldn't get grants unless we were a 501c3 I dug and whined and figured out how to get that done.  I did it!  And it didn't cost WIFCaP, taxpayers, donors, or me a cent!

So along with several of my best friends and my sister along for the ride,  we are incorporated in the state of Iowa and we have been granted our 501c3 tax status , which means our donors can use their donations as a tax deductible expense.  We have been inspected and have passed that inspection to receive our Iowa Animal Shelter License.

We have met all the requirements of the state and the IRS  to do what we need to do to help the helpless or homeless feral and homeless cats in Western Iowa.  We do that for the legalistic reasons only.

 If you could see our hearts, none of that matters.  What matters are the huge numbers of cats that have been left to their own devices.  What matters is there are abandoned and left behind cats and kittens that have no where to go. Our passion is to manage colonies and supply food and water so that they can survive the only way they know how.  And so that their numbers do not continue to increase.

For me, the only thing that really matters is that we keep trying and keep helping and keep educating about the importance of  TNR.

We are used to hearing negative comments about our work.  We regularly hear how dumb and stupid our  method is. Mostly we hear nothing, we get "looks" or the silence that indicates no interest at all in what we are doing. So... When we hear the positive, we celebrate.  Thank you!  To Shelby Iowa for "getting it".  for understanding the method, embracing it and counting it as valid.  Thank you! To all those sweet cat people that feed outdoor cats, those who take the friendly ones that need a home, for giving them the love they so deserve.  Knowing they have found a place in your heart helps us ignore the hole they left in ours.  Thank you most of all to AVCheryl, our wonderful vets, Kris, Cheryl, Pam and Becky that help so much and understand my passion, because they too are "infected" with the same passion.  And last of all, but not least, THANK YOU to our supporters, for without them, we could not function one day!

Today, on National Feral Cat Day we celebrate feral cats!  Not that they are there, but that there are others like us that are helping them!

Thank you for a Successful Auction!

Ricky couldn't help trying to get into the act while I was preparing to go to the post office. Our first ever auction ended on Saturday night and now the fun of packing and shipping has begun.  We could not be happier with the results!

Once all the donations are in we will reveal the total for the fundraising event, but I can say that the resulting funds will help us to continue to do TNR and re-homing of friendly strays for the spring and summer! 

Kathy is excited to begin trapping in Avoca where there is also  problem.  There are at least five that she is aware of that need their "spa" treatment" !

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who participated.  We are already planning the next auction.  Look for it towards the end of May!

It's About to be...

It's about to be Christmas, and no matter your background or belief system, Christmas is a time of joy, reflection, and hopefully peace.   We gather together with friends and family, we eat way too much and buy and receive way too many "things"  and we wonder what the year ahead will bring.

We send and receive Christmas Cards, some with the annual Christmas letters. I don't do Christmas letters.  I never have and I don't like them. I mostly don't care where everyone vacationed or who got what promotion or how the house sale went.   I hope that doesn't sound like Scrooge, I want it to sound honest.  What I care about I will already know about my friends and family.  I will know how they felt about getting that promotion because I would have been there to help celebrate.  I will have seen the vacation pictures while we sipped coffee or tea.   I will have helped with the moving after the big sale of the house or sent a housewarming gift that would arrived their first day in their new home.  I wont need to read it in a letter.

But this year, I actually considered sending a Christmas letter.  It wouldn't have been about my new garage, or the fact that my son is finally home from a 5 year stint in the US Navy.  It would been about my furry friends in and around Walnut.

I would tell them about Gibbs, who came to my porch after being left alone by his owner.  I would tell of his beauty and his gentleness.  I would whine about how the four cats don't get along, but we are working things out and he will stay.

And then I would tell them about Western Iowas Feral Cat Program.  How we have worked to spay or neuter, vaccinate and give medical care to 25 cats since August.   How we have set up six feeding stations to keep them well fed.  How they now have shelter and are living happy, healthy lives outside.

I'd tell them about Spider Mansion, which has become famous because of a feral cat who sunned himself in the window last winter...The soon to be demolished house will now live on.


I would tell them that each kitty has a name and there is a reason for that name.  I would tell them that while most have forgotten about these little creatures, we have not. 

I would tell them that through WIFCaP, we have met people all over the country that care as much as we do.  That we have friends out there that understand and support us.

I would tell them to do something for someone less fortunate.  I would tell them if we all did that, our world would change.

And I would say " Merry Christmas".

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Oh Yes, They Are Thankful!

Possum

I took this shot of my Possum the other day.   I had the piece of lace draped over a lamp to use as a backdrop for my etsy listings.    Both she and Gibbs were happy to keep it warm for me and to "help" me with my work.

Gibbs

Yesterday we spent time with our families and ate ourselves sick.  This morning, I was watching Gibbs gather 3 toy mice into a little herd and then bat them all over the house.  He likes being scratched on his stomach and will lay there and purr for as long as I can scratch.  I was telling my husband how he was born to be a house cat and how he loves to play (all 15 pounds of him) and how happy I am that he will never have to live outside again, wondering why he was abandoned or when and if he will eat again.

He is grateful.  I can see it in his demeanor, I can hear it in his purr and I see it in his eyes.  I know all my cats are grateful. I rescued my other 3 when they were tiny and I am in hopes that they don't have memories of the darkness beneath the porch or the cold trailer house with nothing to eat or drink...Gibbs remembers....and he is grateful.

I am thankful that out of all the places in town he would stray to, it our house.  Even though the others don't seem to like him yet, he came here.  He was a starving, lost little cat soul and God drew him to the place he could call home. 

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and that you know how grateful your cats are that they have you to care for them and to love them.  They give us unconditional love.  They don't care about how we look, or what we do for a living. They just know that they are secure and they are loved, and they give back so much more! ~Kathy

Western Iowa/Walnut Iowa Feral Cat Program is all about saving the lives of feral and free roaming cats in Western Iowa...see our Donation Page to see how you can help!

Feral Cat Garage Sale a Success

Walnut Iowa's Feral Cat Program held a garage sale last Saturday to commorate National Feral Cat Day, which was October 16th.

Community members showed their support not only by purchasing items from the sale, but also by donating money and cat food.  The program collected two bags of dry food and seven cans.  Everyone who brought cat food or made a $2 donation was entered into a drawing for a kitty litter box full of treasures for their cat.  The winner was Petra Heiny of Walnut.

The sale was a huge success and brought in $500.  This money will go to continuing to spay and neuter all the stray cats of Walnut.  Thanks to everyone who helped support by donating or purchasing at the sale and to Kathy Humann and the rest of the Feral Cat Program Volunteers.

So sorry to be days late getting this article posted.  This one, I didnt write.  I was told that we needed to reduce the articles to once a month.  So this one was a nice surprise and I thank The Walnut Bureau for printing it!

Garage Sale was a big Success!

The day started off perfect!  A bright, crisp fall day was just the ticket for our garage sale.  This is part of the crew and customers that helped us get off the ground!  Pam, Linda, Cheryl, Becky and Amber!

We had such fun, educating (you can see our information table in the lower left) and meeting people that wanted to know or already knew about feral cats.  This is Cindy.  She lives in Avoca and has been a faithful caretaker of ferals in her area and needs help, so we can expand at some point and help in that direction too!

Living in Iowa's Antique City and living right on main street has advantages!  We were able to have many travelers stop by.  One couple from Wisconsin stopped by and told us of the 18th century mosaic quilt they had just taken to the University of NE Quilt Study to be authenticated.  They were nice enough to unwrap and show us!!!

Getting young people involved in community service is a huge thing to us.  Here is Amy and Marye from a youth group in town that came by to make our winter shelters!  Thank you girls!!!

And of course Kathy's cats had to get in the act!  Here is Lucy, checking to be sure we got everything unloaded from this box.  Such a helper!

Some of our customers, supporters from Omaha even came.  This is my nephew David.  He is a wonderful man who loves cats!!!  He has rescued two kitties that now live with him and is fostering a kitten at this time as well.  Here he tries to befriend Ricky, who is the shyest!

Our facebook friend Dawn came to help too!  She lives in a town about 25 miles from us.  So good to have her here and so glad to meet her.   Dawn and Kathy will go to the conference in DesMoines next Saturday together.  Right now....the name of the conference is slipping my ever-loving aging mind and I will add later...geez!

Anyway, all in all it was a great day.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  We had LOTS of people and they opened their pocketbooks for the kitties.  Many of them were very excited to hear about the cause and were eager to learn and to share what they know.  While I was totally exhausted at the end of the day, I, Kathy cannot wait til the next one!  We even had participation online.  Some of our facebook friends that were too far to join us, purchased items online and made donations to our chip in account. 

Much gratitude goes to everyone involved in helping to make this happen.  All of you who donated items to sell, that helped set up, that spent part of your weekend working,  that sent encouraging notes, who made things for us to sell, who came and purchased items here or online...we love you and appreciate all you do to help us. 

I signed up on my email to receive google alerts on feral cats.  Its amazing EVERY DAY how many articles and how much activity is going on in this area.  The word is getting out and people are beginning to notice!

The Walnut Bureau September 22, 2011

Walnut Iowa’s Feral Cat News

Did you know that October is National Feral Cat Month and October 16^th is officially National Feral Cat Day??? To commemorate this date, Walnut Iowa’s Feral Cat Program will be host to a huge Garage Sale event. The sale will take place SATURDAY October 15^th 8am-5pm at 400 Antique City Drive in Walnut. ALL PROCEEDS will go to continue the work of the group to spay/neuter, vaccinate and return the feral cats in our community and to find new homes for friendly strays.

“We are finding that there are more friendly strays than we first anticipated” says Kathy Humann. “ We treat these just as we would the feral cats. They all get their surgery for sterilization, vaccinations and a clean bill of health. So far we have had great success in re-homing the friendly ones.”

The Avoca Veterinary Clinic in Avoca has been a God-send for the group. “If it weren’t for Doc Hoffmann and Dr. Schultz we couldn’t do what we are doing. They are able to give us the flexibility we need and we’re confident that the kitties are well cared for.” Kathy adds.

The sale will include vintage glassware, Christmas items, TVs, and tons of other items. There will also be a CAT FOOD DRIVE. Bring a can or bag of cat food or a $2.00 donation for a chance to win a litter box full of kitty treasures!!!

An information table will also be set up with information you might find interesting about the importance of spaying and neutering your pets and your community cats.

For information, questions or to get involved, call Kathy Humann 712-784-2660 and follow them on face book at www.facebook.com/wifcap

Cheryl and Tom True - Our True Inspiration!

BONNIE... Sneutered by WIFCaP August 2011

Dont you love her ear tip?  I call it her ruffle!

On our facebook page and in most of my writings, you dont hear much about Cheryl and Tom. They are both busy working people but they have a huge place in their hearts for cats!   They are both Crazy Cat People and have been helping the strays and ferals of our town for years.  In the past 22 years they have sneutered 66 kitties!  It's truely amazing how their love of these little animals has helped so many kitties live long and happy lives. 

This is Butterscotch, lovingly known as Mrs. B.  This is only one of the fun feeding stations that Tom has constructed.  Dont you love the welcome mat???

Little Max was found wondering the streets of Walnut about a year ago.  Just a kitten at the time, Tom took one look and fell in love.  He took him home to their "haven"  and little Max fit right in!

 I remember the day Cheryl found Toby.  He was about as big as my hand and was squealing while trying to climb the lattice work in the courtyard of Cheryl's shop downtown.  We tried to find a mama with no success, so Cheryl became that mama/ He has grown into a most beautiful boy.  Click for a closeup of his eyes...they are not quite blue and not green..like aquamarine!

Last, but certainly not least are Scooter and Tara.  Tara is Scooter's mother.  Tara appeared in Cheryl's courtyard with 2 kittens.  They lived there happily for months.  One of the babies dissappeared and Cheryl brought them into the shop.  Nice to have shop kitties, but not so nice that they were destroying merchandise at night when no one was there!  Would have loved to have hidden video to watch that party!   They now live at "True Haven" and even have their own enclosed kitty kondo...

There are others that hang around True Haven and we will focus on some more of them in the future.  One thing is for sure, lost kitties seem to find their way there.  Its no wonder, Cheryl and Tom's love for cats is on the radar!

WIFCaP is happy to have Cheryl and Tom as part of our group.  They dont have time to post on facebook, write blogs or help with other things.  What they do in the background at their "haven" is way more than most us do all together.  We are happy to begin giving them some relief in cat food bills and vetting. 

Awesome Art by AA

Today I'm featuring one of our very good friends and supporters, Autumn Armstrong.  Ive know Autumn for a couple years now.  She is a friend of my daughters, a cat lover and a great artist.  She paints kitty-atures...  Autumn will take a picture or pictures of your cats and create a fun and winsome painting for you!

Autumn tries to capture your kitty's personality and she does a  great job of it!

Autumn has been cartooning and painting for years, but has recently combined the two.  By the request of many friends, she started creating her Kitty-atures and has started her business as Art by AA!

You can follow her on facebook @ Art by AA

I almost forgot to mention that Autumn and her family adopted one of Walnut's friendly strays a year or so back!  Edwyn had strayed into my yard, and Autumn took him in!

By the way, be on the lookout for our new logo, which will be created by Autumn!

The Spider Mansion!

This is the 2nd feeding station that we set up in Walnut.  It's an old abandoned house that we've seen cats living in.  Its a mess...all windows are broken, its totally falling apart.  We first dubbed the structure "The Mansion", but having walked thru it, we have decided "The Spider Manson" is a way better fit!

These pics of the windows and the inside of the porch, show the destruction.  I've seen cats fly down into the hole to hide when we come in.

 

There is feces and other litter everywhere.  Including evidence of drug usage.  This place is being used not only by cats, but by people too.

Anyone know what this is???

I must admit I felt a little like CSI when "touring" this place.  I didnt have a flashlight, but I wish I'd had a gun....just in case!

It is on the city council agenda for next month to be abated for abandoned and nuisance property. 

In the meantime, we will continue to feed the kitties here.  This coming up week, I will start to trap here and see what we find.  I dont know if there are 2 or 12!