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

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!

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!

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!

Two Years and Counting...

Happy Friday!   I'm sitting at the computer today with a calendar that has nothing staring back at me, no cats sitting in my garage or waiting at the clinic and a peaceful Saturday and Sunday on the horizon.   Given that I have some time to actually breathe, my mind realizes that WIFCaP celebrated its 2nd anniversary last month in a whirlwind of  trappings, spays, neuters with a couple rescues sprinkled in for good measure.

Rescued Kitten

I've been sitting here thinking about how and where we started, comparing it to where we are and what we are doing today.

Two years ago, Mrs. Gray, Zeva and the rest of that little family were newly fixed and their feeding station brand spanking new.  Mrs. Gray wouldn't even think about approaching me, let alone allowing me to stroke her, scratch her ears or allow me to spend some eating time with her and her daughter.  Who knew she would become the darling of WIFCaP, a superstar in her own right and a purrfect example of a feral cat living her outdoor dream life?

Mrs. Gray

Two years ago, I was whining on face book about why small grass roots efforts like ours couldn't get 501c3 status because what grass roots effort had the money to pay a lawyer or figure out the tax forms needed to gain such status.  Today, we are enjoying this status thanks to a wonderful foundation that helps the "little guys" that are trying to enter the world of animal advocacy!

Two years ago, I made a pact with myself that unless the donations came in, we could not and would not be able to continue.  Thanks to the wonderful people that I've still never met in person, who trusted us and risked their funds to help us get a start in TNR.  Today, all of those that started with us on the ground floor, are still there along side, encouraging and supporting in every way possible.   The money always comes when we need it and so far, Ive been able to keep my pact...and the work of WIFCaP goes on!

Two years ago when our hair-brained idea gelled and formed into what has become Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program, I was hoping we could help cats in the Walnut - Avoca area.   Little did I know that in two years, we have been able to help over 20 communities in an approximate 50 mile radius of Walnut.

It's good to reflect.  It's good to remember, both the good parts and the sad.   While we celebrate the over 500 cats we have medically assisted and over 400 "spa treatments", we mourn the loss of even one small helpless creature.  Unfortunately, it's the losses that stick in our memory and leave a sore spot on our hearts. Its the hard times that force us to stay in the reality of our plight...we cant save them all, but we can give it a dang good try!

Amy, Linda and AVCheryl

I think today also about how thankful I am that God has allowed me good health and lots of energy.   Believe me, this WIFCaP journey is not for the faint of heart or weak of body and spirit.  However,  this is the best "job" I've ever had.   I get a "fat" pay check nearly everyday.  It comes in the form of those that help me...without Cheryl and Doc Schultz at the clinic WIFCaP could not operate at all.   They are my rocks!  Kris is my "level-er", keeping my fanciful mind and heart in check with reality and also being a great helper with marketing and social networking.  ALL of our volunteers...Becky who cares for 3 feeding stations, Cheryl, who feeds and cares for many at True Haven,  Linda who is ready to help at the drop of a hat, Sandy, Adrian and Amy who are the best foster mamas ever!  And all our new volunteers that are eager and waiting in the wings to help with future trappings and events.  It comes in the mailbox whenever there is a package that holds a donated item, coupons to help with food costs or a check that will help us do yet another spa treatment.  But mostly my pay check comes in the form of a frightened furry kitty in a trap, one that I know will now get the medical treatment it needs and deserves.  I never feel badly for them when they are in that cold, metal , scary thing.   They don't know it yet, but their life will now better...and its because of YOU...all of you, who are reading this.

And so we wrap up our first two years in "business".Whether you have donated time, money, items for auction, or even if you have only posted a comment of encouragement...we need you ALL and I, personally want to thank you for sticking with us on the WIFCaP page to see what a small grass roots effort can do! Happy Anniversary EveryOne!!

WIFCaP in the NEWS!

Our March 23, 2013 Adoption Event was a real success!  We made some new friends and as  result of the time at Orscheln's we were able to find homes for all four available kitties!

Walnut Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program would like to thank the Walnut Bureau for putting us on the front page!

Fundraising Drive was a HUGE Success!

Our Trick or TREAT Matching Donation Drive is over and was a huge success!  Thank you all for "chipping in" or sending checks to make this event work.  We ended up with $1,173.50 in donations, so with the matching donation of $1000...we are set for the winter with $2,173.50.   We at WIFCaP are amazed and awed at your participation and want to thank you from the bottom of our kitty loving hearts.

This picture of Polly is just a representation of the many kitties that will be helped because you all care.  Polly  is a social girl who had to have had a home at one time.  She is friendly and gentle.  Somehow she got left by a hotel in Panora, IA and thankfully the lady there fed her.  She is #140 for getting a WIFCaP Spa treatment and we are hoping she finds a furever home soon!  Polly is Polydactyl!  She has seven toes on each of her front paws and five on each of her back paws...a total of 24 toes!!!  Very Rare!

Thank you all again for helping us help the helpless!

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!

Our First Ever Auction is UP and RUNNING!!!

Taking a hint from a fellow local cat rescue, Feline Friends in NE, we decided to try an online auction for ourselves.  Kris, Pam and I put our donated items together and set up a new facebook page Wifcap Auctions!  Here we listed the items, set the dates and let er go!!  We are amazed and blessed to see what is coming of this fun event!  As I write this on Tuesday, we have nearly five full days left before the closing bids can be made.    The word SUCCESS comes to mind!  We have had offers from others to donate items, so we are currently collecting items so that we can do another one!  A fun and easy way to make funds for our kitties in Western Iowa!  You can visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WIFCaP2 . This Irish Linen tea towel is a very hot item for this auction!

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!

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! 

August 2011 In Review

During the last week of July 2011, Kathy and Pam finally put boots on the ground and decided to launch Walnut Iowa's Feral Cat Program.  From the first "go live" weekend, we have been in a whirlwind of feral and homeless cat business!  Our team is unbelievable!  All the way from Las Vegas Nevada, Kathy's sister Kris is a huge help with administration and social networking support.  Pam, in Omaha is a source of physical help when possible and encouragement and financial support as well.  Amber and Cheryl and Linda are always standing at the ready to help where ever needed.

 As for me, Kathy, I'm sort of the runner.  I have the privilege to be ringside for all the activity and I'm loving it.  We are counting Gibbs as our first "sneuter".  He has become a beloved member of my family, along with my other 3 rescued kitties.  After vowing I would never have more than 3, Gibbs taught me never to say never.

We've been busy! From caring for and finding foster and fur-ever homes for town strays and abandoned  or lost kitties, to

trapping and taking care of feral cats and kittens.... to setting up and maintaining  feeding stations and

collecting the funds to do so!

In August of 2011, we were able to spay/neuter, vaccinate eight cats, and feed and care for many more through our stations.  We are happy with that total for our first month. 

Thank you to everyone who has been involved with helping us get our wings.  We have experienced such generosity and we are humbled by the signs of compassion for these furry little friends.  Donations of food, traps, and finances have been overwhelming. 

September will be even better! Stay tuned!!

Relentless!

This is our newest feral.  We've named her Jenny....the director on NCIS...We are working through the cast, naming our ferals after Kathy's favorite show.  Yes, we will eventually move on...and yes we will be giving opportunity for our supporters to name our sneuters...This little girl is the mousy little gray one that I first saw in Mrs. Gray's yard.  She has been elusive, but hunger got the better of her this morning.   I set the trap this morning, caught Tony, let him out and reset.  She was trapped and at the vet's office with 30 minutes of the 2nd set of the trap!  We only have one more sibling and the mama, Mrs. Gray to go before we move on to the next area.  I will be attempting to trap both mama and baby yet today.  We are at 7 now!!  Our goal was 10. We may not make it but it wont be for not trying!

Kathy's son is in the Navy on board the USS George Washington CVN73 Aircraft Carrier.  He is home ported in Japan, which means when he isn't at sea, his "home" is Atsugi, Japan.  Kathy has done some preliminary work with Bellevue University in Bellevue NE so that he can start school as soon as possible when he gets out.  Major obstacles didn't deter Kathy.  Jeff emailed and said " Mom, you're relentless!"  I never thought of myself in that way, but when I'm passionate about something...I guess you could call me that!

Look out Mrs. Gray, Im after you!

Another Mrs. Gray Baby Neutered!

This time its a boy!!!  We named this one Tony...again after an NCIS character...Love NCIS!!!  This little guy was in our new trap before I could out of the yard!  Success!!!  I took him right over to the vet and stayed for the surgery!  I got observe, which I have always wanted to do.

Tony did great during surgery and is now resting comfortabley in my cottage.  I will watch him til maybe dusk and then let him go back to his home.  He seems to be doing well.  A beauty!!!

Thank you for all your donations that have made this possible for Tony.  Without you, he would be left to father many kittens, and go unvaccinated...our vets also treat for ear mites and deworm our kitties.   Please consider making us a regular drop off point for your charity dollars.  We have a long road ahead of us to get Walnut's problem under control.  You can "chip-in" at the top of this page...its easy and 100% goes to helping kitties like Tony. 

Walnut's Feral Cat Program News!

Here is our most recent Newspaper article.  As you can see, I sort of added a Q&A feel to it.  Im hoping I will get some Q's!!!!

Here is the copy....

The Walnut Iowa’s Feral Cat Program is in full swing. We are happy to report that we have been able to spay or neuter 4 cats already.




As we continue to update you on our progress, we will also attempt to answer some important questions, you might have.

Q: Why not just let animal control come in and take these cats?

A: Animal control’s traditional approach for feral cats, which is catch and kill - is endless and cruel. Cats choose to reside in locations for two reasons: there is a food source (intended or not) and there is shelter.

When cats are removed from a location, new cats move in or survivors breed to capacity. This vacuum effect is well-documented.



Q: Are you sure Trap- Neuter - Return works?

A: Yes, TNR benefit’s the cats and the community. Cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear tipped (the universal symbol of an altered and vaccinated cat), and then returned to their outdoor home. The colony’s population stabilizes- no more kittens! TNR improves their relations with the community - the behaviors and stresses associated with mating stop. Trap - neuter- return is the humane, effective approach for feral cats.



If you have a question you would like addressed, please email us at wifcap@gmail.com or call Kathy Humann at 784-2660



To learn more about our program or to donate to our cause, visit our website at www.takepittyonthekitties.blogspot.com and to keep up with all the feral cat happenings, you can follow us on our face book page at “Walnut Iowa’s Feral Cat Program”.

Meet Bonnie!

This little lady is "Bonnie"  She has been wandering Walnut with her kittens for a couple months.  It turns out she is a bit wild, but not feral.  She has warmed up to several people in town, thus the live trap was not needed in this situation.  We were able to get her and keep her overnight in the bathroom of one of our foster homes.  Her kittens are gone...we dont know how many she had or where they are.  She kept them hidden quite well!

She was frightened this morning, but we got her to the vet at 8 sharp!    Welcome to WIFCaP family, Bonnie!

To those of you reading this blog, please consider a small donation to offset the cost of spaying, deworming and vaccinatting this little girl!  We need your help to continue helping our babies.  We are a small town that needs big support to get where we want to be!  NOT Feral Free....Feral Friendly!