Operation Catnip

05/30/2026

Do you trap Community Cats for TNR? 🤔

Please fill out this survey that is being put on by the Ohio State University to learn more about current practices for preventing disease transmission when working with Community Cats. 😻🩺

The results may be used to guide future training, support, and preparedness strategies for community cat trappers to enhance their safety. 💪💕

Here is the link! 📲https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0OCJEcEMLaQ2AdM

Thank you for your participation, and for helping us better Community Cat Management practices for future generations! 🐈💖

05/29/2026

You have GOT TO SEE Gary! 😻

Gary was brought to us by a local Community Cat Caregiver who found him all by himself. They are fostering him, and brought him to us for a wellness exam and vaccines! 💖🩺

Our staff and volunteers quickly became obsessed- he is too purrfect! 😍

Did you know that we offer low-cost medical exams, dewormer, vaccines, and spay-neuter for kittens in North Central Florida?💖🐈

We do, it is called our Kitten Shelter Diversion program! Interested in learning more? Click the link in our profile!

05/28/2026

We spayed, neutered, and vaccinated 78 Community Cats and Kittens today! 🙌😻

With Kitten Season in full swing, we are seeing MANY MORE Community Cats and Kittens attending our spay-neuter clinics. We are relying heavily on our wonderful veterinary student surgeons, externs, Summer Fellows, Summer Interns, and clinic staff to keep up with all the chaos! 😽🩺

If you feed or care for any cats in your neighborhoods, apartment complexes, workplaces, etc.- please make sure they are spayed or neutered! 🐈

It's easy to tell- they will have an ear-tip! This is where the left or right ear is missing the top 3/8th of an inch. ✂👂🏻

Not seeing any ear-tipped & fixed kitties? Please schedule an appointment by texting 352-380-0940! Our TNR package is $60 per cat, but we have financial support available for those that need it. 📲 🐾

(Plus we loan traps out FOR FREE!)

05/27/2026

Are you looking for two adorable barn, farm, or business cats? 🤔
Look no further than Jake and Maggie!😻

These two are always cuddling in a hidey-house at our catio, and would be wonderful additions to your residence, barn, or business. They came to us from a rescue that was closing it's doors, and are shy, but have allowed our staff and volunteer catio caretakers to pet them gently! 🐈💖🐈

It is FREE to adopt these two, save their lives, and give them the best home they can imagine! 🏠
We also provide a dog crate for the acclimation period, food, litter boxes, towels/blankets, and bowls if requested! 😽

All Working Cats are ready to start their new jobs! 💼

Before entering our catio, they have recieved a medical examination (and any necessary medical treatments), Rabies and FVRCP (feline distemper) vaccines, are spayed or neutered, ear-tipped for identification purposes, are microchipped, and recieve flea prevention. 🩺💖

Ready to adopt? Check out our website to apply to adopt Jake & Maggie now! 📲

Can't adopt, but want to help? Share this post with your family & friends! 😸🫶

05/27/2026

Do you know what this little kitten's unique condition is?👀

That's right- this kitten has heterochromia! 😻

Heterochromia exists in both humans and animals, and is when the eyes are two different colors! One eye is typically blue, while the other eye may be green, hazel, yellow, or brown! 👁🌈

Did you know? Heterochromia is most common in white cats or cats with white patches! 🙀🩺

While we are not sure about this particular kitten, some kittens can be born with different colored eyes which is called congenital heterochromia! While the gene that causes one eye to be blue is already present at birth, it will only become clear that the kitten has heterochromia once the little one is about 7 weeks old. 🍼🐈

All kittens without congenital heterochromia are born with two blue eyes, and after a few weeks, thier permanent eye color starts to show! 🥹

Note: this kitten is not adoptable through Operation Catnip! This kitten is part of our Kitten Shelter Diversion program, and receives thier medical care here! Please check local shelters and rescues for adoptable kittens.💙

05/25/2026

Did you know that you can purchase a special Florida license plate that directly supports spay-neuter efforts in the entire state? 🙀

If not, please check out Florida Animal Friend's website! 📲🐾

They have proudly supported Operation Catnip for many years, and has awarded more than 8 million dollars to incredible organizations with effective Florida spay and neuter programs! 🫶🐈

Yes, they help both dogs and cats in the state of Florida become spayed and neutered- so if you have adopted a pet from a rescue or a shelter, chances are they have helped get them fixed! 🩺💖

05/23/2026

Check out our extern Emily's fantastic drawing from her presentation depicting the layers of the eye, and how treatments absorb differently in each layer! 🙀👁

Emily is graduating this year, and we know she will go on to do amazing things for animals and thier people! 🩺🐾

She came all the way from Massachusetts to help Community Cats and Kittens in Alachua County! We hosted her for two weeks, and over the couse of her externship, she performed 25 surgeries during her time with us! 😻

We love hosting student externs in thier third and fourth years for two-week externships! We have students come from all over the United States (and beyond) to learn and grow thier shelter medicine knowledge and skills. Right now, we are already booking for 2027! 🙀

More information is on our website under "Involvement"-link is on our profile page! 📲

05/22/2026

Congratulations to the class of 2026! You are all now DOCTORS and are going on to do such wonderful things for animals and their people! 😻

Please join us in celebrating the Shelter Medicine Class of 2026! 🎉

On May 22, 2026, the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will graduate 20 students who earned not only their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees, but also the Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine, a specialized credential unique to UF.

Over the course of four demanding years, these students completed an intensive 15-credit curriculum that combined advanced coursework, clinical clerkships, externships, and hands-on shelter medicine experiences. Along the way, they developed practical skills in population medicine, access to care, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter, shelter operations, disaster response, and community-centered veterinary care.

Their impact has already been felt far beyond the classroom. Throughout veterinary school, these future veterinarians supported shelters and community programs, performed countless surgeries and medical procedures, and dedicated themselves to improving the lives of vulnerable animals and the people who care for them.

As they begin the next chapter of their careers, they carry with them not only clinical knowledge, but a deep commitment to compassionate, accessible, and lifesaving veterinary medicine.

Please help us congratulate the Shelter Medicine Class of 2026! 🐾

05/22/2026

⚠️Attention Residents of Oak Park Village!⚠️

We are doing a FREE large-scale TNVR event for Community Cats and Kittens in the Oak Park Village neighborhood on June 9th! 🩺🐾

🐈All Trapped Community Cats and Kittens Receive🐈
A Medical Exam, Spay or Neuter, Vaccinations (Feline Distemper & Rabies), Flea Prevention, Pain Injection, and An Ear-tip.

Do YOU Qualify for This Event? 🤔
-You MUST be a resident of Oak Park Village located at 4000 SW 47th Street Gainesville, Florida.
-The cats must be unowned, free-roaming Community Cats and Kittens (NOT indoor pets)

Interested?😻
-Please RSVP for us to come trap Community Cats on your property here: https://forms.gle/5oh6Jfr4yizawhbv8
-You can also call or text (352) 380-0940, or email us at [email protected] to sign up!
-You don't need to be present on June 9th, but if you would like us to trap on your property, please RSVP!

Please share this with your neighbors who may not have social media to help us get the word out! 📲💖

🗓Event Schedule:
June 9- Cats will be trapped
June 10th- Cats will recieve services at our clinic
June 11th- Cats will be returned to the trapping location

Don't live at Oak Park Village?
Please help us spread the word by sharing this post in local Facebook groups and on your pages for your Gainesville friends and family!📲🫶

We have special funding for this event, but if you would like to support our mission, please donate on our website!💖

Are you a local business that wants to help sponsor supplies or provide food or drinks for our volunteers for this event?
Please email us: [email protected] 😽