Fortunate Ferals

08/31/2026

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 🪤

A simple little tool that can make a BIG difference when you’re trapping.

Because we’ve all met that cat who walks right over the trip plate, eats ALL the food, gets nice and full… and then decides they’re absolutely not interested in being trapped.

And of course, they do this the day before the appointment you already have scheduled. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sometimes extending the trip plate just a little can make all the difference in getting that trap to trigger when you need it to.

It’s a small adjustment, but when you’re trapping with purpose, a few millimeters can make a big difference.

08/29/2026

𝗦𝗢… 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗦?

The energy out here in the community has been getting a little weird lately. 😂

Maybe it’s the moon. Maybe you don’t believe in that. Maybe it’s simply the way things have been for a very long time and people are finally starting to notice the reality of what’s happening around them.

Either way, I wanted to let you know what’s happening over here.

I know things haven’t looked quite the same lately.

Here’s what it is:
𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞:

I’m going to look at a potential location in Lehigh for another mobile spay/neuter event.

It’s the same location we used last time, but unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned before, the space we utilized is now being used as a classroom, so we can’t use it in quite the same way anymore.

Thankfully, Pastor Jhon and everyone at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lehigh Acres - Comunidad de FE have been working with us to try to figure something else out, and we really, really appreciate them for that.

They may have found another option for us.

There are a few concerns that need to be addressed because of the new spot, so I’m going to take a look next week and see what we can figure out.

𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧.

Yes, I see you.

Those of you who never returned the traps you borrowed… I noticed. 😂

I may not have shared my disappointment on social media, but I absolutely took a mental note.

Truthfully? If you’re still using those traps to help cats, I’m almost okay with it.

𝗪𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗦.

I’m currently working on another grant specifically for additional equipment, and I’m also thinking about ways we can do things a little differently moving forward.

Because 𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦.

Especially when you’re talking about Trap-Neuter-Return.

It becomes incredibly difficult to coordinate an effective, sustainable TNR effort when a bunch of different individuals are doing things a bunch of different ways, with different equipment, different systems and different expectations.

So… take that as you will. 😉

We’re working on it.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘’𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧.

Another Fort Myers library location reached out to us wanting to schedule a TNR workshop for next year.

𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥.

How are we already talking about 2027?! 😭

But we are, and we’re excited about it.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘’𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡.

A lot of you have filled it out.

I’m really encouraged by what I’m seeing.

So many of you are giving me the information we actually need to begin coordinating something that can be 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘.

I appreciate the transparency.

One person said something along the lines of, “I’m doing something because it seems like nobody else in my community is stepping up.”

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧.

That is exactly the kind of motivation we want to work with.

Another person told us she doesn’t have the space to rehab cats, but she is absolutely willing to trap. She said if someone else in her area could help with the rehab portion, she would coordinate with them.

𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚.

You guys are really starting to get on the same page.

𝗪𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗗.

There’s that word again. 😂
Look for me next week

So yes, things have been a little… weird.

But there are things happening.

A lot of them.

𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗, and not everything we’re working on needs to happen publicly while it’s still being figured out.

But I wanted you to know that we are here.

We are working.

We are planning.

We are building.

And we are paying very close attention to what this community needs.

I hope you’re keeping up.

I hope you’re sticking with us.

And most importantly, 𝗜 𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

Because this community has already come so far.

We still have a LOT of work to do.

𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠

But we’re going to do it.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥.

The right way.

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦.

We all have our own ways of working, and not everything that happens behind the scenes needs to make its way onto Facebook.

And contrary to what some people may think, we don’t share every single trap, every single cat, or every single thing we do.

But when I do share something, it’s usually because there is an educational piece hiding somewhere in the story.

Maybe there’s something someone needs to learn.

Maybe there’s a reminder that could help another community cat.

Maybe there’s a TNR lesson worth talking about.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦.

And since I’m the one who won’t stop telling the stories… here’s mine from the other day. 😂

I headed out to drop off some cat food for a community member who needed a little extra help.

Ironically enough, I ended up at the wrong house. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Don’t judge me, but because I was at the wrong house, I noticed a kitten lying in the driveway nearby.

At first glance, she appeared to be deceased.

Those of you who quietly do this work know EXACTLY the feeling I’m talking about.

You mentally prepare yourself for the worst before you even walk over.

And then…

Her little head popped up.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗙.

But as I got closer, I realized this little girl was going through something pretty significant.

Her eye was enormous.

She was extremely scrawny.

She was clearly dealing with an upper respiratory infection.

And she had a considerable amount of f***s stuck to her, making it obvious she was having difficulty keeping herself clean and going to the bathroom normally.

So much for simply dropping off cat food. 😅

The funny thing is, I never actually ended up dropping that original food off at the house I was supposed to.

Thankfully, this neighborhood is pretty cat-friendly, everyone seems to know everyone, and eventually the food made it to the right person.

And because I had found this little kitten, I also left a note and some additional food for the home where I had spotted her.

I went home that day thinking about her.

A LOT.

I reached back out to the community member I had originally been helping, and she told me she didn’t think it would be a problem for me to help this kitten.

Then I got a text message.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗.

The person who received my note reached out and said:

“Hey! I’m actually attending your October workshop.”

𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗙.

Because suddenly, this wasn’t just a random kitten I had stumbled across.

This was someone who was already connected to TNR education and was actively trying to learn how to help the cats in their community.

I explained that I had noticed the kitten and was willing to help.

And that’s when I learned that she had actually already received some veterinary care.

She had been taken to Colonial Animal Hospital, had received antibiotics and eye medication, but unfortunately, it wasn’t improving the way everyone had hoped.

So I got permission to step in.

𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗠𝗡. 🍂

During my time there, I noticed quite a few other things I definitely want to address down the road.

Tiny, tiny neonatal kittens… who have really great mothers.

And several young females who already appear to be pregnant again.

𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗦 𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗡𝗥, 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦?

But for now, we’re keeping our focus on Autumn.

I have a feeling that this little girl is going to need that eye removed, but regardless of what happens next, there is a plan.

And isn’t that one of the most important parts of TNR?

𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣.

Autumn is part of a VERY large colony that I was not expecting to stumble upon that day.

I went out to deliver cat food.

And somehow, the person whose house I accidentally ended up at is already coming to a Fortunate Ferals workshop.

Sometimes the pieces just fall into place.

Now, one important thing:

The funding we have received that I haven’t told you all about yet is very specific and can ONLY be used for spay/neuter surgeries.

Autumn is going to need much more than that.

So if you’re able to help us with her veterinary costs, we would be incredibly grateful.

If you can’t, that’s okay too.

Send Autumn some good thoughts.

Say a little prayer for her.

Root for this sweet girl.

Because she has been through a LOT in her short life.

But she has absolutely no idea that…

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗔 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗧. 🧡

Welcome to your next chapter, Autumn. 🍂

08/26/2026

𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗚 .. 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪.

This is a continuation of my last post about looking for individuals who are already trapping, already know what they’re doing, and simply need some additional support with things like funding, appointments, or access to resources.

But as I started thinking about that, I realized the phrase “I already trap and just need some help” can mean A LOT of different things in the TNR world we have today.

So, because this is something completely new for Fortunate Ferals, I’ve created an application process.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

I need to get to know you.

I need to understand what you’re already doing, what you’re comfortable with, what you need help with, what area you’re working in, and what you’re hoping to accomplish.

This is really the only way I can do that without spending my entire day making phone calls and sending a million texts. I want to be transparent about that because I don’t want anyone to feel like their time is less important than mine.

𝗜 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗦.

Whether you end up trapping one cat, ten cats, helping with transportation, working with us regularly, or simply connecting with us when you need a little extra support..your time matters.

And because this is brand new, 𝗜’𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗦 𝗜 𝗚𝗢.

We are actually really good at this... And I appreciate every person who reminds us of that because, honestly, some days I personally could use the reminder. I know the rest of my team values those reminders too.

But one of the reasons we are good at what we do is because 𝗪𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦.

If I realize this application isn’t giving us the information we need to communicate with you properly, I’ll change it.

If I realize there are better questions we should be asking, I’ll add them.

If there’s something that doesn’t make sense, tell me.

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗥.

And that brings me to the 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡. I really hope you’ve made it this far because this part is 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧.

Probably the most.

If you aren’t willing or able to communicate in a way that allows us to do our part, 𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡’𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

It’s just the reality of how this works.

Veterinary clinics are extremely busy. Sometimes it takes us all day to get through to someone, find an opening, coordinate an appointment, or figure out what we can make happen for each individual cat and case.

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗.

𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 .. 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔.

And by “tea,” I mean DETAILS.

I need to know what you’re seeing.
How many cats?
Where are they?
Are there kittens?
How many males and females?
Are there sick or injured cats?
What have you already tried?
What does the colony look like?

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗘, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧.

We each have a part to play.

And when those parts work together, we can get a LOT more cats through the system — but we can do it in a way that is organized, targeted, and actually works for the specific areas we’re trying to impact.

TNR works best when we can focus on an area, identify the cats, get them through the process, and keep moving until we’ve made a meaningful impact.

So if there’s a particular area you’re already working in, 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗘.

If you’re already trapping and you understand what you’re doing, have the rehab set up and transportation down, but you’re struggling with the cost, scheduling, clinic access, or simply the ridiculous amount of time it can take to coordinate everything…

𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗕𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥.

But there is one very important catch:
𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗪𝗘 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧, 𝗪𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣.

I can’t spend hours getting an appointment, coordinating with a clinic, arranging funding, and then have the appointment go unused because the cats weren’t trapped in time.

𝗜 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨.
And you need to be able to count on me to do my part.

That’s what this is about.

𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗔 𝗦𝗬𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 — 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗔𝗦 𝗔 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠.

We understand that sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control.

A cat doesn’t get trapped the right way.
Something unexpected happens.
Someone gets overwhelmed.
Sometimes decisions are made that lead to consequences.

𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗜𝗧.

What matters is what happens next.

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗬, 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚.

We’ll talk more about all of that as we build this, but I want that understanding to be a no-brainer when it comes to this particular project.

So if you’re someone who is already doing the work, you know how to safely trap, you understand the basics of TNR, and you simply need a little additional support…
𝗜’𝗗 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗬𝗢𝗨. 💚

Please fill out the application.
And then tell me what you hate about it. 😂

Tell me what you love.
Tell me what questions don’t make sense.
Tell me what I could do better.
Tell me how I could support you more effectively.
Because this is new for us, too.
𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥.

And at the end of the day, if you’re here because you’re willing to put in the work for the cats…

𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠. 💚

Fortunate Ferals created this program to help community members who are actively trapping community cats complete TNR safely and effectively. Approved applicants will be responsible for trapping and transporting the cats, while Fortunate Ferals will coordinate approved veterinary appointments and co...

08/23/2026

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠?
One of the questions we get all the time is:

“𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗜 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧?
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗦?”

And my answer is always:

𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗜𝗧.

One of the things Hannah Shaw, aka The Kitten Lady, talked about during one of her workshops really stuck with me.

When they received a kitten call, they didn't just focus on the kitten... If they went out for an orange kitten, they would look around the area for an orange adult cat that appeared to be its mother.

And a lot of the time, they found her.

Because taking the kitten out of the situation doesn't stop the situation that created the kitten.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦.

And those kittens can eventually grow up and continue that same cycle.

So when someone asks me:

“Should I trap the males first?”

“Should I prioritize the females?”

My answer is:

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗪 𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗧. 😂

I used to tell my elementary school students that all the time when they got one sticker but wanted another one their friend already had.

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚.

If that cat goes into your trap, doesn't have an ear tip, and is clearly part of a colony where cats are still unsterilized…

𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘. 🎉

You got one.

Male?

Female?

𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦𝗡’𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥.

Get that cat spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear tipped, and returned.

Then go back for the next one.

And the next.

And the next.

Because here's the part I really want people to understand:

𝗧𝗡𝗥 𝗜𝗦𝗡’𝗧 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 “𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧” 𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧.

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘.

So don't sit there watching the cats and thinking:

“I'm waiting for the female.”

“I'm waiting for the male.”

“I'm waiting for the perfect opportunity.”

𝗜𝗙 𝗔𝗡 𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗔𝗧 𝗚𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦.

One less reproductive cat.

One more cat protected from certain diseases.

One more cat vaccinated.

One more cat ear tipped so someone else knows that cat has already been helped.

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗬.

So maybe stop asking:

“𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗜 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧?”

Start asking:

𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗜 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

Because you don't have to fix the entire problem in one night.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗧.

And then the next.

And eventually…

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗬.

08/22/2026

𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗬, 𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧. ❤️

I know I’ve been sucking lately.

I haven’t been getting back to your emails. I haven’t been getting back to your messages. I’ve seen them, I promise, but I just haven’t had the time to properly sit down and respond to everything.

That’s because 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗨𝗣, and right now I’ve been trying to focus on those kinds of emails and messages while I am getting my kids set up for success for the new school year.

For those who don’t know, 𝗠𝗬 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗕𝗢𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘. 🥹 And yes, I’m very excited about that.

But anyway… enough about me.

𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗡𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗. 👀

Because…

𝗪𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦.

And no, I’m not ready to share it yet.

Do you guys hate when I say that?

Because I almost love leaving you on a little edge.
Keep that fire burning, if you will. 😂

𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘’𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪:

𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚.

If you’re already doing the work…

If you have your own traps…

If you know how to properly trap and manage the cats you’re working with…

But what you really need is 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦, 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚, or a little support to keep moving forward…

𝗪𝗘’𝗗 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

There is one thing that is extremely important to us, though:

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡.

And, I think that’s something we need to talk about more in this work.

Communication is key in literally every type of relationship you have, and TNR is no different.

If we’re going to work together, we need to be able to communicate, follow through, keep each other updated, and work as a team.

And I like to think I’m a pretty damn good communicator…

𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗕𝗘 𝗜’𝗠 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗬 𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘. 😂

But seriously…

𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗗𝗗 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠.

And you don’t even have to claim us.

We don’t have to claim you.

𝗪𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣.

If you’re already out there doing the work and all you really need is help with scheduling and funding, 𝗪𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘.

Fortunate Ferals has received something 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗘.

Something we haven’t received in a very, very long time.

Honestly, I’m not even sure we’ve ever received something quite like this before.

But none of that matters right now.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗦… 𝗪𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢.

And while there is always going to be work to do in TNR, it would be incredibly helpful to have more of the people who are already out there doing it connected with us.

So maybe come see what it’s like on 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 for a little while..

𝗜𝗙 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜’𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨…

𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗨𝗧.

Tell me where you’re working, how many cats you’re working with, what you need, and what you’re capable of handling.

𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞.

Because whatever this big thing is that I’m being annoyingly mysterious about…

𝗜 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗥𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚. 👀

08/21/2026

!!!

𝗟𝗘𝗧’𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗬 & 𝗡𝗘𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥.

But I want to go a little deeper than just saying, “Spay and neuter your pets.”

Because if we are actually serious about reducing the number of animals entering 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿, we have to talk about how animals get there in the first place.

And the truth is, there isn’t one single reason.

Sometimes it starts with an unwanted litter.

Someone doesn’t spay their female cat or dog. She has babies. Those babies grow up. Some of them aren’t altered either. Then they have babies.

And suddenly we’re not talking about one accidental litter anymore.

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

Some people keep the babies.

Some get given away.

And if we’ve learned anything as a community, it should be this:

𝗔 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗔 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗥.

This is where I really want people to think about what happens next.

Because giving an animal away can feel like you solved the problem.

You had kittens.

Someone said they wanted a kitten.

You gave them one.

Problem solved, right?

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆.

What happens if that person doesn’t sterilize the kitten?

What happens when that adorable little kitten grows up?

They reach sexual maturity.

They start exhibiting behaviors their owner wasn’t expecting.

Maybe they’re spraying.

Maybe they’re trying to get outside.

Maybe they’re roaming.

Maybe they’re becoming difficult to manage.

And suddenly the person who thought they wanted this cute little kitten doesn’t want the adult cat anymore.

So they put it outside.

And now we’ve taken one problem and created another.

Because once that animal is outside, it can roam.

It can reproduce.

It can get lost.

It can be injured.

It can be hit by a car.

It can get picked up by a community member.

And this is where the part people don’t always think about becomes really important.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼?

Maybe someone technically owns it.

But if that person intentionally put it outside and has no idea where it is, isn’t looking for it, and doesn’t care whether it comes home, what happens when somebody else finds it?

Now imagine that cat is injured.

A community member finds it.

They’re trying to help.

They take the animal for emergency veterinary care.

Maybe that animal ends up at a place like BluePearl because it needs immediate medical attention.

But there is no microchip.

No collar.

No identification.

Nobody is coming forward.

Nobody is looking.

And even if the community starts posting that animal’s face everywhere…

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?

Sometimes they will.

But sometimes they won’t.

And when nobody takes responsibility, somebody else has to.

That could be the community member who found them.

The person who paid for emergency care.

A rescue.

A nonprofit.

A foster.

A veterinarian.

Or eventually, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿.

And that’s the part I want people to understand.

The shelter didn’t create that situation.

The shelter didn’t make the animal unaltered.

The shelter didn’t put the animal outside.

The shelter didn’t fail to microchip it.

The shelter didn’t decide it didn’t want the animal anymore.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀.

And that’s why I don’t think we can have an honest conversation about shelter numbers without talking about responsible pet ownership.

Because this isn’t just about spay and neuter.

It’s about everything that comes after we choose to bring an animal into our lives.

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 instead of abandoning the animal when they become inconvenient.

And if you are giving an animal away, think beyond the moment when someone says, “I’ll take it.”

Because 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

You need to think about what happens six months from now.

A year from now.

Five years from now.

Because that kitten you gave away for free is going to grow up.

And if that new owner isn’t prepared to be responsible for the adult animal, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

And somebody else’s problem eventually becomes a community problem.

And a community problem eventually becomes a shelter problem.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Not just, “Why did the shelter take this animal?”

But:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲?