06/11/2026
Made the difference to where we lost count during this weeklong trap adventure.
Kittens galore, 9 pregnant females, and plenty more whose status is still unknown. This colony is known for producing large litters, and for years the cycle has continued. Typically, the kittens are caught and taken to the shelter, but the adults remain behind to keep reproducing.
Javier keeps saying the same thing: “A miracle has arrived.” He’s grateful someone is finally tackling the root of the problem. When I asked if he had ever tried catching them, he said he had—by hand. But they’re simply too fast. The only ones he could ever catch were the kittens when they were sleeping or stretched out in the sun. This has been going on for years.
Even our volunteer Anna knew something strange was happening with the disappearing kittens. She traps on the other side of the fence at her condominium complex and has already altered at least 16 cats from that side alone. There’s one mama cat she’s been trying to catch for years without success. I’m pretty sure she’s the queen mother of this colony—the same cat we’re still struggling to get.
We have seven more cats that we know of left to catch, but I can honestly say this has been one of the most challenging colonies we’ve ever worked. I’d love to see fewer feeding stations so the cats gather in one location, giving us a better chance to use the drop trap. A few of our successes have come that way.
This morning started at 4:00 AM checking traps before our spay run. The clinic wanted to make sure we filled every female surgery slot, so we backfilled with a couple adoptable cats. After trapping, we had to return and bring the adoptables back because our traps were full. Double the work. Double the time. But absolutely worth it. One of the cats we caught was a heavily pregnant mama who looked ready to deliver at any moment.
The suffering in this colony is heartbreaking. Kittens with severe flea anemia, gums so pale they’re barely able to move. This colony has suffered for far too long.
And then there’s the little guy with the broken leg. He didn’t make this trip because we’re working on getting him somewhere that can help him, likely with an amputation. Last night we treated him with NexGard, skipping right past the Revolution and going straight to the good stuff. The fleas were so thick it was obvious he’d been suffering for a very long time. I gave him steroids, Onsior, and started him on antibiotics. Once settled into a crate, he ate two full cans of food.
Every trapping project comes with its own unexpected twist. He’s ours on this one.
So here we are, arriving at 6:30 AM—an hour early because everything went so smoothly this morning. We made it safely with 22 cats.
Twenty-two cats closer to ending the cycle.
This life-saving work is being made possible through a generous grant from the Napa Valley Community Foundation. Together, we’re reducing suffering, preventing unwanted litters, and creating a healthier future for community cats. 🐾
