09/16/2026
🌧️🐾 ANOTHER TRAPPING PROJECT COMPLETE — IN THE POURING RAIN! 🐾🌧️
This latest project came to us through a friend of one of our founders, so we knew we needed to make it a priority. And on paper, it sounded fairly straightforward.
Spoiler alert: IT WAS NOT!!!!😹
This colony had actually been worked by other TNR organizations in the past, and many of the cats were already fixed. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, a handful of unfixed cats joined the colony and weren’t reported — and, as cats tend to do, they started having babies. Before long, the population was growing all over again 😡😡.
If you have ever trapped cats, you understand that there are few things more frustrating than trying to find 5–10 unfixed cats mixed into a colony of 20–30 already-fixed cats. The ear-tipped cats happily walk into your traps while the cats you are actually trying to trap sit ten feet away staring at you. You trap. You check. You release. You reset. And you do it over and over and over again 😢😡😢😡.
The big trapping day was scheduled for this past Sunday and some of you may remember waking up to an absolutely INSANE rainstorm. 🌧️🌧️🌧️. Most ordinary people would have looked outside and called it a day. Thankfully, however, our trappers are far from ordinary❤️😻❤️!!!
They were out there at the crack of dawn, IN THE POURING RAIN, and they stayed out there until the job was done. And when we say done, we mean done!!
🎉 EVERY SINGLE UNFIXED CAT IN THIS COLONY WAS TRAPPED. IN ONE DAY. 🎉
We can say that with confidence because this colony has a dedicated feeder who knows these cats. Our trappers understand how incredibly important it is to establish relationships with caretakers and coordinate with the people who actually know the colony. That teamwork allowed us to confirm that every cat who still needed to be fixed had been trapped.
What sounds like a “one-day project” actually represents 5-15 hours of volunteer time — hours these people could have spent warm and dry doing literally anything else - even just sleeping in. Instead, they spent those hours making a huge difference for so many cats. The cats got to the clinic and we were celebrating that the colony was FINALLY going to be completely sterilized, thinking this project was actually going to end easily.
We should have known better. 🤦♀️
During their veterinary care, we discovered that TWO of the cats have significant dental disease and desperately need dental surgery.
One of the promises we make when we take on these projects is this - we will NEVER knowingly release a cat with a significant medical problem without doing everything reasonably possible to address it first.
So now we’re committed to getting TWO dental surgeries done and, of course, we have to foot the bill.
One cat — the more feral of the two — is scheduled for surgery this Thursday. His procedure alone is expected to cost at least $500, and once he has recovered, he’ll return to the colony healthy and pain-free.
The second cat may actually have some friendly potential, so we’re giving that kitty a little more time while we explore the possibility of rescue placement. We expect that between the two cats, these unexpected dental expenses could reach approximately $1,500.
That $1,500 wasn’t in our plan. $1,500 spent on unexpected medical care is $1,500 that can’t go toward sterilizing the next colony of cats waiting for us.
We are thrilled to say this colony is officially sterilized, which is a huge victory. But there is always another colony, another emergency and another cat who needs more than we expected.
If you’re able, PLEASE consider making a donation toward these two dental surgeries. Even $5, $10 or $20 adds up. Every dollar helps us get these cats healthy while allowing us to keep saying YES to the next trapping project.
And finally, we need to give an enormous THANK YOU to the volunteers who made this happen. ❤️❤️❤️
🌟 🌟 Whitney Martinko — our team lead, who arrived at the crack of dawn and worked through absolutely horrific weather without ever losing focus or momentum. Her extraordinary attention to detail, unwavering determination and exceptional work ethic were essential to the success of this project.
🌟 Hilary Coulter — truly the best of the best, whose invaluable pre-project knowledge, unwavering support and hands-on dedication helped make this entire operation a success. She went above and beyond every step of the way — including catching that LAST cat.
🌟 Christina Irene — who showed up early, helped with trapping and transporting cats to the clinic, and stayed focused and dependable throughout the project. Her willingness to jump in wherever she was needed — especially in such miserable weather — made a tremendous difference and helped keep everything moving smoothly from start to finish.
🌟 Alexis Doherty— who also got up at the crack of dawn and showed up to support this project when most people would have taken one look at the weather and rolled back over 🤪😂. The cats couldn’t say no to the irresistible food she brought with her!!
THIS is what The Cat Collaborative stands for.
People willing to show up.
People willing to get soaked.
People willing to give up their Sunday.
People who don’t quit because the job is frustrating, inconvenient or downright miserable.
Our volunteers are truly the best of the best, and we are incredibly proud to have them as part of this organization. ❤️
Please help us thank Whitney, Hilary, Christina and Alexis — and if you can, please make a donation toward these unexpected dental surgeries so that the incredible work of TCC can continue.
🐾 One more colony sterilized. Two more cats getting the medical care they deserve. And then… on to the next one on our insanely long waiting list🐾
