Operation Catnip-Raleigh, NC

05/25/2026

Volunteer Spotlight on Dr. Febe Delgado!

We choose Dr. Febe to honor her service to us because her last clinic with OC was in April. 😢 She moved out of state but vows to continue helping community cats through TNVR!

Dr. Febe joined us in 2022 to gain more surgical experience, and she quickly became a regular who rarely missed a clinic. Her positivity, smile, and hard work made her one of our favorite people. She stepped up to mentor other veterinarians and veterinary students, took on difficult cases, and was always adaptable and flexible regardless of the situation.

From Febe:
"After my first clinic, I fell in love with the entire operation. I appreciate the cause, making a difference in our community while helping animals, and the kindness and dedication of the volunteers. It has been wonderful getting to know so many special people and experiencing the dynamics of Operation Catnip. Operation Catnip opened my eyes and my heart to the immense satisfaction and happiness that comes from giving. This is an experience no amount of monetary compensation could match. "

We will miss Febe so much! We are so incredibly grateful for her service to Operation Catnip and community cats.

05/20/2026

This is why we have the best volunteers! Read below from a volunteer application submitted this week when asked why she wants to volunteer with Operation Catnip.

"That reality is something I carry with me — the knowledge that millions of cats are born into lives on the streets, facing illness, injury, and hardship, with little chance of ever knowing the safety and comfort of a family. Spay and neuter is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent that suffering before it begins. Every surgery performed means fewer cats born into circumstances they did not choose and cannot escape. To me, this work is not just medical — it is deeply humane. My love for cats is at the heart of everything I do in this field. They are resilient, complex, and deserving of care and advocacy, whether they are a beloved house cat or a feral cat living in a colony. Volunteering with Operation Catnip is an opportunity for me to put that love into action on a larger scale, to be part of a community of people who share the same commitment to making a meaningful difference. I am eager to expand my experience beyond the clinic, contribute my skills, and help give these cats a better chance at a healthier life."

Ashley, we couldn't agree more.

05/17/2026

Thank you to all our volunteers and caretakers for coming out to help us today! We had a total of 97 surgeries with 48 neuters and 49 spays. 1 lucky boy and 1 lucky girl were already altered so they got updated vaccines. 3 were just too little to go through clinic and were diverted to rescue. 1 girl came by to be revaccinated.

05/10/2026

Our volunteer John Davis tabled at Shakori Festival this weekend and represented Operation Catnip through Animal Advocates United. Thank you John!

05/06/2026

Worth the read!
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/21/3204?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwdGRjcARniN1jbGNrBGLvY2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQwOTk2MjYyMzA4NTYwOQABHnqOrp8l35JIjOLLPAdgwcZKV5o6cmscSKjwIKOP3D_Ff65QdLe6Ewg1WCVe_aem_TldoP_4E8OdhWW9UVJltcA

Free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) present a major management challenge for animal welfare and biodiversity conservation. Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, which include sterilization and return of cats, are increasingly adopted to manage cat populations, often alongside routine food provisio...

05/02/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Do you know Dwight Briggs? If you do, consider yourself privileged because he is one of the hardest working, most dedicated, and loyal human beings around. It will be hard to convey all the wonderful things he has done for OC in this short post!

Like many who found Operation Catnip, Dwight starting caring for a colony of over 60 community cats who all needed TNR. He got them all sterilized and then became a regular volunteer around 2005. He has helped in almost all the stations, and in 2018 was elected to the Board of Directors as Director of Logistics. His contributions have been numerous, including procuring and upfitting our storage trailers, hauling them to and from clinic EVERY month for the past 10+ years, securing donated items such as air purifiers during COVID and medical supplies/equipment, making corner protectors for our host sites, inventing and building the heat lamp station, built our trap racks, built new table risers, and we can always depend on him to research and find new products for our clinic needs.

Outside of OC, he volunteers for the NC Highway Patrol, does power washing on the side, and annually donates his services to clean the memorial for the Fallen Trooper's Service Ceremony.

From Dwight, "helping the cats and giving back to others" is what it's all about!

Please join us in thanking Dwight for his years of service and dedication to Operation Catnip!

04/20/2026

We had a great clinic with a total of 85 surgeries between 38 males and 47 females. Three lucky ladies were already spayed and they were vaccinated. Five kitties showed up for their revaccinations this morning.

A huge Thank You to all our volunteers and caretakers for a such an awesome day. And a warm welcome to our new volunteers and veterinarians. We are so grateful you spent your time with us today.

Chonks and Littles:

04/03/2026

One month ago Operation Catnip lost a dear friend and steadfast volunteer. We are all still in shock from the sudden death of Chris Kotowski. Chris and his wife Ingrid joined our volunteer group around early 2020, and quickly became hard-working regulars who tirelessly attended every month's surgery clinic and did any task asked of them, always staying to the very end to help with every aspect needed. Chris covered stations of check-in, trap room, meds/fluids/recovery, Rabies certificates/microchips, and loaded the trailer at the end of the day. He was a quiet but steadfast force, always at the ready with zip-ties, handy tools, and a smile. We could pick him out of the crowd with his signature white hair and white beard.

Chris had a fierce love for cats. Chris and Ingrid fostered countless cats for local rescue groups, taking on bottle feeders and sick kittens. They saved so many lives.

One month ago Chris was doing what he loved- riding his bike on the trails of Western North Carolina. He stopped at a beautiful scenic overlook and suffered a medical event, possibly cardiac related. He died in that spot.

We are reeling from this loss and make this announcement for all those who knew Chris and will grieve with us. Ingrid's wish for everyone in response to his loss is to "be kind to others." Chris, we will carry your torch forward.

*The family asked that we not post any pictures of Chris online.

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03/28/2026

Come see us at the NCSU Vet School Open House! What a beautiful day to celebrate animals and the professionals who care for them.

03/16/2026