I have always been a dog person. If you asked me twenty years ago if I would ever own a cat or care for a community of cats, I would have laughed aloud.

Ten years ago, I was living in Oakland and a stray cat started living under my car. I couldn't help but notice him. One night I found him covered in ants, hiding in a bush nearby, trying to take refuge from the pouring rain. My heart sank and I felt really sad for him. From that point on, I committed myself to his care and started learning more about these "mysterious" felines.

I moved to East County-Bay Area seven years ago which is more inland, by the Delta River, and discovered that my community was a dumping ground for unwanted cats. Many people, who no longer want their cats, leave them stranded like garbage on the street and let them fend for themselves. This has resulted in hundreds (if not thousands) of homeless cats in my community. Cats can get pregnant at 4 months of age, can have up to 12 cats in each litter and, technically, can get pregnant up to 5 times each year because their gestation period is only two months. In other words, without spay/neuter efforts, these cats reproduce quickly. Many of them live short and painful lives- scavenging each day for food/water. They are diseased and sick, get run over by cars and are often treated like trash by people. It's an incredibly depressing scenario. Shelters are full and do not take in stray cats/kittens anymore. So, it is up to individuals like me and small non-profits to provide compassion, advocacy and care.

I, personally, take care of dozens of cats in my neighborhood. I feed them, get them medical care and rehab them, if necessary. I also partner with area rescues to get each cat trapped and vaccinated, as well as spayed/neutered (TNR), to help stabilize the population and give the cats remaining a fighting chance. Any cat that is deemed friendly, I also help to socialize them and get them adopted. Those un-adoptable, I take care of in my yard. I currently have two indoor cats (one FIV/FELV positive with bad stomatitis and without teeth!) and regularly feed 10-12 outdoor cats each day, two times each day.

People now call me a cat lady. I am annoyed by the negative connotation but admit, it's true. I am the lady on the block who has the door that unwanted cats in my community come to. They look in my windows and ask for help. I am committed to helping them.

Can you help me, help them?

I have been paying for much of what I do out of my own pocket for years, despite being unemployed throughout the pandemic and without much money. I would be most grateful for any support you could offer so that I can continue this important animal rescue work.

Gift Cards

Money Donations

Coupons

Resources

Your "Thumbs Up"

Any support would be much appreciated!

Thank you.