I am writing this with tears streaming down my face. Anyone who knows me knows how deeply I love and care for animals. Over the past several months, a small feral cat family has quietly made their home near mine. They’re not just “community cats” anymore—they’ve become part of my daily life, and I’ve grown incredibly attached to them.

Their dad, Oreo, with his bold black-and-white coat, is always on his own but is the bravest of this family for sure. Their mama, Pitch, is a beautiful all-black queen who has done her very best to care for her babies (this isn’t her first litter), but predators have gotten to the babies all too quickly. And then there are the kittens: Grey (a fluffy, all-grey sweetheart), Smudge (a soft grey fluffball with a white face), and Moo (a tiny black-and-white explorer).

As much as I wish I could bring them all inside and find them a warm home; they are simply too feral to be adopted or safely transitioned indoors. It breaks my heart to admit that. But I can give them safety, stability, and a future that doesn’t involve endless cycles of litters and suffering. I will continue to provide an outdoor shelter, food, and water each day for as long as they are around.

That’s why I’m reaching out. I have secured appointments through MN SNAP, an affordable spay/neuter organization in Minneapolis, MN, to have the entire family fixed. This is the only way to stop the overpopulation of community cats in our area and ensure these five never have to struggle the way so many feral cats do.

The cost is:

$100 per male

$120 per female

Because the kittens’ genders are still unknown, MN SNAP has them listed as females. With this estimate, the total cost for all five cats is $580.

I’m asking—humbly and from the bottom of my heart—for help.

Any amount, even the smallest donation, will go directly toward stopping this cycle and giving Oreo, Pitch, Grey, Smudge, and Moo a healthier, safer life.