Help Joycelyn Care for 50 Abandoned Cats

Hello, my name is Rubie. I am a 17-year-old senior at Nova High School in Seattle, WA. I would like to become a veterinarian.

For my senior project, my focus is related to animal rescue/foster care, with the hope of educating people on the process of rescuing animals from critical situations: abandonment, homelessness, injury, and hoarding situations, etc.

Recently, my stepdad's cousin, Joycelyn, who lives in Warrensburg, Missouri, sent out a distress call on social media because she is in need of help. There have been 40 to 50 cats discarded on her property. She is in need of a community of people who are willing and ready to support. She LOVES cats! But now the situation has become more than she can handle. I would really like to help support, from afar, however I can.

These are Joycelyn's words: "I am REALLY in need of help. There have been so many cats discarded in this area that I am about to panic. I love cats! I had some. But now there are probably 40/50 in and around our property. I have asked the T/N/R people to bring a bunch of traps out to help me, but they haven't. Last week I gathered up 16 kittens. Most covered with fleas and starving. I'm spending hundreds a month on feed, litter, meds... Does ANYONE have an answer to our problem? Recently several large toms and a large pregnant female have 'appeared'."

She also stated, "I'm just spending my savings on cat stuff, and must stop! But I can't let them go without, so I've been really stressed."

As well as: "I might add that as long as I have kittens inside, I need as much litter as I do food. You would not believe how much 16 kittens can poop!"

In addition to starving and carrying fleas, the kittens often have infected eyes and worms. She has managed to catch and neuter some but will need additional support to continue these efforts.

She is able to acquire Terramycin from Amazon at $27 each and has been "buying canned mackerel for them. It's about the same price as the cat cans per ounce (at the dollar store) and undoubtedly better for them."

I have found a way to order food and litter locally to have delivered to her house and will do so as donations come in.

Please consider helping me support my relative by taking care of these discarded cats.

Thank you,

Rubie