Help is urgently needed for a colony of around 60 feral cats in Mesa, Arizona. Donations will provide food, medical care for sick and injured cats, and support for trap-neuter-return (TNR) to prevent more kittens from being born. With your support, I can feed the colony, treat illnesses and parasites, and give some of the friendlier cats a chance at adoption.

More information can be found at https://bit.ly/4pN5Ogy

Here’s how your donation will help:

- TNR for 20 cats, including spay/neuter, pain medication, and vaccines

- Optional FVRCP vaccines for extra protection

- Medical care for sick cats, including exams, antibiotics, and contingency for more advanced treatment

- Food for the entire colony for three months

- Surrender fees and basic vet care to help some cats find loving homes

For the past year, I’ve been caring for these cats—each with a unique personality and story. Lady loves to be picked up and still dotes on her nearly grown kittens. Monsoon gave birth under our patio, and her kittens Hazel, Peanut, and Cocoa still live here. Nephilim, a deaf white kitten, follows me inside for lap time. Dorothy, her playful sister, struggles with a chronic cough. Dolly, an elderly cat, insists on being fed on the roof, and Theo, another senior, waits patiently for attention after meals. There are new faces, like a sweet girl abandoned by a neighbor, and many kittens who need extra care and nutrition.

Caring for this colony has been a labor of love, especially as a recent nursing school graduate who is not yet employed. My neighbor, who was terminally ill, entrusted me with their care before he passed, and I’ve tried to honor his dedication by continuing his work. The challenges are significant: food costs are high, and I haven’t been able to provide medical care for most of the cats. Many have parasites, and respiratory issues like Dorothy’s cough are a constant worry. Emergencies happen, and I do my best to get help when I can, but resources are limited. I’m also working to finish TNR for the remaining cats, but supplies like pain medication and a drop trap are out of reach financially. Some of the friendlier cats could be adopted if I could afford surrender fees and basic vet care. Every contribution makes a real difference for these desert dwellers and for me as I work to care for them.