Stray Cat and Kitten Support

Hello! My name is Mariah, and all my life I've been surrounded by cats. Living in the country can do that to you, even if it's strays or ferals. I didn't have much control over it as a child, but now that I'm an adult, I'm determined to help my parents (and myself) get the stray cat colony in our area a bit more under control. Yesterday I found two kittens in my yard, and managed to catch them. I have quite a few pets of my own, and don't have the funds to care for more (presently). My parents' also had an uptick in their cat numbers, going from two to eight in the last few months! With the help of my friends and community, I'd love to be able to spay and neuter the strays I come across. This requires being able to live trap them, feed them, provide a safe area for them, and possibly release them, given their healthier status. I will inevitably come across kittens like I did yesterday who need some extra care, like deworming, antibiotics, ear mite treatments, and even wound care, along with formula and a safe and comfortable area to rest and play. One of them seems to have been injured on the muzzle, and it's pretty bad. "Why not just take them to a shelter?" Since Covid, many shelters have been very full. Especially now that people are going back to work, and unable to continue on with the commitment they didn't consider beforehand. Shelters are also sorely understaffed and underfunded, especially in the more rural areas of the country (like where I live). I promise to use every penny for the cats and kittens that find me, and may even consider creating my own sanctuary for feral and stray cats that aren't domesticated enough to live with people. Taking control of the feral cat community will help with the overall care of the animals that DO belong outside. Taking away an unnecessary predator will allow birds and other smaller creatures to rebuild their important populations. I thank each and every person that considers even donating a small amount- it's not for me, it's for the cats!