​We're finally getting snow and supposedly, lots of it, along with some strong winds later today. So this week we have been doing our best to prep the sanctuary to provide warm shelter for our residents who prefer to stay outside.

Some of our inside residents don't know why the others refuse to come in because whenever they go outside, it only takes a minute before they're sitting at the door wanting to come back in! (or in the cases of some residents, they flat out aren't even interested! We're sure some of you can relate! )

So in these photos you'll see a few of our inside residents, some of our outside residents, and the current situation at the sanctuary. Tarps, shelters, and lots of straw. Water, food and litter is available inside the heated buildings. Several waters that are outside in the cold have small heaters in them to prevent the water from freezing over since some residents prefer not to enter buildings at all.

Our favorite shelters by The Kitty Tube and others are spread throughout the space (mainly around the buildings to reduce the impact of wind) in case any cat prefers their own little condo to hunker down. Tarps were attached to help block the wind and to prevent snow from piling into sheltered areas so that the cats can stay as warm as possible.
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Thank you to our volunteers and board members who helped get the sanctuary ready for the weather! We know our residents will appreciate the extra protection. We hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend!

Last year we were able to spay/neuter and vaccinate 277 community cats!

This brings our grand total to more than 2,455 cats who have been trapped, neutered, vaccinated, and returned.

What does this mean?
A female cat can have up to three litters per year, with 4–6 kittens per litter — that’s 12–18 kittens in a single year from just one cat.
We know that more than half of the cats we have TNRed are female, but to keep the math simple, we’ll estimate 50% are females.

In one year, 138 females can produce anywhere between 1,600 and 2,500 kittens. If we look at 50% of the grand total, 1,228 females, this increases to 14,000 -22,000 kittens!!!  Sadly, most of these kittens will not survive past six months. Disease, abandonment, predators, parasites, injuries, and traffic take an enormous toll. Spaying and neutering prevents this cycle of suffering before it begins.

TNR also dramatically improves the overall health and wellbeing of cat colonies. At the time of surgery, cats receive a rabies vaccine to protect against rabies, as well as the FVRCP vaccine, which guards against other deadly viruses and diseases. With population growth under control, there is less competition for food, and behaviors like fighting and spraying are greatly reduced.

TNR is a big WIN for community cats and the members of our community who live alongside them. 
If you have cats in your area that you’d like to help, low-cost spay/neuter vouchers can be purchased at Pamlico Animal Hospital in Washington and used there or at Tar River Animal Hospital.

The more people who participate, the bigger the difference we can make! ​

While many of us were preparing for this weekend’s ice storm and frigid temperatures , one of our team members was out last night trapping a BIG colony of community cats.

The need for TNVR (Trap–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return) never stops—even in winter!

So just how big is this colony?

28 cats… and COUNTING!

And a project of this size doesn’t happen without an incredible team behind it. A huge shoutout to our amazing TNVR advocate Barb Jones for putting this together—handling trapping, transporting, after-surgery care, and everything else that goes into coordinating a large TNVR project like this. We’re also incredibly grateful to Dr. Marty Poffenberger and the crew at Pamlico Animal Hospital for offering this large spay/neuter opportunity, and to the Humane Society of Beaufort County, NC for partnering with us on such a large project.

Thanks to these “mini” spay/neuter clinics, we’re able to take on some of the larger colonies in our area. When we’re able to trap all the cats from one location at the same time, it means we don’t have to return—unless a new cat shows up. And let us tell you, there’s nothing quite like stamping a location “DONE” and checking it off the list!

Of course, TNVR does come with a cost. A colony this size can range from $3,000 (if all males) to $5,000+ (if all females). Every dollar raised directly impacts how many cats we can help and how quickly we can respond to the next urgent situation. If we’re going to keep preventing suffering and stopping the cycle before it starts, we truly need your support.

So if you believe in TNVR and want to see it continue, please consider making a donation. Every cat in our TNVR program receives:

• Rabies & FVRCP vaccines
• Spay/neuter surgery
• Flea & tick prevention
• Treatment for illness as needed

And no matter the amount, every little bit makes a big difference.
Donate at pawsandlove.net/donate
Please select “TNR” as the designation (otherwise it goes to our General Fund).
Thank you for helping us help them.