Operation Catnip Of Richmond Inc A Virginia Corporation

Operation Catnip is an exceptional organization for many reasons. I have volunteered with them since 2003. They provide an exceptional service to the community by the no-cost spay/neuter and rabies vaccinations that they provide. I can personally attest to the fact that the wonderful people that volunteer with Operation Catnip always go the extra step in ensuring that these cats are very well cared for while in their hands for the short time that they are there. Cats are not only spayed or neutered and vaccinated, but they also are given a flea repellent and each one is given a thorough exam and any apparent wounds are then cleaned and/or treated accordingly.

They are exceptional for the services that they provide for these deserving animals that have otherwise been discarded by the rest of society. This organization gives these deserving fellow creatures the respect and opportunity to live out their lives as healthily as possible. Thanks should also be given to the caretakers that feed and shelter them on a regular basis. Although they may technically not be considered volunteers, Operation Catnip would not be able to do it's job without them. While volunteers tend to them when they come to the clinic, it's the caretakers who volunteer their time on a daily basis. Operation Catnip could not have the impact that it does without them.

Operation Catnip is a fantastic organization providing a valuable service to the feral cats of central VA. They provide a very open environment, encouraging people to truly understand their mission - to humanely prevent overpopulation of feral cats.

Operation Catnip is a TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) program. My husband and I have been using Operation Catnip since it opened in Richmond back in 2001 and have been volunteering there as well. Operation Catnip spays/neuters feral cats for free. The people who volunteer and who take care of the cats (caretakers) are the greatest people you will ever find in wanting to help the cat population. This is an excellent way for cats to live out the rest of their lives rather then being euthanized.

I have been volunteering with Operation Catnip for over a year now and I am still amazed at what can be accomplished in just one day. Once a month, a group of volunteers spay/neuter anywhere from 50 to 80 feral cats. Cats that would otherwise never get any veterinary care at all. The cats recieve vaccines, a physical, deworming, defleaing, and other care, as well as being spayed or neutered. I know that we are not changing the world. We are however making our little piece of the world a kinder and more humane place. And for a feral cat struggling to survive, I suppose we are changing their world.

I started researching ferals when a white and orange cat showed up in the yard (thought it was a male) Of course I fed it well tho it would come nowhere near. It disappeared for a number of days, returned thinner, thought it had been locked in an out building... silly me... I'd learned about Catnip from an info table at a cat show and later ran into a volunteer at a pet food store who said I should volunteer and I did. That was 6 years or so ago. Catnip is well run and the volunteers are very dedicated. TNR is the way to go. That original cat and her 3 kids still live out back and have a better quality of life since the breeding cycle was stopped.

When we relocate to VA 10 years ago there was a feral kitten in our backyard. We have three of our own cats and I knew she needed to be spayed. I found an article on Operation Catnip and called them to set up an apt. They lent me a trap and we successfully caught "Whity" on the first try. Having moved up from Fayetteville, NC where there isn't much care or education about animals except euthanization I was so impressed by the care and knowlege this group had. I decided to volunteer which is what keeps this organization going. They are professional in all they do and have certainly made a difference to feral colonies in the area. We still have our white feral cat today! It took 5 years for her to trust us but she comes for attention everyday after she eats. I also helped a friend trap and release about 8 cats her mom had been feeding. Prior the females would have kittens-some would stay and they never knew what happened to the others. It was such a relief for her to know that the population would not increase. I cannot say enough good things about them and all they do as the voice for feral cats.

The people who are involved with this organization are amazing! They all come together and work so hard for these beautiful creatures! The work we do helps save and perserve the lives these cats and give them a healthy leg up to live in their colonies. The point of this organization is to help control the population and health of the colonies. It is sad that these creatures are dropped off and abandoned by those humans who are not responsible. It is harmful to the cats and their colonies along with the caretakers who do their very best to help control unwanted births.

Since Feb. 2003, Operation Catnip has been a great help altering strays and ferals in several colonies. This also includes cats dumped on my property. I can't afford to pay out of pocket for all of them, so I am very thankful that OC is a free resource.

Janette R

I have been volunteering for about 2 years. I have been doing TNR for 8 years. I found out about Operation Catnip from one of the volunteers. We now trap every month together and then volunteer at the clinic

I originally found Operation Catnip upon moving to Richmond, when I noticed that there was a large group of feral cats near hotels around the airport. As an owner of former feral cats myself; I had always wanted to get involved in the Trap-Neuter-Return community, and Operation Catnip has never ceased to amaze me with their tireless efforts to help as many cats as possible. What they are able to do with sheer determination, dedication, drive and low resources is astounding. I was so impressed that I decided to volunteer and have done so for about a year now. Great care is taken to evaluate and treat each cat, even when over a hundred appear. By focusing on the feral cat population specifically, they fill an integral gap in community cat care not only in Richmond, but its many outlying areas.

I was introduced to Operation Catnip by a friend because I realized there were several feral cat populations in my neighborhood, and one of the mamas had chosen my woodshed as her home. Over the past several years OC has assisted in the spay/neuter of 20 or so of these cats in two different colonies. The population has dropped dramatically now, however two additional colonies have sprung up in the area, so I need their assistance again. It is so disturbing that people let cats roam free without taking the responsibility to spay/neuter. It is harmful to the cats, and unfair to the caretakers who do their best to stem the tide of births.

The people that live in my neighborhood adopt cute kittens, and then dump them outside to fend for themselves once they are no longer cute. They don't bother to have the cats spayed/neutered or vaccinated. Therefore my neighborhood is overrun with strays and ferals continuously breeding. I am so thankful that Operation Catnip exists so that I can trap as many cats as possible and get them spayed/neutered and vaccinated! They also treat any wounds the cats may have, clean their ears, give them antibiotics and treat internal and external parasites. The cats are cared for and given the best possible chance to survive and live a healthy life. This in turn prevents the needless overpopulation of unwanted, uncared for and unhealthy strays and ferals roaming the streets. Please support this worthy cause; they have helped so many kitties!

I was a guest with an Operation Catnip Volunteer about five years ago to see what it was all about, and was hooked! Operation Catnip of Richmond is caring and compassionate while being a fine-tuned, well-oiled, cat fixing machine! Most of the Volunteers have been there for years ( OPERATION CATNIP IS CURRENTLY CELEBRATING IT'S 10th YEAR OF SERVICE IN RICHMOND!) all are very dedicated to the CAUSE. The Volunteers span every demographic, and are united in serving the 900 or so cats that Operation Catnip of Richmond helps each year! From the very first contact with Feral Caregivers, to the final return of cats to the Feral Caregivers - Operation Catnip of Richmond is a class act! Behind the scenes, everyone is very professional, dedicated, and above all very concerned for the welfare of each individual feline. No assembly-line mentality here! The Volunteers at Operation Catnip perform their duties like one giant cat-loving family - without conflicts - which is rare for an organization with so many diverse members! I so enjoy my Volunteer time at Operation Catnip of Richmond - it is very rewarding and even after a long day at the Clinic, I depart with a smile and a feeling of having done a very good job for the Felines!

I learned of Operation Catnip through another volunteer about 1 year ago. When I visited the clinic the first time I was so impressed I decided to also volunteer. The organization has streamlined the process so well that we spay/neuter anywhere from 60 - 100 cats per clinic! By successfully managing its' funds thru donations and fund raisers, and all the volunteers the organization has maintained its' bylaws and committment to humanely reduce feral and stray cat overpopulation through trap-neuter-return.

Operation Catnip is a non-profit organization that provides a free, monthly spay/neuter clinic for stray and feral cats in Richmond, Virginia. Our goal is to reduce the number of cats killed in local shelters and living lives on the streets.

2 years ago I realized I had a growing feral cat colony & needed help. The waiting list for free spay & neuter services at the SPCA was several months! I got connected with Operation Catnip and started taking cats to them the following month. I was so impressed with the great work this group did I became a volunteer and the rest is history. Each month this dedicated group spay & neuter as many as 90+ cats in one day - and all for donations! They receive no federal grants, or have large benefactors yet they continue to provide this valuable service. They are now in their 10th year serving the Richmond area & have spayed or neuter over 7000+ cats. If you are looking for a place your donation can be put to good use, this group is it!

These faithful People spend their time, money, blood, sweat and tears to lessen the suffering of abandoned cats. They have diminished the misery of so many cats and kittens but the supply never stops. I

The work of Operation Catnip through Farmers Veterinary Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, provides vital, humane services for our feral cat population.

As a volunteer for Operation Catnip for several years, it never ceases to amaze me of the dedication of both volunteers and the general public who take the time to trap these stray/lost cats and bring them to the clinic for spaying or neutering to help reduce the overpopulation of cats in America. Without each and every volunteer this really worthwhile cause would not be possible.

I am very impressed with the Operation Catnip personnel. They are very giving of their expertise and knowledge in helping to control the cat population. They serve many persons in their community, and are always trying to do the right thing with all of the animals. I will be looking for ways to spread their word around, and help them in raising donations for the good work that they do!

My good friend is a volunteer for Catnip Of Richmond, VA and she keeps me up todate on the operation. I am very impressed with the operation and donate whenever I can. This organization provides an essential service to the community. Anyone who loves and cares for these strays as these volunteers do deserve the gratidude of the neighborhoods that serve.

This is one of the best free spay/neuter clinic that exists within driving distance of my home. I live in Fredericksburg, VA. It is nonprofit and relies solely on donations and volunteers.

It is for feral cats only. Nothing like this exists. The volunteers are well trained and professional.

I work with someone who volunteers for Operation Catnip. Thanks to her, she's brought to my awareness this awesome organization and just how many feral cats are in the state. Thank you for all that you do for a species that is just fascinating to me. I have had five cats throughout the past 20 years (three who passed away about four years ago), and love them to no end. I currently have two that "found" my husband and I while we were taking a drive through the country side.

After volunteering with Operation Catnip for about 4 years, I have been amazed at how the whole operation runs so smoothly. Each station is geared towards a certain goal and everyone maintains there roles very well. The outcome is extremely rewarding. The more we spay and neuter feral cats, the better it is for our communities and for this species.

We moved to the country and were instantly amazed by the number of feral cats that were roaming close to our property. We knew NOTHING about feral cats but set out to educate ourselves and try to help the problem of uncontrolled breeding and the dismal lives these cats were living. We trapped 9 ferals and paid for full price spays and neuters through our own vet. This was horribly expensive but every time we approached the SPCA, Peta etc, we were sent in another direction. We did have 1 female fixed through Peta but she developed a severe infection at the surgery site and we ended up having to take her to the emergency vet in Virginia Beach at 3am and have her put to sleep. We were almost ready to give up as the economy hit us hard and my income plunged when I discovered Operation Catnip on line. These wonderful, caring people helped with all my questions and spayed and neutered the remaining cats in our feral colony and all the ferals I could trap in our area. We now have a healthy, NON FERTILE colony of happy ferals that are content to live out their lives in a safe environment where shelter, food and water are provided. I cannot say enough good things about this group of folks! The many vets who donate their time and the volunteers who spend hours working is an inspiration. I have joined their ranks as a volunteer and I am proud to help!

My sister works there. It is a worthy organization that does a good service.

Operation Catnip Richmond, VA is staffed by an awesome group of volunteers ( me included!), and caretakers which is funded by donation and fundraising efforts. The trap, neuter, release program humanely works to reduce the population of feral cats in the Richmond, VA area as well as improving the quality of life of those cats that we serve. My catnip experiences over the years has been very positive and rewarding. I began vounteering as a means of 'paying it forward ' to help the less fortunate, as well as a new way of expressing my love and caring for animals. Who better than these cats!!!

Several years ago I found Operation Catnip of Richmond on a Google search. I needed help with a feral cat colony at my office that was growing fast. Being a cat lover I knew something had to be done. I got in touch with them and it has been a wonderful relationship. They loaned me traps and gave me tips on catching the cats. Over the past few years they have spayed or neutered over 30 cats for me. The volunteers there are great and really work hard, they love the cats that pass through. I contribute to the organization on a regular basis because they are truly serving a need.

Yvonne B. at Operation Catnip in 2004, explained to me, the humane concept of Trap-Neuter-Release for the 12 feral-cats behind an abandoned store in Southside Richmond & seven years later, with the help of a feral-cat caretaker, these cats today, are living the Life of Reilly, in the woods off Jefferson Davis highway Operation Catnip was always there to advise & be a feral cat advocate. Thanks to Operation Catnip's there are many more success stories like this!

I think what Operation CatNip of Richmond is fabulous. I'm an animal lover and so anything that can help animals in need is a good thing. They help give feral cats a better life in what otherwise would be a tough and short life for them. I thank all of the folks that give up so much of their time and energy for their efforts. They can use all the help they can get.

Operation Catnip is an all volunteer organization (that includes vets and vet techs) that holds a monthly spay/neuter clinic for feral and stray cats. The organization is now 10 years old and we have done 7,000+ cats with just 12 clinics a year! We firmly believe that TNR (trap neuter return) is the only humane way to decrease the feral population in the Greater Richmond area. It makes a great improvement in the cats life after they are altered. It also helps give the caretakers a way to maintain their colony and have relief in the amount of cats they feed.

The first time I heard about Operation Catnip was about two years ago when I had two feral cats that needed to be fixed. Vet bills are very expensive and a friend of mine suggested trapping the cats and taking them to Operation Catnip where they will spay/neuter cats, give them the "spa treatment" and initial vaccines for FREE! It was such a positive experience that I have now volunteered for the past one year. The group is extremely dedicated in making sure each and every cat is taken care of, given their shots, has a clean trap when taken home and working with the caregivers to ensure that they have complete care instructions. This group is completely made up of volunteers who come to a local vets office once each month for 5-8 hours. Usually we have anywhere from 80-100 cats. This organization is so well known in the surrounding areas that they get called on to assist in trapping and transporting cats to the clinic every month. I have been involved in many organizations over the years, but this one really has my heart!

Operation Catnip is a non-profit organization that reflects extremely well on its volunteers. Now in its tenth year, Operation Catnip spays and neuters feral and stray cats as part of a Trap-neuter-release programs. We have sterilized and vaccinated over 7,000 ferals since our inception in 2001. We are a completely volunteer organization, with many dedicated volunteers that come back each month to work in the monthly clinics, and our services are provided to feral cat colony caretakers for donations only. The feral cat overpopulation issue is a huge one in our area and Operation Catnip is doing an incredible job of helping to solve this problem, by decreasing the population growth and keeping the feral cat colonies healthier.