Causes: Animal Protection & Welfare, Animals

Mission: Our mission is to end the cruelty of pet overpopulation by rescuing abandoned cats and kittens and sterilizing the feral and stray cat population in the community.

Results: TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) for Community (Feral) Cats TNR is one of For the Love of Cat’s key directives. The community issues of cat overpopulation cannot be achieved through the adoption process. It must be accomplished through sterilization of the existing community cat population. In addition to sterilizing, the cats are vaccinated and under the daily feeding and care of volunteer caregivers. For the Love of Cats works with Domestic Animal Services in Collier County to adhere to the TNR ordinance currently in place. To date, For the Love of Cats has TNR’d over 5000 cats. Caregivers feed over 300 cats on Marco Island every day. Rescue of Abandoned House Cats and Kittens Abandoned pets are a major contributing factor to the increase in community cats throughout Collier County. For the Love of Cats has rescued almost 300 abandoned house cats in the immediate area over the last 4 years. Kittens are a by-product of the community cat colonies. Rescued early, they can be domesticated and adopted into loving homes. We have rescued and adopted over 3000 kittens since 2002 and continue to rescue kittens that are the offspring of abandoned house cats in our community (we rescue the mom cat as well). We no longer have kittens from the community cat colonies because we have fixed and vaccinated all of the free roaming unadoptable cats in the community to our knowledge. Spay/Neuter for Cats of Low Income Families Our Low Income Spay/Neuter program pays for sterilization surgery for cats and kittens owned by families that would otherwise abandon them without this service. Our program is designed to help families keep their pets with the benefit of reducing abandonment and thereby also reducing the number of cats and kittens that add to the existing community cat population. Every year, we help over 75 cats and kittens to keep their home. Emergency Veterinary Services for Low Income Families Many low income families have pets that need urgent veterinary attention and would be forced to allow their pet to suffer or be euthanized without this program. Last year alone, we paid for 3 dental extractions, 3 knee surgeries, 2 cats with severe whole body infections, 1 cancerous eye removal, 1 crushed tail surgery and 2 broken leg surgeries. Each of these emergencies was over $1000 each. Seniors for Seniors Adoption Program Older cats languish in shelters for years and most do not get adopted or worse, they are euthanized to make room for younger animals. Senior citizens are often living alone and depression is a major concern. This program includes cats from all rescue groups in Collier county. Cats over 5 years old may be adopted by a senior citizen over the age of 55 at no cost to the adopter. The adoption fee along with a complete care kit for the cat is provided by For the Love of Cats. This program has been a very successful one with over 100 senior cats adopted since 2010.

Target demographics: rescue abandoned cats and kittens and help low income families to keep their pets.

Direct beneficiaries per year: save the lives of over 250 cats and kittens and helped over 60 families to keep their pets.

Geographic areas served: Marco Island, Isles of Capri, Goodland and the surrounding rural areas

Programs: -TNR (trap, neuter, return) for feral cats Rescue and adoption of abandoned cats and kittens -Spay/neuter of cats owned by families in need -Help 'em Keep 'em program pays for wellness and emergency care for cats of low income families -Seniors for Seniors program that pays the adoption fee and provides a complete care kit of food and supplies for cats over 5 years old adopted to seniors over 55 throughout Collier county