It’s raining unwanted cats and kittens at area animal shelters this spring, but a local cat rescue group needs help with another overlooked and underloved feline demographic — “working whiskers.”
These adult feral cats were trapped by volunteers with Animal Rescue Connections (ARC) in areas that weren’t safe to begin with.
After being neutered and vaccinated, they have no place to go.
ARC partners with the Bulverde Area Humane Society (BAHS) to find homes and better futures for the animals in their care.
They’re looking for property owners who would welcome a working cat to help control rodents and snakes.
“If you have a little extra outdoor space, maybe it’s a workshop, greenhouse, storage property, barn, covered porch, or a few acres of quiet land, you may be the perfect match for some special kitties in need of safe placement,” said ARC President Jenny Burgess, who has 10 potential working whiskers awaiting better futures.
“These are a great asset ready to go to work protecting the cattle feed on your ranch, seeds and bulbs at garden nurseries and any storage area attractive to rodents.”
The nonprofit will consult with property owners to make sure they’re a good fit for a working whisker and will deliver within a reasonable distance.
All cats eligible for relocation are fixed, vaccinated, and healthy with ears tipped for identification.
Working whiskers will need to be temporarily confined in large cages at their new homes so they can acclimate to surroundings before assuming control of their new territory.
This needs to happen before summer temperatures return to South Central Texas.
ARC works to solve Comal County’s cat overpopulation “at the source.”
Most of the ferals trapped by volunteers are neutered and vaccinated by vets before they are returned to their original locations, ears tipped for identification. Wherever possible, community residents support them with food and shelter.
“Friendlies” are vetted and handed over to BAHS and fosters for adoption.
ARC is a 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for community cats in Comal County by promoting Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) and adoption to reduce overpopulation.
“Our vision is to have a community that improves the lives of all cats by human control of numbers and prioritizes kind support of outdoor cats in our neighborhoods,” said Burgess, who founded ARC in 2004.
For more information emailAnimalRescueConnections@gmail.com or visit AnimalRescueConnections.org/barn-cats.