Stray Cat Project

06/06/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞? 🤔

Here’s what we did:

𝐖𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚 (𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦) 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰. It worked! 🐾

When we assessed the situation, our trapper focused on three realities:
➡️At 3–4 weeks old, pulling the kitten from mom would have meant bottle feeding. At that age, maternal care is still the strongest predictor of survival and development, and we prefer not to break that bond.
➡️Removing the kitten risked disrupting Luna’s pattern and potentially pushing her to relocate. Keeping her predictable and coming for food was critical if we were going to complete TNR.
➡️If we intervened too early, we could not rule out additional kittens still hidden in the woods. Acting without certainty could have meant leaving others behind, effectively leaving them to die.

For two weeks, we monitored from the edge of the woods. After we located the kitten at the caretaker’s shelter, her behavior shifted—she stopped bringing him into the open. Luna kept a steady feeding schedule and came to the edge of the woods when called, which told us she was still actively caring for her offspring nearby. When she came in to eat, we noticed that only one or two teats were consistently active, which aligned with a single nursing kitten.

We eventually spotted the kitten climbing on fallen trees and hiding in the brush, but the terrain was too dense and he was too quick for us to intervene.

This past Thursday, everything came together. He followed Luna to the edge of the woods, and we were able to capture him when he ducked into an abandoned groundhog burrow. 🐱 We then set a drop trap and secured Luna. They are now reunited in foster care and doing well. 🏡

These are not easy calls in the field. One must assess all the factors in real time and go with the option that best serves the cats involved. In our case, waiting gave us the outcome we needed.

Thanks for following along and sharing how you would have handled it. 🐾

📷: Feral Luna and her 5-6 week old kitten, whom we've named Sam. He's a gentle little boy who is eating well on his own and will be available for adoption in July!

05/06/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞? 🤔🐾
(There are no right or wrong answers here — just an opportunity to discuss, think through the situation, and learn from one another. 🧠💬)

Here’s the scenario:
A heavily pregnant feral colony cat repeatedly fails to show up at feeding time while you’re trying to trap her. Then, seemingly overnight, she’s suddenly thin, making it clear she has delivered her kittens. 🐾🐾 You check the shelters near the caretaker’s house, but they’re empty. That means the litter is hidden somewhere deep in the woods. 🌳🍂 The area is dense and overgrown, with thick brush, fallen trees, dens, and spots that are nearly impossible to access. Finding the kittens would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. 🔍😩You know there’s a good chance the queen will eventually bring the kittens to the feeding station in a few weeks, so you decide to wait her out. ⏳🐈

Then one day, when you arrive to feed the colony, none of the cats are around. You head toward the woods to call for them — and suddenly hear the unmistakable cry of a kitten calling for its mother. 😿👂 But the sound is behind you. 😳 You turn back toward the house and discover a single 3-week-old kitten stuck underneath a shelter and wonder if you interrupted mom moving her litter. 🥺🐱 Now you’re faced with a difficult decision:

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞? 🏡❤️

𝐎𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬?

We’ll share what our trapper decided — and the final outcome — tomorrow. In the meantime… what would you have done? 🤔👇

03/06/2026

After community cat Rosie flinched when her caretaker touched her back, her caretaker knew something was wrong and contacted us for help. Rosie appeared uncomfortable and was having trouble sitting, so a plan was made to trap her and get her to the vet. But before that could happen, Rosie uncharacteristically disappeared, leaving her caretaker distraught and fearing the worst.

Three days later, Rosie returned, still in obvious pain and now oozing a foul-smelling discharge from her rear. Her caretaker immediately rushed her to urgent care, where she was examined, stabilized, and started on medications. The veterinarian discovered a severe wound to Rosie’s backside that had become necrotic. Surgery was recommended, and there were concerns that she could lose her tail.

Because of our experience with complex wounds and injuries, we recommended that Rosie be seen by Dr. Carolyn Wooley at Cats Only Vet Hospital & Mcsnip . Dr. Wooley determined that Rosie had suffered a ruptured a**l gland abscess and discovered that the second gland was also badly infected. She debrided the necrotic tissue, drained the second gland, and carefully sutured Rosie back together, including reconstructive work on the portion of her tail damaged by necrosis.

Rosie has spent the last two weeks recovering indoors with her caretakers. While she’s experiencing a little cabin fever, she is healing well and improving every day.

Rosie is incredibly fortunate to have caretakers who are not only loving and dedicated, but observant and responsive. Without their quick action, this infection would have claimed her life out in the woods.

Rosie’s medical care exceeded $3,000 and was made possible through the generosity of her caretakers and the supporters of Stray Cat Project. Thank you for helping us provide lifesaving care to cats in need.🙏

We are also deeply grateful to Dr. Carolyn Wooley, who is always there for us when cats need advanced medical care. Time and again, she makes room for urgent cases, provides exceptional treatment, and goes above and beyond for the cats we serve. We truly could not do this work without her.💗

UPDATE: FB flagged the injury photos as against their Community Standards, so they have been removed.

13/05/2026

In mid-April, a Yardley Boro resident had an inkling that a stray cat was regularly spending the night on her second-story apartment landing. At our urging, she set up a portable security camera to see who her mysterious overnight visitor might be. 📹 What she discovered was surprising!

The stray cat she suspected was not the nightly visitor at all. Instead, it was this stunning long-haired black feral beauty, appearing quietly under the cover of darkness — severely matted, with enormous knots throughout her fur and patches of missing hair where mats had likely torn away. 🌙🐈‍⬛Not knowing where this kitty came from, the good Samaritan gave her the name “Jane Doe.”

We immediately began trying to identify the kitty. We made social media posts asking if anyone recognized her and contacted local animal control and the SPCA to see if a cat matching her description had been reported missing. Unfortunately, no one came forward, and there were no reports of a lost cat fitting her description. Because her condition appeared concerning, we developed a plan to trap her. This past weekend, we caught her on the very first try. 🎯

And what a girl she is!

Jane Doe is absolutely spectacular — quite feral, with thick long black fur and all the toughness of a cat who has clearly survived a great deal outdoors. But sadly, being a long-haired feral cat is incredibly difficult. Without human handling, there is no grooming assistance, and over time her coat had become painfully matted. She was suffering from multiple enormous knots, along with patches of missing fur where clumps had likely torn away.

At her veterinary appointment, we learned that Jane Doe was already spayed and ear-tipped — proof that someone, somewhere along the line, had previously helped her through TNR. ✂️👂 We had her vaccines updated, and the veterinarian shaved several severe mats and knots from her coat. Amazingly, while in our care, she also managed to self-remove the two massive knots pictured here. (Can of Friskies included for scale.) 😳🥫

After receiving the care she needed, Jane Doe was returned to her outdoor home last night. 🖤

This is exactly why community cat advocacy matters. Cats like Jane Doe are out there surviving quietly among us, often unseen until someone takes the time to notice — and care.

Many thanks to the compassionate resident who trusted her instincts, set up the camera, and refused to look the other way. 🙏 And, as always, heartfelt thanks to our generous donors, whose support makes it possible for us to help cats like Jane Doe when they need us most. We are grateful to have you as our partners in this work. 🖤

11/05/2026

It was a bittersweet Mother’s Day over here as we said goodbye to Bea’s 8-week-old kittens and transferred them to Bingo's Foundation Ltd to continue their journey toward forever homes. 🐾💕

We fostered these babies for just over a month and truly loved having them here. Over the weeks, they blossomed into sweet, social, playful, happy little kittens that are going to make wonderful companions. 😸✨ We’re especially grateful to the Good Samaritans who cared for Bea and contacted us when she finally brought her kittens around. Because of them, we were able to swoop in, bring the entire family into foster care, allow Bea to finish raising her babies indoors, have her spayed/vaccinated/ear-tipped through TNR, and give the kittens the chance at healthier, longer lives as indoor pets. 🩺✂️🐈

A huge thank you as well to Bingo’s Foundation for partnering with us to help these little ones find loving forever homes. 💛 The kittens will be vetted soon and placed for adoption, so be sure to follow Bingo’s Foundation for updates and adoption information. 🐾

❣️Remember: kittens do best in pairs! Adopting two gives them a built-in playmate, helps with social development, and provides endless entertainment watching their antics together. ⚽🐱🐱

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and to anyone who has offered nurturing, guidance, and love in a motherly way. 💐💖🌷

May your day be filled with love, peace, and whatever brings you joy. ☀️💛🌸 Thank you for all you do!🙏💕🌼😘

07/05/2026

🛑𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞!

Please do not take kittens from their mother. If you find a litter of kittens outside -- say under a bush, deck or in a shed -- please leave them alone; mom should be back soon to take care of them.

𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧-𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 as there aren't enough bottle-feeding volunteers, and those that are available are likely already overwhelmed. Without resources, the shelter will have no choice but to euthanize.

We can't say it enough: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐦! Once the kitten has learned to eat on it's own, it can be taken to rescue and mom can be TNRed and/or adopted. Until then, please leave them be!

(Graphic by National Kitten Coalition )

06/05/2026

When a pair of Good Samaritans noticed that the stray cat they were feeding looked pregnant, they gently lured her indoors and contacted us for assistance with TNR. However, before we could get her to clinic, the kitty delivered four beautiful, healthy kittens—indoors. 🐾

That was early March. Since then, the kittens have grown into playful, well-socialized cats under the watchful eyes and steady care of their caretakers. Momma cat, since named Kelsey, proved to be a calm, protective, and devoted mother who did an excellent job raising her babies. 💛

This past weekend, we assisted with transporting the kittens to Bingo's Foundation Ltd, where they will soon be available for adoption. 🏡 Look on Bingo's page for "the breakfast crew:" Pancake, Waffles, Biscuit, and Muffin!

Yesterday, Kelsey finally had her spa day and was TNRed, ensuring a healthier, happier, and litter-free future. She was returned to her caretaker today, who was all smiles seeing her safely back where she’s been cared for. 😊

Teamwork made all the difference here, giving these kittens a strong start and Kelsey a safe return home, fully vetted. Many thanks to the Good Samaritans and to Bingo’s Foundation for their partnership and support.💗🙏

06/05/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏! 🛑 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧-𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫!

The first of the spring kittens are here! 😳 If you find newborn or tiny kittens, your first instinct may be to gather them up and take them indoors or to a shelter. Resist this urge!

Wait and watch from a distance! 👀 Their mom is likely close by, getting food or otherwise caring for herself. Unless she has been trapped, hurt or otherwise detained, she will return.🐱💕 Mom is always the best caretaker of kittens; removing them from their mom -- and therefore taking the away from their best caretaker and food source -- will likely lead to their death. Bringing them to a shelter may also be signing the kittens' death warrant; the kittens may be immediately euthanized because there aren't enough bottle feeders to care for all the kittens that enter the shelters this time of year. PLEASE, before you take the kittens away, be sure mom has not returned for some time. (We recommend you watch for up to 8 hours.) Please have patience; watch and wait away from a distance. The lives of those kittens depend on it!

Graphic by facespayneuter.org.

04/05/2026