Nearly 300 cats and kittens have already received help through a Muscatine Humane Society program launched less than a year ago, and now the organization is asking the community for help keeping it going.
The humane society’s Cat Protection Initiative has taken in 243 friendly stray cats from the Muscatine community since launching in December. Many of those cats arrived pregnant, resulting in an estimated 40 to 50 kittens being born in the shelter’s care. With those kittens included, the organization says the program is quickly approaching the 300-animal mark.
The initiative was launched with $30,000 in community donations, with the humane society estimating the cost of each intake at about $100 per cat. With nearly 300 cats and kittens now helped, the organization says that original funding has essentially reached the level it was intended to cover.
As cooler weather approaches, the humane society expects the need for assistance to continue and is asking residents to help replenish the fund. Donations can be made by check, cash or through PayPal.
The Cat Protection Initiative was created to help friendly, handleable stray cats in the community. The program does not accommodate feral cats because the Humane Society is not equipped to safely house or care for them.
The shelter says every donation helps it continue accepting friendly stray cats as space and funding allow. With nearly 300 cats and kittens already helped, the organization hopes community support will allow the initiative to continue providing a safe place for cats that need one.
