Helping Make a Difference – One Cat at a Time

Street Cat Rescue helps Texas ferals.

By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff

Sometimes life takes a turn we would never expect. That can certainly be said of Donna Powell, Founder of Street Cat Rescue. For years, she had done wildlife rehabilitation and actually became the person in the neighborhood that injured animals were brought to when they were hurt or sick.

(In addition to plenty of perches and cat furniture, the room is lined with photos of Street Cat Rescue feline residents.)

Through the years, she ended up with quite a few racing pigeons who had been unable find their way home, and assisted various other birds and small mammals to recover. She even started fostering dogs, but cats had not been on her list of animals to help. When she moved from Austin to Round Rock, she brought her pigeons with her and had intended to continue her work with wildlife. However, in an effort to protect the birds she so loved from being eaten by the local cats, she began to feed the felines. She quickly realized that some measure of population control was necessary; otherwise their numbers would continue to grow.

Discovering and promoting TNR
With some online research, she learned about TNR (trap, neuter and return). So she borrowed a trap and began fixing the cats she had been feeding. This was all out of her own pocket, but she soon learned about area resources for trappers including Spay Austin, EmanciPET, and Shadow Cats. “It’s really exciting trapping,” says Powell and she became hooked.

(Chelsea is available for adoption.)

Powell, still cares for the occasional wild animal and wayward pigeon; however, her emphasis has shifted to TNR. Not surprisingly, she ends up with friendly adults and kittens, who can be rehomed, instead of returned to the colonies. Unfortunately, her husband Bob is allergic to cats. Yet his sensitivity to their cat’s dander has diminished, a fact they attribute the fact that they feed all the cats Flint River Ranch, an all-natural cat food after a holistic veterinarian in Austin recommended it. They are both so impressed with the lowered allergens and health of the cats, Donna is now a distributor with proceeds going to the Street Cat Rescue organization.

(Donna gives some loving to Jeremy.)

While they now have some cats in their own home, the adoptable ones live in a fully converted garage. Step in and one is not immediately aware it is even a sanctuary housing approximately 35 cats. In fact, it place is so homey, complete with a quilt covered bed, volunteers have expressed interest in moving in. “It helps them when in a home-like environment to be more relaxed,” notes Powell. “I’m really picky with my adoptions, so since they may be with me a while, I want them to be comfortable.” Continue further in and you come to a screened in porch, containing not only many multi-level shelves for the cats, but also a table and chair, where one can sit and enjoy the great outdoors with many feline companions.

While Powell herself maintains two feral colonies and the sanctuary, she states, “We try to focus more on the TNR part and helping others.” Her group assists individuals who feed cats, but want to halt the litters. While they provide food for the cats, many people do not have the information or resources to practice TNR. Powell and other group members assist by trapping their cats. They make frequent trips to the Austin Humane Society, which provides free sterilization services, vaccinations, and parasite treatment for ferals. Street Cat Rescue then keeps the cats during their recovery and returns them when they are ready to be re-released. “Almost everybody that I have trapped for has been so grateful that there has been a solution to the problem. It’s really a neat experience for everybody,” notes Powell.

Though she has personally practiced TNR on over 300 cats in the last 1 ½ years, she realizes that only a handful of trappers are not able to handle sheer number of ferals. “I realized I would be better as a mentor and a teacher, getting more community involved. This is a huge problem and it’s going to take the whole community to get involved.” Powell was instrumental in the legalization of TNR in Round Rock and her organization is one of the non-profit groups approved to maintain colony manager records.

(Some of the “scarels” look down from up on a shelf.)

Knowing that a handful of trappers can not handle the numbers, now Powell helps with regular trapping classes at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. She hopes to have trained sponsors in each neighborhood, who monitor feral cats living in the region. They would be in communication with the local trappers and caretakers, who monitor the colonies for newcomers, pregnancies, and litters. Powell says, “If you can start getting these people in the various neighbors doing this, they’re going to tell their friends, and their friends, and it’s going to spread.”

Husband, fellow trapper, and greatest supporter, Bob Powell states, “For so long, Donna’s been pretty much doing it all. She’s the brain behind the machine, but I just tell her to take a step back and let’s increase the volunteer base and empower people to take over these roles of what you’re doing so you can stay back and grow this thing.”

(Bob Powell gives Miles a scratch under the chin.)

The organization is now in search of volunteers to help expand Street Cat Rescue. Of course they are always in search of additional trappers, as that is the biggest limitation to the number of cats who can be sterilized and returned.

Providing a safe haven
While the group mainly focuses on TNR, occasionally a friendly stray or kitten is captured. Those cats are taken in by the sanctuary until new homes can be found. They are very careful about the homes they choose, and Bob notes, “These cats have already had the worse chances out there, until they crossed our path. We don’t want them to be subject to that again.”

“I do hate to let them go after I’ve had them so long, but I will if it’s the right home and it’s a good feeling,” says Donna. “I’m not just looking for any home; I try to find the right home for each cat.” However, when that perfect home is found for one of the sanctuary’s cats, she can not be happier. While it would be wonderful if people could come out to their facility to see the cats in their natural environment, in reality, more homes could be found for the friendly cats if they are given the opportunity to meet the public. Currently the organization has offsite adoptions at the Petco in Round Rock, Texas. Extra assistance would allow the cats to be showcased for additional hours or days.

(Big Boy, an appropriately named feline, makes himself comfortable on the quilt covered bed.)

Most of all, the group could use assistance with marketing and fundraising. Right now their efforts are fairly limited, but Donna and Bob both hope this area of the organization can be expanded to allow for greater outreach. The more people that they can get involved in trapping in their own communities, the fewer homeless kittens will end up in shelters.

The sanctuary has quite a few cats who are available for adoption. While some of their cats began as adult ferals, and are still fearful of most people, there are others who are very friendly and would be well suited for a life in a home.

Sylvester is approximately four years old and showed up at Powell’s colony at work. He was already neutered and very friendly, so she attempted to find his guardians, without success. Despite ads, no one came forward to reclaim him and now he is in need of a forever home. He is good with both other cats and dogs and affectionate with people. He even trills, so many have a bit of Maine Coon in him. So many friends and volunteers fall in love when they meet him, but somehow he has not yet found a home.

(Sylvester and Callie are both available for adoption.)

Callie came from a woman who also cared for several ferals around her home. Unfortunately, she lived next to a busy road so the cats were in constant jeopardy. Callie, still young, was one of the nicest of the cats. Of course like many calicos, she has her moments, but is generally affectionate and playful.

How you can help:
• Donations are needed to help the group continue in their efforts to educate others about the importance of TNR, as well as to maintain the sanctuary cats.
• The organization also welcomes donations for the cats, including pine and scoopable litter, toys, beds, scratching posts, and cat trees.
• Please consider volunteering. Additional assistance is needed not only with TNR outreach, but also marketing, fundraising, and off-site adoptions. Room in the sanctuary is limited, so the organization also has a great need for foster homes.
• Adopt one of the many loving and deserving cats from the sanctuary.
• You can support Street Cat Rescue by purchasing Flint River Ranch food. If interested in ordering, please contact streetcatrescue@earthlink.net for details to become a customer, so they may receive credit for purchases.
• Save the date. Street Cat Rescue will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, April 26 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the 620 Cafe and Bakery in Round Rock. See the Street Cat Rescue website for details coming soon.

Street Cat Rescue
PO Box 2524
Round Rock, Texas 78680
Phone: 512-762-3597

For more information:
• Read about the special cat who eased Donna into TNR: In Loving Memory of Frankie
• Feral Cat Resources
• Best Friends Feral Cat Program

Photo credits: taken by Jennifer Hayes.
Lead photo shows Donna Powell displaying their new t-shirts, while holding Miles. If interested in purchasing one, please contact her at streetcatrescue@earthlink.net.