In a bid to secure better futures for feral cats, a dedicated community of animal rescue groups, veterinarians, foster families, and adoption partners has formed under the leadership of Chiquita Taylor. Together, they’ve pioneered the life-saving initiative, Traps to Laps (TTL), to rescue feral cats from the streets and overcrowded shelters.
Operating under the S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, TTL was launched in April 2024. By the year’s end, the initiative had already rescued, vetted, and sterilized over 100 kittens, with many now in adoption programs or already placed with loving families.
“All of these little ones would have grown up to be ferals, reproducing or would have died out in the field,” said Taylor, who serves as the Fix Ur Pet Community Outreach Director. “So many kittens are now out of the baby-making business, and none will enter a shelter because of this program, our fosters, and our amazing adoption partners.”
TTL operates as a Shelter Diversion Program, ensuring that no kittens (and friendly adult cats) are sent to shelters. This approach significantly reduces the feral cat population while offering these precious felines a chance to have healthier, happier lives. “Traps to Laps is unique because we ask finders to foster the litters they find themselves,” Taylor explained. “In some cases, when it’s not possible, we do seek out our own fosters.”
TTL field technicians visit foster homes every two weeks or more frequently to provide assessments, vaccines, and other basic treatments. Kittens are spayed or neutered once they reach the required weight and age of 12 weeks, after which they “graduate” into local adoption programs to eventually find their forever homes. “If other organizations in other communities replicate our TTL Shelter Diversion program, we can greatly reduce the overpopulation of feral cats, save countless lives, and free up shelter space and resources for other deserving animals,” Taylor added.
TTL relies on grants and donations to cover the costs of medical attention, sterilization surgeries, cat food, litter, and other supplies. Its local rescue and adoption partners include S.A.V.E. Rescue, League City Pets Alive, Lifeline of Galveston County, Lone Star Pawz, Second Chance Pets, and Three Little Pitties Rescue.
To learn more about how you can contribute to this life-saving program or to make a donation, visit the Traps to Laps Facebook page or contact them to get involved. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of feral cats and reduce the strain on local shelters.
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