The famous Mr Rogers once said “When I was a young boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” This article is to guide you in the direction of those helpers, so you can become one yourself!

There are so many good people in the world, doing good things, helping so many. These people have often combined to build charities and organizations that take care of the world and its most vulnerable, including its animals. An unfortunate fact of life is that there are countless numbers of cats who are in need of these people and their places. Overbreeding, sickness and injury, unchecked stray populations, abandonment, and poor animal welfare education are causes of this need. From small-scale operations, to large international funds, here are a range of groups you can research to find one that aligns with your values.

TNR charities

To begin with, TNR stands for Trap - Neuter - Return. It is a method used throughout the world to manage the population of unowned cats and dogs in a community. Community cats is the name given to cats that don’t have an owner, and roam freely, and are otherwise known as strays. While a cat on its own may only have a life expectancy of around two years (provided it is one of the approximately 50% who survive kittenhood), a cat in a colony, with a carer, can live up to 10 years. Though their life is riskier, many community cats do lead healthy, happy lives. TNR charities work to ensure this by working with carers, if one can be found, to humanely trap the adult cats to be spayed or neutered, and then returned to where they were trapped. At this time the cats can also be wormed and vaccinated, to improve their general health. Foster and forever homes are often sought for kittens, with their spay/neuter and vaccination costs also covered by the charity. TNR is the best option for these cats, as an alternative to mass euthanization or relocation. TNR helps the cats stay healthy, while preventing kittens from being born in dirty and dangerous conditions that sees almost half of them die in their first year. TNR charities are also very common, so there will be one near you where you can offer your time. Otherwise there are plenty that could use your financial help as the surgeries and care certainly don’t come free!

Who can help

• Alley Cat Allies - This crew brought the practice of TNR from the UK in 1990, where it had already been successfully implemented in many locations. Starting with one colony of 50+ cats in Washington DC, they soon saw the positive effects of consistent TNR, and have now become a comprehensive cat charity throughout the US. They have lots of advice on how to be the best cat ally, and options for volunteering or donation. Donate to Alley Cat Allies here.
• The Humane Society - Not really needing much introduction, the Humane Society of the United States is a great organization that gives the option to donate to their Community Cats Program. This provides resources for trapping and surgeries, as well as support materials such as food banks for carers. Donate to The Humane Society here.

Shelter and rehoming charities

These are the teams you know about, who have a base in your community. They are where cats and dogs are dropped off when found outside and unwell, or where unwanted litters are left, or pets are surrendered. They take in those who have no home, and try to find them one. There are tens of thousands of shelters and rehoming charities across the United States, all with their own policies surrounding who they manage their populations. A sad fact is that many cats and dogs that go into shelters are euthanized if not adopted within a certain period as there are simply too many animals for too few homes. The good news is that these shelters give these animals the best chance first, by working on behavioral issues that will allow them to become a family pet, and making sure they are healthy through vaccinations and spay.neuter surgeries. Shelters and rehoming charities try to match individual animals to the environments they will be going into, by creating personality profiles for their animals. This helps adoptions to ‘stick’ and prevents the return of animals who don’t fit the dynamic. An extra way to help these hardworking and big-hearted teams is by fostering. This provides a temporary home, often for mothers with kittens, or young individuals. Fostering lets the animals’ true personalities shine in a way that doesn’t always happen in a crowded and noisy shelter. Fosters are often better socialized too, so they can make for successful permanent adoptions.

Who can help

• Best Friends - This is the largest no-kill shelter organization in the US, and has the slogan ‘Save Them All’. No-kill shelters work to save and rehome as many animals as possible, without euthanization of healthy animals through lack of space or facilities. You can adopt from them, sponsor an animal, or donate regularly to allow them to spread their humane message throughout the country. Donate to Best Friends here.
• ASPCA - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a true cross-country organization with a wide range of functions. Their ‘adopt-a-cat’ section can put you in contact with local shelters in your area that you know operate under the eye of this, the first humane society in North America. They also provide resources on fostering. Donate to ASPCA here.

Cat charities for the elderly

Sometimes cats need people to help them to be healthy and happy, and sometimes it’s the other way around. This next charity is a specific one, matching up pets to senior citizens. The benefits of having a pet, to an elderly person, are many and varied. They range from exercise, as there are physical things that need to be done in the care of a pet; to socializing, as health care requires vet visits, and having a pet can encourage young relatives to visit more! And on top of that is the companionship. Cats are very interactive and show a lot of affection to their pet parents, and their needs mean that they rely on their owner to take care of them. This constant and calming interaction has been shown to improve heart health in humans, as well as help prevent depression stemming from isolation. A concern some may have is what happens to the pet when it is no longer able to be cared for, and that is taken care of by the charity itself. By homing rescue animals with senior citizens, the lives of many animals are saved. Senior animals are less likely to be adopted in a shelter situation, but the reduced energy demands can be perfect for someone of a similar age in human years!