How 13 volunteers changed the lives of 13 working cats
- May 14
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
In early March, SOKS received an alert about a colony of feral cats facing removal from a business property in Stockton. Those were community cats, which could live in barns or warehouses where they provided natural, eco-friendly pest control.
SOKS immediately jumped into action, rallying a group of dedicated volunteers to rescue the animals.
In just one night and one morning, we managed to trap 13 cats! They were safely moved to a garage in a volunteer’s house where they waited to be vaccinated and spayed or neutered.
Because we could not return the cats to their original location, we had to find them new places to live. Remember, those were working cats, not pets, so they could not be placed in people’s homes.
A wonderful friend of SOKS, who is also a cat rescuer, agreed to give our 13 felines temporary shelter. We drove the kitties to her property in the Bay Area where she set them up in a protected enclosure known as a "catio." That allowed the cats to roam freely without being exposed to any outside dangers (see the video below).
In the meantime, SOKS put out a call for help to find permanent homes, such as barns, warehouses or gardens.
We were so happy when many people responded and were willing to follow a special protocol to relocate our working cats. Proper introduction to a new place takes about three weeks of adjustment. During that time, a cat must remain in an enclosed large dog kennel with food, water and a litter box. Only after that can it be allowed to roam freely.
Ultimately, it took the combined efforts of 13 incredible individuals to save 13 precious cats. Those 13 people were all volunteers involved in the TNR process, driving and feeding the cats, cleaning their enclosures and organizing relocation efforts. Thank you to Rudi, Barbara, both Kellys, Vicky, Judy, Jeanann, Roberta, Susan, Gena, Fiona and Connor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
We are also incredibly grateful to those who took the cats in to give them a new life. Thank you!
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