Hundreds of kittens fixed, homes found

Woman volunteers her time and home

California's "cat lady," Teresa Porter doesn't hoard cats, rather she cycles them through, fixed and healthy, at more than 100 a year. She is shown here with Soldier, the only one from 2016 that stayed with her, due to his easy-going personality.
California's "cat lady," Teresa Porter doesn't hoard cats, rather she cycles them through, fixed and healthy, at more than 100 a year. She is shown here with Soldier, the only one from 2016 that stayed with her, due to his easy-going personality.

She's not your typical cat lady.

More than 200 kittens have come through the care of Teresa Porter since January. But they don't stay.

When they're large enough, or healthy enough, to be spayed or neutered, she takes them to area veterinarians, where she pays for each procedure out of her own pocket.

After they've recovered, she finds homes for them, either in town or through area shelters.

Porter's garage-turned-romper room includes a designated cat room, which includes window access to a literal catwalk outside and into the latest addition - a catio.

And it's not just youngsters Porter is interested in fixing.

She receives calls or Facebook messages at all hours from people who've either spotted strays in businesses' Dumpsters or have a feral cat problem.

With a live trap, she captures the felines, who are then spayed or neutered, as well. Afterward, she returns them with a clipped ear or tummy tattoo to where they were found.

"People don't mind them, they just don't want them to reproduce," Porter said.

For the friendly ones, she tries to find human homes. But most people want kittens, she said.

"It's a joy to give them to someone else," she said.

The alternative, however, is not all of them make it.

"I hold them until they die here, too," Porter said.

Not all cats can be saved, but she said she has an instinct for when a cat is worth it. She once spent $300 to help recuperate an abandoned, adult Siamese, which turned out to have an excellent personality and quickly found a home.

Her mission is not cheap, nor is it easy.

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STAFF PHOTO SAMANTHA BAKER @NWASAMANTHA Kathy and Dave Reece of Fayetteville watch the Lady Razorbacks take on Missouri Sunday, March 2, 2014, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Less than one-fourth of ticket-holders for Sunday's game made it to Bud Walton to see the Lady Razorbacks play.

"I go through lots of food and lots of litter," she said - try 100 pounds-a-week of litter alone.

As people have learned of her efforts, she receives occasional donations of litter and food or cash toward the cause. Area veterinarians also help as they can.

In addition to the normal pet care, many of the rescued cats need medicine, from worms and fleas to surgery.

She didn't know much about cat medicine, but now she sometimes makes suggestions to the veterinarians. And the occasional veterinary student gets to learn about the uncommon maladies.

Then, there is the time it takes. Kittens without their mothers require bottle-feeding every two hours.

"Everywhere you go, there's a cat," Porter said. That's why they're not in her home.

She keeps the cat area disinfected weekly, meaning every cage, litter box, food dish, toy and mat gets a thorough bleaching.

A couple cats have managed to warm their way into permanent resident status at her California home. But she's not after a collection of cats.

Rather, her goal is to slow the prolific cat problem in the city, she said.

"Do the math - 200 fixed kittens times five litters each; it would be a non-ending cycle," she said. "I'd rather pick up one kitten now versus, wait, and pick up her and her litter of kittens later."

Lila Adams, a long-time resident at Parkview Trailer Park, has seen several generations of feral cats in her neighborhood.

"I had been feeding them all these years, because they're still God's creatures," Adams said.

At about a dozen at any one time, some would die but there were always more on the way.

"It's been really difficult," said Adams, who rescued three kittens who are now her adult pets.

Six weeks ago, Porter started live trapping the feral adults, as well as a couple mother-cats and their offspring. All but one now has been neutered or spayed.

And Porter is working on alternate homes outside the trailer park, at a farm and a petting zoo.

"This woman is incredible," Adams said. "With no payment, she does this on her own time and with her own effort, any day or night.

"She helps people at her own expense, or with the help of donations."

Porter said she would be grateful if community members might support her efforts through food, litter or medicine donations or cash. She also appreciates having senior citizens and day cares come by for a visit, to help the kittens grow accustomed to humans.

Call 573-230-5354 for more information.