It all started with one cat…When I moved to Mesa, AZ in 2019, I went for a bike ride and met this cute Tortoise shell cat on my first ride. I did the usual pspspspspsps (we all know that’s the standard greeting for cats!) and she came over to me. I said “I’m going to call you Harriet and you can come and visit me anytime.”. She did just that starting the next day and it was such a welcome surprise! After several days, she apparently sent out a group text to the other ferals and strays in the area because there were more and more showing up each day. Most were quite young, some semi-friendly and others not friendly at all. Each day I would sit outside with them and every one got a name. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and after about a year, I had anywhere from 10 to 25 cats visiting daily! Some would just come to eat, but most started staying 24/7 and it really made my heart happy.

When a female ended up pregnant, I reached out to a local rescue and that was when I first learned about TNR (trap, neuter, return). My first TNR venture saw me take 8 cats to the clinic in one day, I was so nervous to get it right from the trapping to the transporting and the after-care, but all went perfect. In my third year caring for these cats, I had one who had Stomatitis and needed a full dental which was several hundred dollars (that I didn’t have). I decided to start offering my melt and pour soaps to the cat community: make a donation and I will make you a soap…I was able to raise nearly all of the money needed for that procedure and that cat is now the queen of our house! After that, I decided that I will take all of the proceeds from what I sell and make a fund so I have money available for food, TNR and any other medical needs that come up with the cats.

These cats didn’t ask for this life, but we can help make them feel loved and cared for in many ways. Leave some food and a bowl of water if you can, sponsor a cat at a local rescue for TNR or consider fostering if you’re able. It takes a village, but changes happen when we all come together in love!

Support Ranilla’s Rescue!

I met the founder of this rescue several years ago and you couldn’t ask to meet a more genuine person who goes out of her way to help feral and stray cats! She has helped me countless times and has shared her knowledge so that I can better help my herd so they thrive!

Ranilla’s Rescue is a cat focused, foster based rescue, assisting the community with special situations regarding at risk cats and kittens. In addition, they work with the community on TNR (trap, neuter and return) to help control overpopulation of free roaming cats and kittens, as well as placing adoptable cats and kittens into loving homes. Ranilla’s Rescue also works to facilitate medical treatment and aftercare for Ill or injured cats and kittens. 100% of donations are applied to the care and management of the animals.