RocKats

Much needed help to a big colony

Zamira Guerra — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:43:13 +0000

We recently put out a plea for Friskies or Nine Lives dry food and we want to thank those of you who donated. We don’t get donor information from Chewy so we don’t know who you are but please know you are very much appreciated

After a recent eviction, an estimated 30 cats were left without their devoted feeder. We TNRd over 20 of these cats in the spring, but due to a series of unfortunate events, couldn’t continue trapping at this location. In the past week we trapped and fixed an additional six cats and they are being evaluated for temperament. This large colony is generally unwanted by the local residents and we are working with rescue partners on a plan for ongoing management.

We do want to thank the kind neighbor who is helping us feed these beautiful kitties and the local property owner who is allowing us to care for these cats on his vacant lot through the winter. Many thanks to Neighborhood Cats Network (@neighborhoodcatsnetwork) for providing a terrific feeding station and Lollypop Farm (@lollypopfarm ) for spay/neuter appointments

Caring for Cats in Need During Winter

Zamira Guerra — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:38:03 +0000

It’s too cold for TNR but we are still as busy as ever. We’ve brought in cats patiently waiting outdoors who seem well-suited to indoor-living and others clearly in need of medical attention. Earmites, wounds, flea allergy dermatitis, entropion, dental problems are all being addressed and these kitties are in various stages of treatment or healing. Some still needed to be fixed others were previous TNRs. Temperaments vary from loving us to tolerating us (but loving the food). Some will go back to their caretakers and others will go up for adoption. We love them all

We are tremendously grateful to the kind person who donated to our account at Stoney Pointe Vet Hospital. With so many medical issues to address, and so many friendly cats needing additional vet care prior to adoption, this gift has helped us immensely. We don’t know your name, but we hope you are reading this. Thank you so much

Always remember the water

Zamira Guerra — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:31:58 +0000

Lots of worries over the past few weeks during the bitter cold as many colony cats didn’t emerge at their usual feeding time. So reassuring when we finally do see them. Water is the first stop for them when they come out for breakfast. If you can’t use a heated water bowl or change the water frequently, use deep, thick-walled plastic bowls placed in an area that gets sun.

We’ve been getting lots of calls for food from city feeders and we also took over the feeding of a large colony where someone was recently evicted. We’re working on a plan for ongoing management of these cats. If you can donate dry food please go to our Chewy Wishlist. The cats are most fond of Friskies and 9 Lives.

Thank you as always for your compassion for these kitties

Happy New Year from RocKats!

Zamira Guerra — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:16:00 +0000

Happy New Year from RocKats!

Thanks to our incredible volunteers, fosters, adopters, rescue partners, veterinary staff, colony caretakers, and donors, we improved the lives of 615 cats in 2024!

Through TNR, cats were fixed, vaccinated, and returned to their colony caretakers healthier and no longer contributing to the cat overpopulation crisis. Because of TNR, over 200 adoptable cats were identified and able to leave the streets behind for good.

Only with a wide network of support was this possible. Your help in 2024 created brighter futures for so many cats in need. Here’s to saving more lives in 2025!

Girl Scout Troop Helps Outdoor Cats Stay Warm

Zamira Guerra — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:10:03 +0000

When Girl Scout Troop 60012 in Irondequoit wanted to help animals in need, we said “perfect timing” – we need more insulated shelters for the outdoor cats. Together we built 12 warm shelters. All of these have now been generously stuffed with straw and distributed. Foot prints and bedded-down straw let us know they’re using them.

These amazing scouts also donated much needed canned and dry cat food for colony caretakers. On behalf of the cats and all of us, thank you for your kindness and concern. We would love to work with you again next year

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah

Zamira Guerra — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:05:13 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah from all of us at RocKats

This holiday season we’re filled with gratitude for our community of cat-loving supporters. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to help so many cats this year. Angus, Alice, Chester and Woody are just a few of the sweet adoptable kitties currently in our care. Enjoy this lovely Christmas Day

TNR in cold weather… exceptions

Zamira Guerra — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 23:59:30 +0000

While we avoid typical TNR during these freezing temps, we make exceptions for feeders who give outdoor cats some warm indoor access during the winter months (we know it’s still fall ). This week, we’re happy to share that 15 spay/neuter appointments were filled!

Even better? A few kitties showed their friendly side after being trapped, so they’ll be staying with us for further assessment

As always, we couldn’t do this without your support—thank you for helping us make a difference for these very special cats!

Thank you for your support!

Zamira Guerra — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 23:57:29 +0000

Our hearts are full of gratitude for the donations sent our way on Giving Tuesday. THANK YOU for supporting our work

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We’ve been busy trapping and filled 11 spay/neuter appointments last week. Lots of kittens are staying with us and we are very much in need of foster homes. Please message us if you can help

Thank you again for your support!

Roc the day 2024!

Zamira Guerra — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 23:33:51 +0000

Tomorrow, December 3rd, is Giving Tuesday and locally Roc the Day. We’re asking for your support to continue helping Rochester’s free-roaming cats and the people who care for them.

This year, our all-volunteer team has helped 568 cats as of December 1st. Most were TNR’d and returned to their colonies, free from the stress of fighting, mating, or giving birth. Of these, 191 adoptable kittens and friendly cats did not return to the streets as they were appropriate for life indoors. A handful of cats were relocated for safety, and sadly, a few were humanely euthanized due to severe illness.

We make a lot of quick and often difficult decisions as we evaluate each cat for its most appropriate place. Every cat is special to us

We’ve also taken on some new challenges, including transporting carloads of cats for low-cost spay/neuter out of the immediate area. We are always on the search for affordable spay/neuter since we know this is our ticket out of the cat overpopulation crisis.

The financial strain has been immense this year. Our spay/neuter costs have exceeded $34,000 and our medical costs are over $22,000.

Your generosity will allow us to keep making a difference. Beginning at midnight, donate at http://www.roctheday.org/Rockats

Thank you for your support!

Big colony discovered… tons of work to do!

Zamira Guerra — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:19:10 +0000

We recently answered a call to trap a sick kitten and his mother. Little Woody is well now and will be up for adoption soon; his mother was TNRd.

After talking with neighbors on this quiet block we learned of two large colonies of cats and got to work explaining TNR. These caretakers love their cats but over the past few years could only scoop up the tiniest kittens and take them to the shelter. The remaining cats were too skittish, multiplied quickly, and now there are many – 30 at least.

We’ve trapped 13 cats to start, focusing on females, juveniles, and any who appear injured or ill. Fortunately most are healthy. One needs extensive medical care. Five are likely adoptable. Each one is special and all are beautiful

We’re partnering with 19th Ward Community Cats to spay/neuter all the cats before the winter and we’ve purchased some incredible shelters from Neighborhood Cats Network since our typical shelters will not work for the larger colony on this block.

This project is an expensive one and we need help to cover the cost. Please help us get this colony under control by preventing more kittens and giving each cat the healthiest possible life and a warm place to stay. Thank you as always for your donations and support.