“I started this rescue because I love cats and think all cats deserve a chance,” Laska said. “My aunt is a vet technician, and she has always let me help her foster kittens since I was younger. I learned a lot from her and wanted to start my own rescue. I want to be a voice for all the cats that need help.”

Laska’s rescue, known as Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue, focuses on helping feral, stray and community cats. Laska uses humane traps to trap the cats and then takes them to the vet to be fixed and vaccinated, following the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return system.

“Some feral cats who cannot be socialized for adoption get returned to the location where they were trapped,” Laska said. “All cats that get tnvr’d will have their left ear tipped. If you see a cat with an ear tip, it is a universal sign that the cat has been fixed. If we find feral kittens while trapping, we will take them to the vet, socialize them, and they will be available for adoption.”

The rescue, which became a nonprofit in August 2023, also has the goal of educating the community. Laska said it is important to him to teach people why it is important to fix all cats and not just the ones that live in their homes.

Finn Laska, creator of Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue in Frewsburg, has a focus on helping feral, stray and community cats. Submitted photos

“If people feed outside cats, it is very important that the cats be fixed and vaccinated,” Laska said. “This will help the cat stay healthy and also prevent them from having kittens. If people just focus on rescuing kittens, they aren’t fixing the real problem. My rescue also rescues cats that are homeless or in emergency need.”

Another main goal for Laska and his rescue is to help feral, stray and community cats have a better life. If the cat is friendly they work to find them their forever homes, and in the winter Laska makes shelters for outside cats to help them stay warm.

As a foster-based rescue, Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue has the cats that they rescue stay in home-like environments while they wait to be adopted. Adoptable cats can be found on Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue’s website, finnsfureverfelinerescue.org, or on Petfinder.com.

For Laska, running the rescue allows him to both help and educate.

“I am helping cats and making a difference in their lives,” Laska said. “I like teaching people about TNVR. I also want to encourage more kids like me to be a voice for the voiceless.”

Most importantly, Laska emphasized the importance of spaying and neutering cats.

“It is extremely important to spay and neuter all cats,” Laska said. “If people feed outside cats, they need to be fixed and vaccinated to help give them better lives. Outside cats also need shelters in the winter and I make them for people that need them.”

If interested in donating or helping Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue visit their website or find them on Facebook.