The Outdoor Cat Shelter Building event will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union Training Center, 110 Mall Boulevard, across from the Chautauqua Mall, and should be held for about two hours or less.

Chrissy Conklin, president of Pip-Skey’s Foundation, said that the two rescues wanted to continue to do this event on an annual basis as the need to help feral or outdoor cats in the local area is growing.

“The need in this area is growing and the amount of abandoned cats in Jamestown and the surrounding areas is growing,” Conklin said. “There are a number of people who go out and feed these cat colonies and try to do TNR, or Trap, Neuter and Release, to end the cycle, but that is a big undertaking.”

The TNR program works to help end the cycle of outdoor cats by preventing them from having so many litters of kittens, where multiple are also born at a time, but Conklin said in order to do TNR there needs to be a place for the cat to rest and heal after the surgery, along with a need for resources and funds. There are no low cost clinics in the area for this and these shelters that are built at this event can help with that purpose.

Finn Laska of Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue is pictured with some of the shelters built at last year’s event. Submitted photo

Finn Laska with Finn’s Furever Rescue, agreed with Conklin, saying that for him he knows there are always cats in the community that can use these shelters, and it also gives them the opportunity to teach new people every year about the importance of these shelters.

“No cat should suffer in the cold weather and I want to help as many of them as I can,” Laska said. “If people care enough to feed cats outside then they should also want to make sure they are protected from the elements. This is a great way to participate in community service and come together. I want to teach other kids to have compassion for the feral community who are often forgotten.”

Additionally, Conklin said that if these cats do not have a place to go to be protected from the weather they will die, and that the winter weather is not easy on them. If people are feeding and trying to take care of these outdoor cats, she added they should attempt to do TNR as well if possible. Laska emphasized this point as well, saying that he always tells people that if they are feeding the cats they should also be fixing them so they cannot reproduce.

As far as the shelter building event goes, Laska said they work to collect foam coolers and supplies from the community all year long for the event, partnering with Pip-Skey’s for any supplies that they might not have enough of. Conklin said members from both rescues’ boards will be in attendance to help community members turn the coolers and containers into shelters, adding that they also always use straw for the insides as then if a cat comes in and is wet they will not freeze because the straw keeps away the moisture.

“It’s nice to be able to participate and do something for the community, especially about animals,” Conklin said. “These animals are very neglected and are surviving on their own. If people can come and help build these shelters they can be a part of a positive change, and even if they can’t make it to help build they can still come and pick one up to take home.”

Conklin added that people can leave small donations as well, but this event is mostly about making sure these outdoor cats have a place to go. Donations are still being accepted for plastic totes that are 18 gallons or more, and all weather duct tape to help make more shelters at the event.

Both Laska and Conklin praised the TNR program at the Chautauqua County Humane Society, saying that it is a resource people should utilize specifically for feral and outdoor cats if someone is taking care of a colony and looking to do that. Conklin also encouraged people to consider fostering as most shelters in the area are seeing an overflow of animals. While people should report a situation if they see it, Conklin said if they get told shelters cannot take in any more animals it is not because they do not want to but because there are capacity regulations.

“All rescues are doing the best they can with how needy this area is with abandoned animals,” Conklin said. “Everyone can do something positive to help.”

Both Conklin and Laska also encouraged people to reach out to their organizations as well with questions about TNR or for resources.

“Many people complain about all of the cats in the community,” Laska said. “We like to remind people that it is not the cat’s fault, people have created this crisis and we all need to work together to fix it.”

For more information on Finn’s Furever Feline Rescue or Pip-Skey’s Foundation, visit, www.finnsfureverfelinerescue.org and pipskeysfoundation.wixsite.com/pipskey-s-foundation.