Newsletter

Sometimes the stories that stick with you are the ones that seem almost too unbelievable to be true. About six weeks ago, my coworker Shannon Ragsdale, a dedicated volunteer with Fresno TNR and other rescue organizations throughout the Fresno area, and I were alerted to a cat living in the basement of our downtown parking garage. Because we both work with community cats, our first thought was that it might be one we had previously trapped, neutered, and returned. But when we

How Fresno TNR helped turn a quarter-million-dollar city commitment into an $825,000 investment in spay and neuter services When Fresno TNR’s Kris Thompson went to Fresno City Hall, she carried the weight of every call for help that could not be answered fast enough. The pregnant cats found behind businesses. The kittens born beneath houses. The exhausted fosters feeding colonies from their own pockets. The volunteers setting traps late at night, transporting cats before sunr

Shannon Ragsdale did not set out to become one of Fresno TNR’s most dedicated trappers. Like many people who find their way into rescue, it started with a few kittens who needed help. Shannon works as an appraiser for the Fresno County Assessor-Recorder’s Office. She spends three days a week in the office and two days in the field, and she genuinely enjoys what she does. She is one of the top producers on her team and in her office, and she recently received some of the highe

Every once in a while, I see someone comment on one of our posts and say something like, “I wish I could help, but I just can’t adopt another cat.” I understand that completely. Most of us who love cats already have a few at home, and we know our limits. Not everyone is able to add another permanent family member. But fostering is different. Fostering is not adoption. It is not saying yes forever. It is saying yes for right now. In rescue and TNR work, we meet cats and kitten

One of the questions we hear a lot at Fresno TNR is this: “A cat has been hanging around my house for weeks. It doesn't have a collar. I don't know if it belongs to someone. Can I get it spayed or neutered?” In most cases, yes. But like most things involving cats, the full answer has a little more to it. The Reality of Community Cats Cats don’t move through neighborhoods the same way dogs do. Many owned cats are allowed outside and may wander from yard to yard during the day.

Every spring and summer, Fresno T.N.R. receives messages that begin the same way: “I found a tiny kitten by itself. What do I do?” The answer surprises a lot of people. In many cases, the best first step is to wait or do nothing at all. This may feel wrong at first. When you see a tiny kitten alone, your instinct is to scoop it up and bring it inside. However, a kitten who appears to be alone is not always abandoned. Mom may be out looking for food, moving her kittens to a s

“Pride Without Borders” was the theme, and we truly felt it. This year, Fresno TNR joined the Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival for the very first time. We had our van in the parade, greeted guests throughout the day, and had an absolute blast. We are already looking forward to next year. From the moment we arrived and waited for our turn in the parade, people began coming up to us with questions about what we do and how we can help. Before the parade, during the parad

Start Here Finding yourself surrounded by unaltered community cats can feel overwhelming. Maybe there are several cats in your neighborhood. Maybe kittens keep appearing. Maybe you want to help but are not sure how to start. Maybe cost, trapping, transportation, or recovery space is the biggest concern. You are not alone, and you do not have to figure it out by yourself. Fresno TNR exists to help community and feral cats through Trap-Neuter-Return, also known as TNR. The goal

What started with ten transfer cages and a promise to help quickly turned into something much bigger. Kris Thompson helped Fresno TNR become a nonprofit and has been showing up for the cats and the people helping them ever since. If you have spent any time around Kris, you already know the qualities that define her. She is steady, kind, dependable, and always willing to help without ever looking for recognition. What many people may not know is that before Fresno TNR, before

Kittens needing fosters Every year, people hear the words “kitten season” and imagine something sweet. Tiny paws. Soft mews. Little faces peeking out from behind flowerpots, sheds, tires, boxes, and bushes. And yes, kittens are precious. That is exactly why kitten season is so heartbreaking. Kitten season is the time of year when unaltered cats give birth in the highest numbers. In many places, it has traditionally run from early spring through late fall, often around Mar

A vet-reviewed Fresno TNR community cat health article There are some cat diseases people hear about once and never forget. Feline panleukopenia is one of them. It is fast. It is brutal. It spreads easily. And for kittens, especially unvaccinated kittens, it can be heartbreaking. A cat suffering from PanLeuk You may hear it called feline distemper, feline parvo, or just panleuk. Whatever name someone uses, the important thing to know is this: panleuk is serious, it is highly

Fresno TNR’s Meow Mixer was exactly what the name promised: good food, great company, a lot of cat people in one room, and a shared mission that matters more every day. Amazing Centerpieces - hand-painted by Volunteers as Door Prizes The evening brought together supporters, volunteers, friends, and feline fans for a fun and heartfelt night focused on helping reduce feline overpopulation in Fresno and across the Central Valley. There was plenty of laughter, plenty of conversat

TNR works in more ways than most people ever see. Yes, it prevents unwanted litters. Yes, it reduces the number of sick kittens born outside. Yes, it helps stop the heartbreaking cycle of cats having litter after litter with no chance for stability and barely a chance at survival. But I have learned something else too. Sometimes, TNR keeps the cats who are already here from disappearing. One of the things that led me to Fresno TNR, was a young female community cat in my neigh