As you may have seen in the news, the Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) in Florida recently reached out to Alley Cat Allies for help after taking in thousands of kittens throughout the spring and summer monthsalso known as kitten season 

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Our Feline Frenzy is helping Jacksonville Beat the Heat®, which includes spaying and neutering kittens like these before they’re old enough to become pregnant.

Becky Robinson, founder of Alley Cat Allies, and Denise Deisler, chief executive officer of JHS, put their heads together to plan Feline Frenzy® with a goal of making systemic, sustainable, and positive community change throughout the Jacksonville area.

“One of the first inspirational people in my career more than 20 years ago was Becky,” says Deisler. “It really felt like a reunion to sit at the table with her and talk humane outcomes for our community cats.”  

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People of all ages can do TNR! A Jacksonville Girl Scout trapped cats and brought them to Feline Frenzy to earn her Silver Award.

With a grant from Alley Cat Allies, JHS will hold twelve high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter clinics. So far, four clinics have been held. Residents set appointments to drop off cats, including stray or feral cats and kittens, in humane traps at JHS’ in-house clinic. Then, they come back to pick the cats up after they have received veterinary services.  

So far, the Jacksonville Feline Frenzy has helped more than 160 catsand we’re aiming even higher. Throughout the winter, JHS will hold two clinics each month to Beat the Heat®; Alley Cat Allies’ recommended policy to spay and neuter cats in the colder months to get ahead of prime kitten season and end the breeding cycle before it starts.  

Feline Frenzy let us expand our capacity in a big way,” Deisler explains. “It feels so rewarding to get out ahead and be on top of giving the cats what they need.”

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Community cats rest in covered traps to await their Feline Frenzy spay and neuter surgeries.

Alley Cat Allies’ Feline Frenzy is tailored to each community to capitalize on existing resources and bring together key groups to save cats. In Jacksonville, veterinarians and veterinary technicians from the city shelter, students and volunteers from the local university, and leaders from animal protection organizations have all gotten involved.  

“It was really heartwarming to see that helping community cats is something we can all get behind, and that everybody is willing to roll up their sleeves for them,” says Deisler. 

Each cat we spay or neuter through Feline Frenzy means fewer litters of kittens born this upcoming springand more lives saved.  

Watch out for more stories from the field as our Feline Frenzy in Jacksonville continues. You can also learn how you can make a difference in your community today.