Finding a Forever Home Local organization seeks to bring cats off the streets and into homes

Story and photos by Jennifer Hoppa

While most people associate “street cats” with scruffy feline misfits, a local organization is giving the phrase a new meaning and cats a new start. Founded in 1997, Street Cats Inc. is an adoption center and gift boutique located at 6520 E. 60th Street in Tulsa.

Run entirely by volunteers and sustained by donations, it is a non-profit organization that finds cats their forever homes and has a no kill policy. In addition to fostering cats, the group also sponsors a low cost spay and neuter voucher program for stray and feral cats to help reduce the number of homeless animals. Linda Holland, a volunteer on the board of directors, explains that Street Cats primarily rescues cats from individuals (not shelters) who have found strays in their yards or who have pets they can no longer care for. There are 12-15 resident cats at any one time and all cats are taken to a veterinarian for spaying or neutering as well as being vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms. Cats are also microchipped to ensure a safe return home should they ever lose their way. As of November sixty-nine cats have been adopted and many more have been placed thanks to the bulletin board in the shop where anyone can post their own pictures and fliers of cats in need. Even if you don’t consider yourself a pet-lover, Holland encourages everyone to give cats a chance to show their love for you.  “Caring for something other than yourself brings great rewards,” she says, “some which might be unexpected ones.”For more information call Street Cats at (918) 298-0104 or view the cats up for adoption on their website at www.streetcatstulsa.org