Cats in Wyoming get a lifesaving lift

A small group of outdoor cats living near the airport in Casper, Wyoming, just became the first beneficiaries of a brand-new community cat program, thanks to a powerful new collaboration among animal organizations in the area.

NoCo Kitties, Casper Metro Animal Shelter, and Kittens Without Mittens share a goal to improve the lives of community cats through trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR), where cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their outdoor homes. It’s the start of something big for cats in Casper.

[Cat TNVR: What Does It Mean?]

Local resident Mark has been keeping a watchful eye on as many as 16 cats who live peacefully on his property. When Denise Sherwin from Kittens Without Mittens took in one of the cats who had recently given birth, she committed to helping trap-neuter-vaccinate-return the rest of the cats. It would not only prevent more kittens from being born, but the cats already there would stay safe, healthy, and out of the shelter system.

This new program builds on momentum toward Wyoming becoming a no-kill state. According to new data from Best Friends Animal Society, 75% of the state’s shelters have now reached the no-kill benchmark (meaning they save at least 90% of pets entering their care), and the remaining few are actively working toward it with support from Best Friends.

“The community cat program in Casper is laying the groundwork for lifesaving progress across the state,” says Jessica Gutmann, senior strategist at Best Friends Animal Society. “Each cat helped here is a step toward taking Wyoming to no-kill.”

There was a clinic where the cats from Mark’s property could be spayed or neutered, but the high-volume model required clients to commit to bringing at least 20 cats in order to secure the surgery appointments. That meant there was a beautiful opportunity to invite other organizations to join in and send along cats in their care who needed to be spayed or neutered. NoCo Kitties, which works in multiple states in the region, put out the call, and in no time, there was a plan in place.

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Casper Metro Animal Shelter eagerly joined the effort; they had six cats who needed to be spayed or neutered before placing them in working cat homes (barns, warehouses, or other environments where cats can thrive as natural pest control). Denise and a NoCo Kitties volunteer made the drive from Colorado to assist with trapping and getting cats to the clinic.

Metro’s participation also marked a key step forward in the shelter’s plans to launch its own community cat program in the future.

“It’s incredible to see the shift over the past decade,” says Davida DuPont, a NoCo Kitties team member. “There’s more understanding and support for community cats and the role TNVR plays in keeping them safe and out of shelters. We’re excited to continue working alongside Casper to grow this program.”

As the program gains momentum, community support will be key. Residents can help by taking care of cats in their area, fostering kittens, volunteering with local rescue groups, or simply spreading the word about these lifesaving programs. Every effort counts, especially when it comes to giving outdoor cats a better future.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.