The Urban Cat Coalition has established its first permanent location at 2812 W. Clybourn St. in Milwaukee, aiming to enhance its efforts in community cat welfare. Founded in 2016 by three local cat rescuers, the coalition focuses on humanely reducing the stray cat population in the area to create a no-kill community.
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To celebrate the opening, the coalition is hosting a free grand opening block party on October 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring a variety of activities, including face painting, a photo booth, trivia, food trucks, and adoptable kittens. The event, especially geared towards families, will include street closures for safe play in the nearby Clybourn Cove playground.
Urban Cat Coalition employs a trap-neuter-return (TNR) method to manage the city’s stray cat population. Cats identified by the coalition or community members are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their colonies. In 2020, the coalition rescued 735 cats and kittens, with 502 being strays from TNR efforts—211 were returned to colonies, and 440 were adopted.
Ruthie Weatherly, a volunteer with the coalition for six years, purchased the new property to provide a centralized space for the organization’s operations, which were previously scattered. Weatherly is leasing the building to the coalition at a significantly reduced rate to meet the ongoing needs of the community.
The new facility will streamline various functions, including vetting, vaccinations, medical care, and supply pickup, all under one roof. Weatherly emphasized the importance of empowering the community to aid in managing the cat population. The organization hopes to foster connections and educate the public about how they can contribute to these efforts.