Thousands of Designer Bags Are Heading to Westport for a Massive Cat Rescue Fundraiser

Habitat for Cats is a local nonprofit formed in the late 1990s by a group of people who wanted to help feral or "community" cats.

Rebecca Pink is a volunteer with the organization. Pink visited Townsquare Sunday and talked about the work being done by Habitat for Cats, and shared details about a spectacular fundraiser, Purses for Paws, on October 24 in Westport.

Understanding Trap-Neuter-Return and Community Cat Care

"Feral or community cats are usually a generation away from human contact and have largely been forgotten," Pink said. "These feral cats are not usually happy in a home environment. They need to be spayed and neutered and cared for, they still need caretakers."

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Pink said if kittens are found, Habitat for Cats often works with no-kill shelters to make them available for adoption.

Habitat for Cats considers itself a cat rescue operation that focuses on controlling the cat population using the "Trap-Neuter-Return" philosophy.

How Habitat for Cats Assists SouthCoast Neighborhoods

"We'll get calls from people that have several 'community' cats in their yard, or near their property," Pink said. "In many cases, these cats are not approachable, so you need somebody to come get them. That's us."

Habitat for Cats via Facebook

Pink said Habitat will assess the situation and trap the cats humanely, then make an appointment with a veterinarian to have the cats spayed and neutered and eventually returned to the community they came from. Money raised from fundraisers is used to cover the costs of veterinary services.

Purses for Paws: Event Details, Inventory, and Location

"We do fundraisers every other year," Pink said. "We start in the early spring collecting donations, and it's a lot of work. This is our fifth Purses for Paws event and it could be our biggest ever."

"We have thousands of items for sale, including pocketbooks, backpacks, vintage jewelry and other accessories," she said. "And this year we have so many designer and brand name items. The inventory this year is off the charts."

Purses for Paws is scheduled for October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westport United Congregational Church, located at 500 American Legion Highway in Westport.

If you would like your nonprofit organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com