Donate or duplicate: Groundbreaking Shelter Diversion Program finds furever homes for feral felines
HOUSTON, Texas — The population of stray and feral cats is creating hair-raising problems across the country, with most studies estimating that there are between 60 and 100 million homeless cats in the United States. But there is renewed hope — and it doesn’t involve building more shelters.
Traps to Laps (TTL) is a lifesaving, collaborative concept happening in Houston that uses a network of animal rescue groups, veterinarians, foster families and adoption partners to get feral cats off the streets — while also keeping them out of overcrowded shelters where their lives hang in the balance.
Created by Chiquita Taylor, TTL operates under S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, a 501(c)3, and in its first year, the TTL team rescued, vetted and sterilized 145 kittens and 79 friendly adult cats. In 2025, the team is on track to double the number of kittens saved.
“All of these little ones would have grown up to be ferals, reproducing or would have died out in the field,” said Taylor, the Fix Ur Pet Community Outreach Director who oversees six animal welfare programs, including TTL.
“So many kittens are now out of the baby making business, and none will enter a shelter because of this program, our fosters and our amazing adoption partners.”
TTL is a Shelter Diversion Program — it completely avoids sending any kittens (and friendly adult cats) to shelters. It also exponentially reduces the feral cat population and gives precious felines a chance at much healthier, happier and longer lives.
“Traps to Laps is brand new and unique because we ask finders to foster the litters they find themselves (help us, help you),” Taylor explained.
“In some cases, when it’s not possible, we do seek out our own fosters.”
TTL field techs visit the foster homes every two weeks or more to provide overall assessments, vaccines and other basic treatments. Kittens are spayed/neutered once they reach a required weight and 12 weeks of age, then they “graduate” into local adoption programs where they eventually find their furever homes.
“If we can get other organizations in other communities to duplicate our TTL Shelter Diversion program, we can greatly reduce the problems associated with the overpopulation of feral cats, save countless lives, and free up shelter space and resources for other deserving animals,” Taylor explained.
How to help
Traps to Laps is a nonprofit program that relies on grants and donations to cover the costs of medical attention, sterilization surgeries, cat food, litter and other supplies. Its local rescue and adoption partners include S.A.V.E. Rescue, League City Pets Alive, Lifeline of Galveston County, Lone Star Pawz, Second Chance Pets and Three Little Pitties Rescue.
Businesses, special interest groups and individuals from all over the country can sponsor a kitten or an entire litter and name the kittens themselves. All sponsors will receive photos and progress reports from intake through adoption.
To learn more about Traps to Laps and to explore ways to duplicate this model in your community, please visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562600055787 or email them at outreach@fixurpet.com. Donations can be made at saverescue.org/donate Memo: TTL.
