Spay and Stay - Feral and Strays in Sandestin

Cat trapping activities week of December 12th

2011-12-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

One female cat was trapped on the pool level above the paring garage in the Village. it is not shown in the photo but she has a small white spot on her chest.

This cat is the 200th cat trapped on Sandestin property. Around 165 cats were returned to the trapping site, the rest were fostered and adopted or euthanized due to illness.

SSA11-0039 Female Gateway

Trapping the week of December 5th

2011-12-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

One male cat was trapped at the pool level above the Village parking deck.

SSA11-0038 Male

One male cat was trapped in lower Tivolli Terrace.

SSA11-0038 - Male tabby

Trapping week of October 9th

2011-12-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

Nine cats were trapped in the Sandestin beach area from The Beach Club to Finz. There were 5 males and 4 females. Four were juveniles, under the age of 6 months.

Serial numbers SSA11-0028 - 0036

SSA11-0028 M

SSA11-0029 F

SSA11-0030 M

SSA11-0031 F

SSA11-0032 M

SSA11-0033 F

SSA11-0034 M

SSA11-0035 F


SSA11-0036 M

Trapping - week of September 12

2011-09-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

A mother and two juveniles (one male, one female) were trapped this week between the Grand Sandestin and the Village. All were Spayed/Neutered, given shots, and released.

Juvenile SSA11-0023

Juvenile SSA11-0022

Mother cat SSA11-0024

Trapping the week of August 15

2011-08-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

One female cat was trapped and spayed near the Sandestin Marina this week.


SSA11-0015 female

Trapping the week of August 8th

2011-08-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

One cat was trapped this week near the Sandestin Beach Club. It is the last of the three identified juveniles to be trapped there.


SSA11-0014 Female

Trapping the week of August 1

2011-08-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

Two cats were trapped this week around Market Street Inn and the Sandestin Grand. Both males.

Male SSA11-0013 Grand Sandestin


Male SSA11-0012 - Market Street Inn

Trapping the week of July 25th

2011-07-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

In addition to the 2 Beachclub cats, we also trapped a family of cats near the pool at Market Street Inn this week. A mother cat and 4 kittens (est age 14 weeks) were reported mid-week and we manged to trap all of them over a 5 days period.

The kittens were taken to the vet for microchipping, shots and spay/neuter and released Saturday morning (too old and wild to be fostered for adoption). The mother cat was trapped Saturday and will go to the vet Monday.

male tabby SSA11-0007

two female tabbies / one gray male SSA11-0008-10


Solid black female - mother of 4 kittens SSA11 - 0011

Beachclub kittens

2011-07-28T14:07:00.000-07:00

Three young cats were reported near the pool at Beachclub this week. Two were successfully trapped and taken to the vet for spay/neuter and shots. They were release Thursday afternoon.

SSA11-006 Male 5 months


SSA11-005 male 5 month

Spay and Stay will attempt to trap the third juvenile in a few weeks.

We'll miss you GiGi

2011-07-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

We lost a Beachwalk cat named GiGi today. It appears she was struck by a car some time between Friday and Saturday night. Beachwalk residents found her Sunday morning and we, Spay and Stay, took her to the Emergency Clinic in Niceville. Her injuries were too severe and she was put down Sunday morning.

GiGi was at least 7 years old and was loved by a lot of people in the Beachwalk neighborhood and she will be missed.

Trapping near Baytowne Wharf

2011-01-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

On Jan 11, a siamese adult female cat was trapped and taken to the vet for Spay and vaccinations.

SSA11-0002

Feral family at Anchorage

2010-12-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

A black female and her two kittens (one male / one female) were trapped in the area of the Anchorage / Marina. All have been vaccinated, sterilized and released.

Two kittens - black and gray (39 and 40)

Black female (41)

Baytowne Ave area - Trapping in late October

2010-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

A tabby/tortoise female and her two orange tabby kittens (males, 10-12 wks old) were trapped in the area between Baytowne Circle and Olde Towne. They were all vaccinated and sterilized and were released together.

Tivoli Trapping - late August

2010-08-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Two cats were trapped in the Tivoli area, a tabby female and a solid black male. The female was spayed and released, the male tested positive for Feline Leukemia and was euthanized.

Trapping - August 18

2010-08-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

The third and final Anchorage kitten was trapped Thursday, a grey and white female. We are currently tracking the Mother cat's habits and hope to have her trapped in a few weeks.

We spotted the young female on video a few days before trapping her:

SSA10-0032 female Anchorage b/w

This kitten had her check up, vaccinations, and was spayed on Thursday. After a recovery period she was released where we originally trapped her.

Trapping the week of July 26th

2010-07-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

We had a report this week of young cats in the Marina / Anchorage area. We set traps Tuesday night and trapped two kittens.

SSA10-0029 male and 0030 female

Trapping the week of Jul 20th

2010-07-28T17:26:00.001-07:00

A small Siamese was trapped in the Beachwalk area on Tuesday, July 21st. She had been spayed, vaccinated, micro-chipped and released.

SSA10-0027 Siamese Female Beachwalk

Trapping activity for the week of July 12

2010-07-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday July 13th, a young kitten was discovered in the area along the road near the entrance to SandPiper. He is tame but a little skittish and appears to have been abandoned for at least a month. We estimate the kitten to be between 2 and 3 months old.

His name is "Jerry" (because he has made good friends with another kitten "Ben" at the cat clinic) - he does not seen crazy about the name, perhaps you can help us come up with a better one. He is a beautiful tabby with strong markings similar to the Bengal breed.

Jerry has been Neutered, micro-chipped and he has received his first series of shots. If you would like to visit and get to know Jerry, he can be seen at the Cat Clinic of Destin from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm most week days. He may be your next best friend!

Trapping Activity June 16th through June 23rd

2010-06-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

One young male cat was trapped in the Beachwalk neighborhood last week and two females were trapped near the Beachclub this week. All are doing well after surgery and vaccinations and have been returned to their areas.

SSA10-0023 Male Beachwalk

SSA10-0025 Female Beachclub

SSA10-0024 Female Beachclub

One BeachClub Cat Family - June 16

2010-06-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

Charles gets extra points for his tenacious efforts in trapping a mother cat and 4 young kittens at One Beach Club. The hunt started at 10am Tuesday and finished up around 3am Wednesday morning. Everyone went to the Cat Clinic Wednesday morning and all are doing very well. They will stay together for a while to let the kittens grow and become accustomed to humans. They will eventually be fostered and adopted out to good homes. Their mother will be spayed, vaccinated, and returned to her human friends at One Bach Club.

Mom - SSA10-0018

Trapping Activities for the week of June 7th

2010-06-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

Trapping was done at the Hilton this week. Five cats were trapped - two males and three females. All were spayed or neutered except one male which tested positive for FIV and was euthanized.

SSA10-0017 female (beach side)

SSA10-0016 female (mother of 0014)

SSA10-0015 female (beach side)

SSA10-0015 male youth

SSA10-0014 large male tabby - euthanized

All cats have had their left ear cropped to show they have been spayed or neutered.

Trapping activities for the week of MAY 18TH

2010-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Two cats were trapped this week. One near SOA Administration and one in the Sandpiper neighborhood.

SSA10-0009 - Gray Tabby Male - Admin

SSA10-0010 Black Male Sandpiper

Both cats were neutered and returned to the location trapped after recovering from surgery.

Something to Wag about!

2010-03-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

Stamps to the Rescue -

For all of us who still use 'snail mail', what a cute way to send your letters off in style:

Raising awareness for shelter animals, 44 cents at a time...

Trapping Activities the Week of March 8

2010-03-10T18:13:00.001-08:00

4 cats were trapped this week in the neighborhoods of Tivoli and Prestwick place. Two cats from Tivoli and one cat from Prestwick place all tested positive for diseases that might be spread to the larger cat population and these cats were euthanized at the vet while under sedation.

One female cat from Prestwick Place was spayed and will be returned to the neighborhood after she recovers from surgery.

FFSD100033 female Prestwick Place

Sam's Lucky Day

2010-03-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

Sam's lucky day was last Wednesday, March 3rd. He had spent around 3 weeks living with Bennie but we all knew it was time for him to find a permanent home. His wound had healed and he was starting to play and act just like any other kitten his age.

Tuesday, we got the phone call from Sandy in Niceville. She had seen Sam on Alaqua's Facebook page and fallen in love with him. We arranged to meet at PetSmart in Destin on Wednesday afternoon. Sam and Bennie had one last snuggle before I packed him up in his carrier and took him off to meet his potential parent.

Andrea and Leanne met me at PetSmart - we were all excited to meet Sam's new mom and it gave us all a chance to see Sam one more time. We got there a little early and everyone seemed nervous, even Sam.

When Sandy arrived, we knew she was the perfect human for Sam. They really hit it off well and with three other cats and a chihuahua in the house, Sam was sure to have some playmates.

After a few days, Sandy emailed to ask what type of dry cat food Sam enjoyed. It seemed Sam was not eating much. I responded with "Meow Mix" but Sandy's next email explained what Sam really wanted. It seemed he was shy and a little nervous so the only way he would eat was if Sandy held the bowl for him. We're sure he'll get past the shyness soon and Sandy reports that his purr machine has started up and he is enjoying a lot of lap time.

Good luck little Sam - you may only have three legs but you have many life-long fans here in Sandestin. We miss you already...

Trapping Activity the Week of Feb 7th

2010-02-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Two cats were trapped and sterilized this week - one female in Beachwalk and one female in the village area.

FFSD100029 black female juvenile Village

FFSD100028 tabby female juvenile Beachwalk

Trapping Activity the week of Jan 31st

2010-02-07T11:46:00.000-08:00

Three cats were trapped and altered this week - One at Tivoli Terrace and two at the South Gate.

FFSD100024 Female Tivoli Terrrace

FFSD100025 Male South Gate

FFSD100026 Female South Gate

New Pictures of Sam

2010-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

I visited with Sam today - he gets more adorable every time I see him.

When I first arrived he was sitting in his favorite cat bed looking like he had just had a long nap...

When I pulled out his favorite toy, the silly pink Flamingo, he got curious and starting slapping it around. Interestingly enough, he prefers the cheap plastic ring on one end to the actual Flamingo on the other.

After a while, I had Sam out of his bed and walking around. It's amazing how well he travels on three legs! His fur is starting to grow back around his surgery site and he gets stronger every day. He will soon make someone a wonderful companion!

Sam is Playing!

2010-01-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

Sam is eating well and starting to move around better. Today he decided to play for a bit!

Trapping the week of January 17th

2010-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

Trapping activities were performed at the Sandestin Marina, Beachwalk, and Linkside this week. The following cats were trapped, sterilized and returned (except where noted)

FFSD100020 Marina male - Tested ill (FeLV) Euthanized

FFSD100021 Marina female - Spayed and returned

FFSD100022 Beachwalk female - Spayed and returned

FFSD100023 Linkside male - Neutered and returned

The tale of the Good "Sam"aritan

2010-01-22T16:57:00.000-08:00

My husband coined that phrase and I thought it quite appropriate for this post.

"Sam", the poor little cat found hanging by his back leg from a planter stand, is now minus one leg but has a growing fan club of people who care an awful lot about his well being.

That he is still alive and receiving this care and affection is because of two people who cared. They called two more people who got involved. These people delivered Sam to concerned and skilled people who gave Sam emergency care and so on, and so on.

Each person made a difference in Sam's life. No one knew him, no one owned him, Sam will not bring fame or fortune to anyone who has made a difference in his young life.

Anne - Sam's current foster mom

He was just a poor, helpless, living creature who needed help. Abe Lincoln is attributed with saying "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion." There's something very right about that.

Sam will get great care and attention as he recovers and learns how to get around on 3 legs. We'll all be watching him and cheering him on. As soon as he's well we will find him a home.

Trapping Activity for the Week of Jan 17

2010-01-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

Three cats were trapped in the Tivoli Terrace Neighborhood on Sunday afternoon:

FFSD100016 female Tivoli terrace

FFSD100017 male Tivoli terrace

FFSD100018 Male Tivoli Terrace

A gray male was trapped in the Linkside neighborhood on January 19th:

FFSD100019 gray male Linkside

All cats have been spayed / neutered, received vaccinations and micro-chips and have been returned to their original location.

Sam lost the battle but is still hanging on!

2010-01-18T17:34:00.001-08:00

Poor little Sam. We got him to the vet this morning for another evaluation. Even the non-vets among us knew things didn't look good...

There was nothing the antibiotics could do for him, the leg was falling apart before our eyes. The vet confirmed our worst fears and told us surgery was necessary or Sam might go into septic shock and we would lose him.

They called in a vet who specializes in this type of surgery and later in the afternoon Sam was recovering from surgery and doing well. He's the sweetest little cat we've ever seen and we're sorry he had to lose his leg but we are determined that Sam will get a good home for the rest of his life. Want to help? Click on the link below to help cover some of Sam's medical bills -

Sam comes home from the Vet soon and we'll have lots of pictures. Stay tuned!

Trapping activity the Week of January 10th

2010-01-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Volunteers trapped in three locations this week - Baytowne Wharf, Beachwalk Villas, and Tivoli.

On Sunday, Jan 10th, volunteers trapped from 11am until 4:30 pm in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. Eleven cats were trapped, 7 displayed a cropped ear (previously spayed or neutered) and were released. 4 cats were moved to a safe area for delivery to the vet Monday morning.

FFSD100008 gray female - Cabos

FFSD100009 gray male - Grand

FFSD100010 pale tortoise/calico female - Cabos

FFSD100011 siamese female - Aloha

Monday through Wednesday night, trapping was done in the Beachwalk Villas and Tivoli areas.

SDFF100012 Black female kitten Beachwalk

SDFF100014 Siamese male Tivoli Jan 13

SDFF100015 black female Tivoli Jan 13

Sam the Rescue Cat

2010-01-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Sam has been under our foster care for 4 days now. He was found Saturday afternoon by some homeowners in Beachwalk hanging upside down from a large wire planter stand.
We all thought he had a broken leg but it was actually badly infected with a long laceration. The vet patched him up and gave him antibiotics. It was up to us to feed him and help him mend from his injuries.

He has been a model patient so far and we're all starting to wonder if he really is a feral cat. He has only hissed once at us and does not mind being handled. After his emergency vet visit this weekend, we took him to our favorite vet (Cat Clinic of Destin) on Tuesday to be checked out. Sherry and Dr. Flynn took really good care of him.

Sam started eating more Tuesday night (kitten formula and chicken broth from an eye dropper) and we are hoping he finds the strength to make it to the litter box soon. That would cut down on the clean up considerably!

Wednesday he graduated from eye-dropper to tablespoon. We suspect he's holding out for his own monogrammed cat food bowl...

Emergency in Beachwalk - helping the Underdog

2010-01-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

Actually under-cat. But that sounds funny...

Saturday around 2:00 we got a call from someone in our community. "We have a cat in trouble and our friend said we should call you." What else do you say to a statement like that except, "I'll be right there."

We arrived on the patio with a trap and some towels to find a beautiful brown tabby, about 5 months old, nervously looking around for an escape route and dragging his right back leg behind him. After listening for some time to the sound of a cat screaming, these homeowners came out to investigate and found the poor cat suspended upside down by his right leg from a metal plant rack. They managed to get him loose before calling for help.

We calmly coerced him into a cage and took him to the closest emergency vet. His leg was not broken but badly strained and he had a bad infection and swelling in the same area. Had it not been for the response of the homeowner, the cat would have died during the cold night.
They patched him up, gave him antibiotics, and put a drain tube in his leg. We'll take him back to a local vet on Tuesday for an evaluation and shots.

"Sam" - FFSD10007

Thanks to a number of caring humans, "Sam" (that's the name we gave him) will probably be OK. For the first time in his young life, he's resting in a warm bed with a heating pad under him. He has food and water and can sleep through the night without worry of the threat from other animals or humans. He may warm up to us humans and find a nice home or he may always be a feral cat and return to the wild where he came from but for a few days or weeks we will care for him like he's a member of our family and do everything we can to make his life a little better.

Trapping Activity Jan 4 - 7

2010-01-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

Sandestin volunteers continue to monitor and trap in the Beachwalk area to ensure all cats fall under current guidelines. Most cats trapped had their ears cropped, verifying that they have been sterilized and vaccinated. 5 did not have their ears cropped.

Of those 5 cats, only 2 had not been previously sterilized:

FFSD100004 young brown tabby male Beachwalk

FFSD100001 brown tabby male Beachwalk
The skin tear on his nose was superficial. The wound was treated.

The remaining 3 cats had already been sterilized. They had their ears cropped for future identification and received a full examination and rabies booster:

FFSD100005 siamese female Beachwalk

FFSD100006 siamese female Beachwalk

FFSD100003 black female Beachwalk

One very elusive female cat was trapped in Deerwood this week with the assistance of a helpful Deerwood homeowner. This cat had recently had kittens and was likely to become pregnant again as early as February of this year. One kitten was recovered in December, fostered and socialized. She is now at Petsmart available for adoption. Many thanks to the people who help us monitor traps and report on the cat population - we could not do this work without you!

FFSD100002 solid gray female Beachwalk

More than Words

2010-01-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

This post is a general response to people who believe the Volunteers of Sandestin are doing the wrong thing-

Some have criticized that we cannot be working to reduce and eliminate the feral cats in our community because the top line of or blog says - "Working to protect and preserve the Feral cat population in Sandestin and find new homes for our abandoned feline friends." That doesn't sound like we are intent on reducing the cat population but our ACTIONS have spoken louder than 20 words at the top of a page ever could...

During our work for the last half of 2009 we have trapped 75 cats.

Of those, 15 (all kittens) were fostered and adopted out to new homes.

The remaining cats (60) were spayed or neutered, tested and found to be disease free, given all shots and vaccinations for future illnesses that might be spread to humans and other animals, and marked for identification through micro-chipping and left ear cropping.

If we had done NOTHING, here is a conservative estimate of the number of NEW kittens that would be running around Sandestin by the end of 2010:

29 females x 2.5 litters a year x 3 kittens per litter = 293 kittens
36 males x AT LEAST 3 kittens from mating with females that have not been trapped = 108

Total number of kittens that will now NOT HAPPEN in 2010 due to these efforts: 401

There is no way to argue that the TNR efforts are not having an impact on controlling and, over time, reducing the cat population in Sandestin.

The message at the top of this page and the mission statement to the left have been changed to reflect what should be obvious after reading this post. Please take some time to learn more about Trap-Neuter-Release and the positive impact this program is having all over our country.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post -
The Volunteers of Sandestin

The Last Cat of 2009

2009-12-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

The Feline Friends Sandestin volunteers have worked hard this year to trap as many feral cats as possible living in and around Sandestin. In just 4 months, 75 cats have been examined, vaccinated, and sterilized. These cats are now protected from disease that might be transmitted to humans and other animals and they cannot reproduce. They will live out the remainder of their short lives in good health, while being fed by numerous caring and concerned Sandestin homeowners. In the last few years, the feral cat population in Sandestin has grown at an alarming rate. Because of the work accomplished by volunteers in 2009, an estimated 400 fewer kittens will be born next year.

Felicity - The last cat of the year is one of the lucky ones. As a small kitten she made friends with a merchant at Baytowne Wharf and they became great friends. After a foster period the cat was given all vaccinations and spayed. Adoption forms were completed and 'Felicity' went to live at her new home in Defuniak Springs. Most feral cats are too far removed from humans to ever become adoptable. Kittens, such as this one, may be the exception - 'Felicity' is one of the lucky ones.

'Felicity' - FFSD090074

Feral cats live a life of fear and starvation. Most people never even see them. Please find it in your heart to donate a little time or money to provide food, medicine, and sterilization for these cats. These cats should not be out there in the first place but until we educated pet owners on the importance of spay and neuter and eliminate the abandonment of cats and kittens, feral cats are a part of our community.

Trapping Activities Dec 28-30

2009-12-30T05:57:00.001-08:00

Trapping activities took place in the neighborhoods of Beachwalk and Deerwood this week. Two cats were trapped, both female.

FFSD09073 Female gray tabby - Beachwalk

FFSD09075 Female black kitten - Deerwood
She was REALLY hungry!

Trapping activities Dec 14 - 16

2009-12-15T15:15:00.000-08:00

A female cat and two kittens (one male / one female) were trapped at One Beachclub. All are doing well after surgery and will be returned Wednesday morning.

On adult female cat was trapped in the Linkside neighborhood.

Trapping Activity Dec 9th & 10th

2009-12-10T06:23:00.000-08:00

Trapping activities continued at Beachwalk - two cats were trapped. One young female and one small kitten. The small female was spayed and released, the kitten will be fostered and placed at PetSmart for adoption.

Beachwalk female tabby FFSD090066

Beachwalk tabby kitten female FFSD090068

Trapping Activity Dec 7th & 8th

2009-12-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Three cats were trapped Monday afternoon. Two female cats in the Beachwalk neighborhood. One male cat in the Linkside neighborhood.

Black male Beachwalk - FFSD090067

Gray Tabby Female Beachwalk - FFSD090063

Orange Tabby Female Beachwalk - FFSD090065

Trapping Activities November 16th - 17th

2009-11-18T09:29:00.001-08:00

On November 16th between 3:30 and 5pm, four cats (2 Females. 2 Males) were trapped in the Prestwick Place neighborhood. All were delivered to the vet, found to be in good health, given shots, were spayed/neutered and have been returned to the trapping location.

FFSD090059 Black Female

FFSD09060 Large Black Male

FFSD090061 Gray Tabby Male

FFSD090062 Gray Tabby Female

On the afternoon of November 17th, two kittens (M & F) were found in Deerwood with bad eye infections. They were eating solid food so it was safe to take them from the mother cat. Both kittens were delivered to the vet the morning of November 18th. One kitten had a single eye infection, he was treated, tested for disease, given antibiotics and returned to the are where his mother wa last seen.
The other kitten had a bad infection in both eyes so she is being kept at the vet overnight for observation.

FFSD090063 F (back) FFSD090064 M (front)

Simon's Cat - just for laughs

2009-11-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

Trapping Activities October 26 - 27

2009-10-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

We have been working in Crystal Lake II this week to isolate and trap a number of cats around the cul-de-sac at the end of Crystal Lake Drive. There are reported to be 6 - 8 cats in the area; we have trapped 4.

FFSD090058 - BLACK FEMALE

FFSD090057 - BLACK FEMALE

FFSD090056 - TABBY MALE

FFSD090055 - BLACK & WHITE MALE

Sandestin Feeding Stations

2009-10-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Feeding Stations as of October 2009. Click on the images for a closer view.

Trapping Activities October 22nd & 23rd

2009-10-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

We spent Wednesday and Thursday trapping in the area around Tivoli Terrace. Four cats (all male) were delivered to the Cat Clinic for a check-up, shots, and neuter.

FFSD090054 - male

FFSD090053 - male

FFSD090052 - male

FFSD090051 - male (no microchip)

Trapping Activities October 20th

2009-10-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

We responded to a feral cat sighting in Deerwood tuesday night and trapped 3 cats, one male and two females. They were taken to the Cat Clinic Wednesday morning. All are resting comfortably tonight and will be released back to Deerwood Thursday morning.

Black and White Female

Solid Black Male

Gray and White Female Tabby

Trapping Activity October 19th

2009-10-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

Traps were set in the Tivoli Terrace neighborhood Monday night and a female tabby cat was trapped. She was delivered to the Cat Clinic Monday morning for a checkup, shots, and spay. She will be released Wednesday morning.

FFSD090047 - Female tabby

Trapping Activities October 15th

2009-10-15T14:42:00.001-07:00

Trapping was done in two areas Wednesday night - Beachwalk and Baytowne Village.
One male brown tabby was trapped near the Beachwalk pool. No cats were trapped in Baytowne Village.

Brown Male Tabby

Trapping Activity October 12-14

2009-10-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Three cats were trapped near the Beachwalk pool on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Two males and one female.

Solid Black Male

Solid Black Female

Solid Black Male

Cat Rescue at Destin Commons

2009-10-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

This cute little tabby was rescued from inside an engine block this past weekend. It took two days and dozens of people (including the Destin Fire Department). Click here to read the whole story.

Trapping Activities September 30th

2009-09-30T17:03:00.001-07:00

Tuesday night we managed to trap a very elusive female cat in Linkside. She has calico / tortoise markings and is thought to be the mother of many orange tabby kittens. She is resting comfortably tonight after surgery and shots and will be release Thursday morning.

Trapping Activities September 29

2009-09-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Two male cats were trapped in the Linkside neighborhood on Monday evening, September 28th. They were delivered to the vet Tuesday morning and are resting comfortably overnight. they will be returned to the Linkside neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Male orange tabby

Young black male

Trapping Activity September 24th

2009-09-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Linda and Don trapped at Beachwalk Wednesday night and Thursday morning and managed to get 3 new cats. That brings us up to 13 cats for the week - a new record.

Here are pictures of the latest three. They went to the vet today and are resting comfortably tonight. They will be released Friday morning.

Black female

Tabby Female

Large Male Tabby with white feet

We will resume trapping in the Linkside neighborhood next week on Tuesday, September 29th.

Trapping Activity September 23rd

2009-09-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

5 cats and one small kitten were trapped near the Beachwalk pool on the evening of September 22nd and the morning of September 23rd.

Young black Male

Young tabby Female - white paws

Tabby Female

Tabby male

Black Female

Very cute 7 week old male kitten - tabby

All went to the vet the morning of the 23rd and the 5 adult cats are resting comfortably in a garage for the night. They will be returned to Beachwalk Thursday, September 24th.

The very cute kitten has been looked at by the vet and is now in foster care being evaluated for possible adoption. Stay tuned...

Trapping Activity September 22nd

2009-09-22T09:41:00.000-07:00

Trapping activities have begun in the Beachwalk neighborhood this week. We are trapping around the pool area where there is reported to be a large feral cat population. Tuesday morning we trapped and delivered to the vet the following cats:

Young Female

Yong Male

Young male

They are all resting comfortably in a garage tonight and will be returned to Beachwalk by noon tomorow.

Trapping activity September 15th

2009-09-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Trapping was done in the Village at Baytowne Wharf this morning from 5:30 to 8:00am. Traps were placed in the general area around "Cabos" restaurant and two cats were caught - A young black male and a young female brown tabby.

Young black male

Young female brown tabby

Trapping activity September 14th

2009-09-15T14:33:00.001-07:00

Monday evening September 14th, we trapped in three locations in the Linkside neighborhood. Three cats were caught - one young male orange tabby, one small black female, and one medium sized black male. All cats were taken to the vet for spay/neuter and shots on September 15th and will be released the morning of September 16th after they have fully recovered from surgery.

young male - Linkside

Young female - Linkside

Young male - Linkside

Trapping Activity Sept 9-10

2009-09-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

We spent Wednesday and Thursday in the Linkside neighborhood and managed to trap two more cats, thanks to the help of a local resident, Cameron. Two young males were delivered to Destin Cat Clinic early Thursday morning and returned home that same evening (ears cropped, neutered, and updated with all shots).

Trapping Activity Sept 7-8

2009-09-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

This week we spent a lot of time in the Linkside neighborhood, identifying the feral cat population and trapping. We trapped 3 unmarked feral cats Tuesday night which were delivered to the cat clinic. All three were female. Two (brown tabbies) had already been spayed so were given shot updates and their ears were cropped for easier identification. The third female (orange tabby) was spayed and given all shots.

Released Wednesday night Sept 9

To be released Sept 10th early AM

Released evening Sept 9th

All cats are doing well.

Trapping Activity Sept 5th

2009-09-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, the mother of the two recently rescued kittens was trapped near the south gate at Sandestin. She is a beautiful small cat and is very calm. She may have been abandoned when she was young.

Trapping Activity Sept 4th

2009-09-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Friday morning, Sandestin Security reported small kittens in the middle median of the South gate entrance. This is a high traffic area and a very dangerous place for any animal, much less 4 week old kittens. There were at least 3 kittens sighted and two were successfully caught by Anne Harriot, president of Feline Friends of Destin. We are still looking for another black kitten known to be in that area.
Here is a picture of the two kittens who are now in need of foster care and a future home:

Trapping activity Sept 2nd and 3rd

2009-09-02T15:55:00.001-07:00

Three kittens and a mother cat were trapped At the Sandestin Gateway condominium pool area. There are reported to be 2 more kittens in the area. Residents will keep an eye out for them and feed them.

Foster care is being arranged for the kittens in the hope that they will be adoptable in the near future. From left to right - girl, boy, girl.

Trapping Activity Sept 1st

2009-09-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Two adult cats were trapped near the Marina Tuesday evening. One female, had just recently been trapped and spayed, she was released after verification (cropped left ear).

The second black and white cat was deliver to Cat Clinic of Destin Wednesday morning. We were informed later that day that this male cat had been trapped and neutered the year before but his ear crop was not noticeable. His ear crop was made more obvious, he received a check up and got booster shots. He was released the afternoon of September 2nd.

Trapping Activity August 31st

2009-09-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

One small kitten was trapped Monday, August 31st near the SOA pool at Baypine. She was delivered to Destin Cat Clinic and found to have a laceration on her rear leg. She is on antibiotics and will stay at the vet until Thursday when she will be spayed.
We are hopeful that this young orange tabby will find a foster home and be available for adoption at PetSmart later on.

Trapping Activity Aug 25 - Aug 27

2009-08-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

On August 25th a small black male was trapped at Tivoli Terrace with the assistance of Merlin and Deanna Allan (Thanks you! Thank you!). He was delivered to Destin Cat clinic for examination, a full set of shots, and neutering. We returned him to Tivoli Terrace that evening. Forgot to get a picture of him...

On on the evening of August 25th we trapped a young black and white female at the Anchorage. She was held over night and delivered to the Cat Clinic for a checkup, shots, and spaying on August 26th. She was released at the Anchorage the morning of August 27th.

Trapping Activities August 17 through 19 - 2009 - updated

2009-08-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Update 8pm, August 19

Either through good intentions or malicious intent, the last gray kitten (anchorage gk3) was released from the trap and all surrounding traps were sprung, preventing us from attracting and trapping the mothers or the other offspring.

----------------------

A lot of time has been spent this week at the Anchorage in Sandestin trying to identify the feral cats and kittens that have been reported. At this point we know of 2 adult females that need to be trapped and fixed. We have counted 6 kittens.
As of this afternoon we have managed to trap 5 of the 6 kittens and all look young, healthy, and good candidates for foster and adoption. The kittens are solid gray (3) and solid black (2).

Linkside Trapping August 2009

2009-08-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

In early August two Orange tabby cats were trapped, neutered / spayed, and released. The trapping location was behind 467 Linkside Drive on the edge of the lake.

Male orange tabby

Female orange tabby

TNR activities Monday, April 6th

2009-04-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Traps were set around Baytowne Wharf and the Marina at 7am. Two cats were trapped early at the marina, both had small areas of white on their chests. After inspection, their ears were identified as notched so these cats were released.

Around 10am two additional cats were found in the traps. A medium hair brown tabby at La Jardin (Baytowne Wharf) and a short hair black and white cat (Marina).

Both cats were delivered to Destin Cat Clinic.

Baytowne Wharf TNR March 31

2009-04-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

One medium gray male tabby was trapped at Jim and Nicks and delivered to Vet. Returned the evening of March 31st. No photos available.

Kittens were turned in by individuals at Marina concession. Delivered to Vet and now in Feline Friends of Destin Foster care.

Baytowne Wharf trapping - March 30 AM

2009-03-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Four cats were caught, one was delivered to the vet, one escaped, two were released.
One fluffy tabby was spotted and photographed at the Grand - he has not been caught yet.

Coconut Kids - Black and white male, medium. Delivered to Destin Cat Clinic.
Marlin Grill - Solid Black female, small. ESCAPED.
Coconut Kids - Gray tabby with 4 white feet - already caught and ear notched. Released.
The Grand - Gray tabby, medium size. already caught and ear notched. Released.

TNR - March 27th Baytowne Wharf

2009-03-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

The following traps were set Friday morning at the Village:

2 - Jim & Nicks

1 - Coconut Kids

Due to the rain and cold, no cats were trapped. Traps were removed at 11am.

Altered cats trapped March 26th have both been returned to Baytowne Wharf.

These cats are still 'at large' and will hopefully be trapped next week:

Coconut Kids - Black and White Female

Jim & Nicks - Very large gray male tabby

A good video of the Very large tabby was recorded on March 25th and can be seen here:

TNR - March 26th - Baytowne Wharf

2009-03-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Three cats were trapped this morning at various locations around Baytowne Wharf:
Coconut Kids - 1 gray tabby with 4 white feet, male. Taken to VET
Jim & Nicks - 1 solid gray, female. Already had left ear notch - RELEASED
Cabo's - 1 Solid Black medium size, Female. Taken to VET

Pictures below:

Hampton Hogg

2009-03-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

A Short Article about Hampton's efforts to help Feral Felines in Sandestin (click on image to enlarge):

Baytowne Wharf Sightings

2009-03-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

These photos were taken between 10am and 11:30am, Sunday March 22nd:

The gray tabby around Marlin's grill (Mr Friendly) appears to be a neutered stray/abandon or might belong to a local homeowner. The small black cat came from under Cabo's restaurant. the cat eyes in the last photo belong to a heavy gray cat under Jim and Nicks (gray cat seen in video).

pictures taken:

Three videos were also recorded during this period.

Baytowne Wharf - Photos of feral cats

2009-01-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is a partial collection of the feral cats trapped in and around Baytowne Wharf from March 2009 until February 2010. Cats that were trapped and removed/adopted are not included in this photo collection. There are no photos available for the 3 cats trapped from May 2009 until August 2009.

All cats in these images currently have their left ears cropped for identification as spayed or neutered and have received all vaccinations for rabies, distemper, and feline HIV/FeLV.

Update Feb 1, 2010: Two cats near Cabos have been trapped and relocated to a farm in Central Walton county. These cats had been socialized over time by visitors and local employees and were not afraid of people. Still wild and likely to bite or scratch if touched, these cats had learned to approach people for food. They are both sterilized and up to date on all vaccinations. They will be help in a kennel for 21 days before being released in their new location where they will be fed and cared for.

Click on the image for a closer view and to print or read descriptions.

The 'Spay and Stay' Volunteers

2009-01-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

A few of our Volunteers...

Contact us if you'd like to help with the 'Spay and Stay' program. We're always in need of trappers, feeders, and foster homes!

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-01-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

Our community is participating in a volunteer program called “Spay and Stay” in an effort to control and reduce the outdoor cat population in the community. Our primary goal is to ensure that the cats living in our community are healthy and unable to reproduce. Here are some common questions about this program, with answers.

Why are we participating in this program?
* Over the past few years there has been a rapid increase in the number of feral and stray cats in our neighborhood. If this increase continues it will have a negative impact on the quality of life in Sandestin.
What is a feral cat, how would I recognize one, and can I pet it?
* A feral cat is a cat that has been abandoned or born in the wild and is no longer tame able. They act like any other wild animal.
* A feral cat looks like any other house cat but you would not be very successful trying to get near one and they should never be rubbing against your leg like a house cat. The feral cats who have been trapped and fixed by the "Spay and Stay" group will have a cropped left ear that can be recognized from many feet away.
* Do not approach or try to pet or handle a feral cat (fixed or not). They can be very dangerous when they feel cornered or threatened.
What is "Spay and Stay" and Trap-Neuter-Release?
* Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) is a national program where volunteers trap feral cats in a community and take them to the vet. At the vet the cats are examined, treated for fleas and worms, vaccinated, sterilized, and marked for identification through ear cropping and micro-chipping. The cats are then returned to the area where they were trapped and observed at local monitoring stations to make sure they stay healthy.
Who are the Volunteers?
* The volunteers who run the program in Sandestin are all Sandestin homeowners who care about their community and want to make sure it remains a great place to live. They work with the non-profit group Feline Friends of Destin to obtain discounted prices for Veterinarian services. Even with these discounts, it costs around $100 to trap and take care of each feral cat. The volunteers need your financial support to keep this program running so please consider a tax-deductible donation for a project that has a DIRECT impact on your quality of life.
Is this approach endorsed by the Sandestin Owners Association?
* TNR is, and has been endorsed by the SOA for over 10 years. It is the chosen method of feral cat population control in the common areas of Sandestin. The SOA encourages all associations to follow this approach. The SOA contributes annually to "Feline Friends of Destin" to support these ongoing efforts. The SOA 2009 budget gave $2,000 to the Feline Friends of Destin to help cover the veterinary expense of the program. In 2009, the SOA gave an additional $1,000 to help cover these expenses. The 2010 SOA budget will give the Feline Friends of Destin $2,000 to help cover these expenses. (verified with the SOA).
Is the Trap-Neuter-Release program used in other Sandestin neighborhoods?
* Many individual neighborhoods are currently actively participating in the "Spay and Stay" program including but not limited to: Linkside, Beachwalk ,Tivoli Terrace, Baytowne Village, The Anchorage, Deerwood, and Crystal Lake. Dozens of homeowners have also individually contacted Feline Friends for assistance. This accelerated Sandestin program has only been in place since September 2009 so this list is expected to grow to include most neighborhoods. Since September 2009, volunteers have trapped and spayed / neutered 75 cats. At an average of $100 per cat, additional financial support is requested from participating neighborhoods and concerned homeowners.
* There are no communities currently following the "Trap and Kill" philosophy in Sandestin.
When and how do you trap the cats?
* The volunteers normally trap mornings and late afternoons Monday through Thursday. We have access to vets Tuesday through Thursday each week and we never want to keep an animal in a trap longer than necessary. Except for special circumstances, we never trap on a weekend. We will normally notify your management company if we plan to be in your area trapping the following week.
* We use humane traps built especially for cats and set our traps for 2 – 3 hour periods. We cover the traps with towels so the animals are not agitated after being trapped. We never trap overnight.
* When an animal is trapped we take it to a safe place to rest before delivery to the vet. After surgery all cats spend the night in a garage with food and water before being released the next morning. In this way we ensure the animal has recovered completely from surgery.
At what age do you Spay / Neuter cats?
* After about 10-12 weeks of age, as long as the animal is at least 3 pounds in weight.
If we’re trying to reduce the number of cats in our neighborhood why are we trapping them then putting them back?
* Trap-Neuter-Release (the national program that we locally call "Spay and Stay") has been proven to be a more effective and humane solution than trap and remove for the following reasons:
1) If you trap and remove the cats, more cats eventually move in to replace the ones taken away. Sandestin is a great place to live and it appears we aren’t the only ones who know this!
2) When you use TNR to control the population you ensure that the animals are healthy and disease free and that they cannot reproduce. Neutered males will no longer exhibit the mating habits of spraying and fighting. Spayed females will no longer go into heat and attract other male cats.
3) Feral cat colonies are territorial. They will drive away most strange cats that come in from the outside.
4) We estimate that a feral cat lives an average of 5 years outdoors in Sandestin. Over time the size of the colony will be reduced.
Why can’t we just stop feeding the cats? Won’t the cats go somewhere else then?
* Cats are creatures of habit and are generally drawn to an area because they like it. There is shelter and food so they stay. Most of the cats around your neighborhood today were probably born there. If feeding were stopped in the central location, a few cats might leave but most would just plunder for food and become a nuisance. While they would not be getting fed regularly in a central location, they would probably be getting food intermittently from homeowners and guests. This creates a REAL problem because it forces the cats to get MORE FAMILIAR with humans in order to survive.
Will we ever get rid of ALL of the cats with this program?
* Outdoor feral cats will likely always exist in and around Sandestin primarily because of the mild climate here and the bad choices some pet owners make (abandonment and not sterilizing their pets). The best tool we have to manage the number of cats living with us is TNR. Beyond that, we must also educate cat owners about the importance of getting their own pets fixed, make sure they know the stray cats they feed MUST BE brought into the "Spay and Stay" program and, as a community, we must work hard to make pet abandonment a thing of the past.
How long will it take to get rid of half of the cats we see running around today?
* This is difficult to predict but a good estimate would be 3 to 5 years. It’s important to remember that if we do nothing the population will increase exponentially. A slow reduction is very attractive when you compare it to the potential rapid growth we are working hard to prevent.
I’ve heard feral cats spread diseases like rabies and I’m afraid of them. How can I keep my family safe?
* Cats can get rabies from other animals and transmit it to humans upon contact but it is highly unlikely. The CDC reported that from 1981 to 1999 there were 37 cases of humans with rabies. 22 from bats, 14 from dogs, and 1 from a skunk. By trapping and vaccinating all feral cats in your area we can ensure they will never present that problem. The cats all have part of their left ear cropped off and are micro-chipped for easy identification should we ever need to verify vaccination.
These cats seem wild, I’m afraid they will attack my young children / grandchildren.
* Most of the feral cats in your area are very afraid of humans even though they may lounge around on the sidewalks and grass in plain sight of you. When approached, these cats will run and will never attack a human unless cornered. You would never corner a raccoon or other wild animal – treat these cats the same way. Make sure the kids know this as well.
* If you meet a cat that is very friendly, CONTACT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY. A friendly cat could be a homeowner’s pet. These homeowners need to be reminded that it is Sandestin policy that all domestic cats be kept inside. A friendly cat may also be one that has been recently abandoned. These cats should be fostered and put into an adoption program.
The wild cats kill all of the birds.
* Feral cats do sometimes kill birds. They are excellent predators. However, a feral cat that is fed regularly will not make a habit of this and most healthy, adult birds are quite skilled at avoiding cats. A feral cat’s favorite prey is the rat or mouse. With the alarming number of rats we have on the Florida Panhandle, feral cats are not only tolerated but considered a necessity in many communities. They are also very happy to kill snakes. In this way their predatory habits may be considered an asset.
What if they have fleas and my dog gets them or the fleas get into my house?
* The cats are treated for fleas when they are trapped. We will periodically be putting flea control medicine in their food. This is another reason for a centralized feeding station. Not only are we able to monitor the population but we can effectively administer medication without trapping.
The cats like to sleep on my patio, window ledge, golf cart, car hood, etc. They also urinate in my flower bed and leave a bad smell. How can I make them stop doing this?
* There are many animal repellant sprays available at the pet store that can be sprayed on all surfaces like grass and pavement. Get Off My Garden (internet retailers) and Scoot Deer Repellant (Ace Hardware) are a few of the more reliable products.
* Moth balls, placed in a plastic container with holes in it will produce a strong smell that will last for some time. A few containers of these around the patio will work to keep the cats away. Please DO NOT put mothballs directly on the ground. They contain naphthalene, a toxic chemical that can be harmful or deadly to pets and small children. Mothballs dissolve into the soil when wet and they can kill your plants and seep into the water table.
* A few pieces of double-sided tape placed on a flat surface will discourage a cat from continuing to rest there.
* Coleus Canina is an attractive plant that cats dislike a lot. It is an annual that produces a small blue flower and requires little water.
* For flower beds, try coffee grounds, grated orange or lemon peel, or eucalyptus oil.
* Cats hate water. If you find them in a place you don’t want them to be, a garden hose or a spray bottle can be a great deterrent.
What can I do as a Homeowner to help make this program successful?
* Don’t feed the cats! By maintaining a centralized feeding station we can better monitor the cat population for changes.
* If you want to feed the cats you must be willing to do so every EVERY DAY and assist the TNR volunteers by periodically reporting the number, description and health of all cats that feed at your house. We welcome you assistance but this is not a part time job.
* Report any new cats, sick cats, strange cats, or kittens immediately. You can call your property manager or use the link on the web site.
* If you have a cat, keep it inside. Unless you can walk your cat on a leash like a dog, it belongs in t he house with you.
* Consider donating to this effort. Your financial contribution is critical to the continued success of the TNR program.

Thanks a Million!

2009-01-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

Wow - You're the best!

Thanks for helping us help the cats!

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