Veterinarians, vet technicians, practice managers, rescuers, behaviorists, nutritionists, trainers, volunteers, and other animal professionals are the backbone of pet ownership. Helping pets and their families live in harmony and health together.
Catster wants to highlight some of these underrated champions of the animal world—what we like to refer to as Heroes of The Pet World.
We interview some of the most inspiring veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, and rehabilitation organizations around the world to share all the wonderful and often brutal experiences they face while working to help , heal, guide, revive, and protect our furry family members.
These are the stories of unsung animal superheroes!
Let’s meet the Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary in Faribault, Minnesota!
Mission
In your own words, what is the mission and purpose of Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary?
The mission of FFCS is to provide a safe sanctuary for cats that are once viewed as unwanted pests and whose lives are in danger. We aim to take in homeless feral unsocialized cats (at imminent risk) that regular rescues cannot accept. We get these animals only from professional trappers that we partner with. After they are thoroughly examined, they are allowed to live comfortably in our sanctuary. If possible, let’s socialize them so they can be adopted out to a forever home. We also educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering outside feral cats they may be keeping around their own homes.
What is your individual mission or goal, as a veterinary professional and as a person?
My mission is to provide low-cost or free spay and neuter surgeries to decrease the number of stray and suffering cats. This will result in less need for feral cat sanctuaries across the board and reduce the number of kittens born that rescue organizations are currently struggling to deal with.
Everyday Experience
What is it like to be a veterinary professional in Faribault, Minnesota, and the Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary?
Very well cared for cats who lived in survival mode and now live in luxury. When a cat realizes they are safe and begins to accept human touch and love, it makes all the hard emotional and physical work worth it.
How big is your team?
We have a team of 5 full-time employees, 2 part-time employees, and about 40 dedicated volunteers who have rearranged their lives to care for sanctuary cats.
Do you have staff shortages and how do you deal with them?
When there is a shortage, our dedicated team members step in to help cover it. Our volunteers are very passionate about the cats in our care.
How many animals on average do you help each week?
That’s a tricky question. We are contacted dozens of times each day by people who want us to adopt their “friendly” cats. These animals are not used to living in a colony environment and will not be happy in our sanctuary! If it’s a dire emergency and a cat’s life is in danger, we do our best to help them find a solution.
Challenges and Rewards
What is the most difficult part of your job? How do you handle euthanasia and patient loss?
Saying “no” because we have to comply with our conditional use permit that limits the number of cats. This makes it extremely difficult emotionally. We strive to help every cat in dire need and the pressure to stay within our allotted numbers is sometimes a factor in whether or not we can help a cat’s case. There is no animal control in our area so we are often that way for cat situations in Faribault and surrounding communities. Many times the call for help is a case call with 20+ cats in need of a safe place and medical attention.
What are some of the biggest challenges your organization faces?
Indeed the biggest challenge is educating the public to be part of the solution. If every person feeding a cat outside made sure to spay or neuter it, the calls we would receive would be greatly reduced. We understand that cost is a big factor, which is why the next chapter is adding an on-site veterinary clinic to help.
What is the most rewarding part of doing what you do?
To see our cats happy. Watching a formerly “feral” cat play like a kitten lets us know that we are doing a great service for these cats. Being able to adopt a formerly feral cat into a loving home is very rewarding. In 2023 alone, we had 367 successful adoptions!
What are some accomplishments or specific animals that have made a big impact on you as a person or on your team?
Sadly, cats came to us as emaciated, sick, unwanted pests that fueled our fires and took their toll on us. “Jonni” was a very sick intact stray female cat who literally starved to death. He eats sticks and stones for a living! He came to us so weak that he couldn’t be spayed for a few months until he was healthy enough for anesthesia. Jonni learned to trust and love people and we were able to place him in a loving forever home. Another example is “Fernando” and unfortunately, he came to us too late. He was too thin and sick to live and have any quality of life. He was euthanized at the recommendation of our vet. Situations like this are fuel for our fire to end the suffering of homeless cats.
tomorrow
What are Furball Farm Cat Sanctuary’s main goals for the future?
We will continue to educate the public about the importance of ending the suffering of homeless cats through spaying and neutering. We have sterilized over a thousand cats since our “Spay it Forward” program started with the generous contribution of Dr. Beverly Stephenson in 2022. We recently received permission to add a veterinary clinic to the area where we will offer low cost. and free spay and neuter surgeries to low-income residents and farmers.
How can the general public help make your life easier?
Donating financially to our wonderful organization helps reduce stress. We are not supported by any government organization and survive only on public donations. Caring for over 350 cats AND funding a brand new veterinary clinic is a monumental task. We are for it because we know we can make a big difference.
Stories
What are some of the funniest or craziest pet names you’ve come across?
Our current mascot, Will, is an angry, crabby, scary, ferocious food cat. He will hide in a cat tower and come out and smack people if they get too close. We affectionately refer to him as Oscar the Grouch, as if he came out of a garbage can. It took a year to calm him down and now he is 100% petable and loves humans!
How to Help
If someone wants to visit, join, support, or volunteer with your organization, where can they find more information and get in touch?
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, making live videos with our cats throughout the day. You can also watch our cats for free on Twitch 24/7 at furball_farm for our cat therapy method. Our website is FurballFarmCatSanctuary.com which has information about the sanctuary as well as our wish lists, our online store with Furball merchandise, how you can volunteer, and various ways you can donate to our cause.
Our 14,000 square foot sanctuary is also open to visitors 365 days a year from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time to help the public interact with the cats. We also have an Airbnb, Furball Farm Inn that hosts guests from all over the world and is adjacent to the sanctuary. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the Furball experience!
Anything else you’d like to say to the cat community?
Please be part of the solution to stop the suffering of outdoor cats. Feeding IS breeding…. Breeding is suffering. Find a way to spay and neuter homeless cats in your area, there are many options available if you contact rescue organizations in your location. We will be one for our area hopefully in 2025! thank you!
