Sister Kitten does trap-neuter-return program in Bryson City

Hannah Styles

hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com

Have you ever heard the saying “it’s like herding cats,” when something is difficult? That’s exactly what Eric Phelps of Sister Kitten Animal Rescue does on a daily basis.

Sister Kitten Animal Rescue (SKAR) has been serving western North Carolina since it was founded in 2019. The mission is to improve animal lives and the public’s perceptions of animals, by focusing on supporting “community” cats and “outdoor” dogs, according to their website.

Sister Kitten rescues and rehomes abandoned and neglected animals, provides trap-neuter-return (TNR) for community cats that are too timid to be rehomed.

Eric Phelps is the founder and Executive Director of Sister Kitten Animal Rescue.

“We are doing positive population control for these community cats. Once kittens reach a certain age of being on their own, they are no longer adoptable because they are too feral. They would either be put in a shelter and never get adopted or be put down, so we feel this is a much better alternative where they get to have a quality of life,” Phelps said.

Phelps returned a dozen cats to downtown Bryson City on Friday, April 22, where they live across from the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium in Martin De Bord’s salvage yard, where he feeds and cares for them. Mike and Joan Glover, aquarium assistant Kerry, and neighbors who live nearby also look after the cats.

“We trap the cats and we take them to Asheville to be spayed or neutered and they receive all of their vaccinations, including rabies, before they are returned back to their homes,” Phelps said.

For over 30 years, Eric has worked with nonprofit organizations across the country to build community cat programs, lead rapid response efforts and educate the public in a range of animal rights and rescue issues, according to SKAR’s website.

The organization also fosters animals for adoption, provides veterinary care, and helps caregivers in the community. They also respond to weather-related emergencies in the Southeast and help animal rescue efforts.

Phelps took 15 cats to be spayed/neutered and to get their shots. One was friendly enough to be adopted, so he was placed in a foster home. One unfortunately passed during surgery, and one was waiting to be fixed earlier this week. All 12 of the cats returned seemed to be happy to be home and they frolicked around their kitty community. They expect there to be about four more cats that Phelps will be coming back to trap-neuter-return.

Sister Kitten works with the ASPCA’s Spay/Neuter Alliance in Asheville but there are not enough appointments to keep up with the need, so Phelps said Asheville Veterinary Associates West helps the organization tremendously, especially with cats who are injured or have dental problems.

To find out how to help your local cat communities or donate to Sister Kitten’s mission visit www.sisterkitten.org/how-to-help/.