Animal lovers in Wichita Falls are coming together to support a new effort to help homeless kittens. Local volunteer Stephanie Mescher, who has worked with various animal shelters and rescues for years, is now organizing a community supply drive to support kitten care in the city.
Helping Kittens in Need
Stephanie Mescher has spent many years helping animal shelters and rescue groups in Wichita Falls. After seeing how tough the situation has become for kittens—especially during spring and summer—she decided to take action.
“Every year, I feel like the numbers are getting worse. There are so many cats that aren’t spayed or neutered, and I hate feeling helpless,” Mescher said. “This drive is something I can do to help. The more supplies we collect, the more lives we can save.”
What Supplies Are Needed?
Mescher explained that spring and summer are busy seasons for kitten births, and rescues get overwhelmed. The kittens often arrive without mothers, which makes caring for them more difficult.
The most needed items include:
- Wet kitten food
- Kitten formula
- Bottles and syringes for bottle-feeding
- Heating pads to keep kittens warm
- Cat beds and soft blankets
- Chicken or turkey baby food (for kittens starting to eat solid food)
- Cat toys to help them play and socialize
These supplies will help rescues take better care of newborn and young kittens until they are ready for adoption.
Who Will Receive the Donations?
All the supplies will be shared between three local groups:
- Fanny’s Friends
- Emily’s Legacy Rescue
- City of Wichita Falls Animal Services
Each of these organizations works hard to care for stray or abandoned animals, and Mescher says their work wouldn’t be possible without strong community support.
Community Response Has Been Incredible
Stephanie shared that the community has already started helping in a big way.
“So many people have just been awesome. I’ve already had people dropping off supplies to me directly. Businesses are saying they’re receiving more donations. The community support means everything, and honestly, no rescue group can do this work alone,” she said.
She also highlighted how important it is to foster kittens and help spread the word about adoptable pets in the area. “Even just sharing a post or offering to foster helps so much,” she added.
Where and When to Donate
If you’d like to help out, you can donate supplies at the following Wichita Falls businesses:
- Orthopedic & Sports Therapy Center
- Back To Basix Massage
- Mode Hair Utopia
- Taft Counseling Center
- Next Level Golf
- Ducky’s Doggie Delights at the Farmers Market
The deadline to drop off donations is June 1.