Cat Wranglers gearing up for purr-fect fundraiser

KELLOGG — It's that time of the year again, spring has sprung, and the Silver Valley’s feral feline population is heading toward a stray cat-astrophe.  

Fortunately, this also just so happens to be the time each year when the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers hold their silent auction fundraiser, and for one night only, the Dirty Dog Saloon becomes the Dirty Kitty Saloon.  

The Cat Wranglers are a nonprofit group working on the frontlines of Shoshone County’s battle against the feral cat population.  

Wrangler President Rene Gilbert said that last year the group spent over $20,000 spaying and neutering cats it took in – roughly $2,500 more than the group had available to it. 

“We handle trapping stray or feral cats, getting them transported over the hill for medical treatments,” Gilbert said. “We collect food and other supplies and distribute it throughout the community. It’s really a big group effort, and we only have so many people.” 

Last year, the group had achieved something it never thought it could. It had adopted all the kittens it had taken in, cleared several hording situations and was seeing the success of its spay and neuter programs paying off.  

“Then came May, and suddenly we went from zero to 50 in what felt like a heartbeat,” Gilbert said. "Two litters and five adults up Moon Gulch, a mom and six kittens in Mullan, kittens left on Pinecreek Road, another two litters in Smelterville. In Pinehurst, it was the same story. A volunteer trapping cats in Coeur d’Alene came in with six kittens and no mom. Companion Animals had no room. No one would take them.”  

This influx required the group to spend a large portion of its annual budget. It was able to ride out the rest of the year on its remaining funds, but as costs continue to increase, so does the need. 

The Cat Wranglers try to utilize the services of the local Silver Valley veterinary clinics but also understand how busy the clinics are. 

“We are so thankful for our local veterinarians,” Gilbert said. “We receive so many calls of ‘my cat’s sick’ or ‘my cat’s pregnant’ and they are always so willing to help however they can.”    

Last year, the group was responsible for fixing over 100 cats from the Silver Valley area. This also included getting them vaccinated, microchipped and then adopted.  

This year, Gilbert anticipates another $20,000 will be needed to keep the cat population in check, and that’s where having a successful fundraiser comes into play. Each year, the group has been able to raise roughly $5,000.

The Dirty Dog Saloon always donates the proceeds from the night’s drink sales, which Gilbert and fellow Wrangler Juli Zook hope will get people to loosen the purse strings during the silent auction.  

“The local businesses and community members have been so wonderful in supporting us over the years,” Zook said. 

Donations for the auction are being accepted. For more information, you can contact the Silver Valley Cat Wranglers at 208-446-7131, Juli Zook at 208-659-1764, or Rene Gilbert 208-512-2173.   

The Silver Valley Cat Wranglers' annual silent auction fundraiser is 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Dirty Dog Saloon in Kellogg.