Traps to Laps: A Life-Saving Shelter Diversion Program Reshaping Feral Cat Rescue

In the heart of Texas, where compassion meets innovation, a groundbreaking initiative is revolutionizing the way we rescue and rehome feral cats. Traps to Laps (TTL), spearheaded by the dedicated Chiquita Taylor, is making a profound impact on Houston’s feline community by offering a sustainable, life-saving alternative to overcrowded shelters.

A Community United for Feral Cats

Through an extensive network of animal rescue groups, veterinarians, foster families, and adoption partners, Taylor has cultivated a passionate team of volunteers determined to give feral kittens a second chance. Operating under S.A.V.E. Rescue Coalition, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, TTL has become a beacon of hope for Houston’s most vulnerable cats. Since its launch in April 2024, the program has successfully rescued, vetted, and sterilized over 100 kittens—each one saved from the harsh realities of street life and now either in the care of adoption organizations or placed with loving families.

“All of these little ones would have grown up to be ferals, reproducing or struggling to survive,” said Taylor, who also serves as the Fix Ur Pet Community Outreach Director, overseeing six animal welfare initiatives, including TTL. “Thanks to our dedicated fosters and adoption partners, these kittens are now out of the baby-making business and on their way to happy, healthy lives.”

A Unique Shelter Diversion Model

TTL is not just a rescue program—it’s a shelter diversion initiative that keeps kittens and friendly adult cats out of overcrowded shelters. The program significantly curtails the feral cat population while ensuring that these animals receive the care and socialization they need to thrive in adoptive homes.

“Traps to Laps is unique because we empower finders to foster the litters they discover,” Taylor explained. “Our motto is ‘Help us, help you.’ In cases where this isn't possible, we work to secure additional fosters.”

TTL field technicians visit foster homes every two weeks, providing assessments, vaccinations, and essential treatments. Once the kittens reach 12 weeks of age and the required weight for sterilization, they are spayed/neutered before entering local adoption programs to find their forever families.

Expanding the Movement

Taylor envisions TTL as a replicable model for communities across the country. “If other organizations adopt our Shelter Diversion Program, we can dramatically reduce feral cat overpopulation, save countless lives, and free up shelter space for other animals in need,” she emphasized.

How You Can Help

As a nonprofit, TTL relies on grants and donations to cover medical expenses, sterilization surgeries, food, litter, and other supplies. The program partners with several reputable rescue organizations, including S.A.V.E. Rescue, League City Pets Alive, Lifeline of Galveston County, Lone Star Pawz, Second Chance Pets, and Three Little Pitties Rescue.

Individuals, businesses, and special interest groups can support TTL by sponsoring a kitten or an entire litter—an opportunity that includes naming the kittens and receiving progress updates from intake to adoption.

To learn more about Traps to Laps, explore ways to bring this model to your community, or make a donation, visit their official Facebook page at Traps to Laps or email outreach@fixurpet.com. Contributions can also be made at saverescue.org/donate with the memo: TTL.

By working together, we can transform the fate of feral kittens—one rescue, one foster, and one adoption at a time.