Giving Community Cats
a Fighting Chance
Albany, Georgia · Est. 2024
We advocate for the humane management of community cat populations through Trap-Neuter-Return, rescue, foster care, and adoption.
Who We Are
Helena's Community Cats is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Albany, Georgia, dedicated to the humane management and welfare of community cats — the free-roaming, unsocialized, and semi-socialized cats that live outdoors in our neighborhoods.
We believe that every cat deserves a chance. Our approach is science-backed and compassionate: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the most effective, humane method for stabilizing and reducing feral cat populations over time. Alongside TNR, we connect friendly cats and kittens with loving foster families and forever homes.
"Community cats are not a problem to be eliminated — they're a responsibility to be managed with care, compassion, and evidence-based solutions."
— Rebecca McCathern, Executive DirectorWhat We Stand For
Our Mission
To reduce community cat overpopulation through Trap-Neuter-Return, provide emergency rescue and foster care for cats in need, and build a humane, informed community around feline welfare in Southwest Georgia.
Our Vision
A Southwest Georgia where no cat suffers from overpopulation, where community members are empowered to act humanely, and where every adoptable cat finds a safe, loving home.
How We Help
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
We humanely trap community cats, have them spayed or neutered and vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, then return them to their outdoor home. TNR is the gold standard for stabilizing feral cat colonies over time.
Foster Care
Friendly cats and kittens who are not suited for outdoor life come into our foster network — volunteer homes that provide safe haven, socialization, and love until they're ready for adoption.
Rescue & Adoption
We rescue cats in crisis and work hard to find them permanent, loving families. Our adoption process is thorough and compassionate — matching cats with the right people for long-term success.
Community Education
We partner with neighbors, property managers, and local officials to share knowledge about humane cat management, responsible feeding station practices, and how to support community cat welfare.
Helena's Community Cats actively partners with licensed veterinarians in the Albany area to provide low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination services. We welcome inquiries from veterinary practices interested in collaborating on TNR clinics and community cat wellness.
Why Helena's Community Cats Exists
Helena's Community Cats was founded by Rebecca McCathern, a retired technology professional with 25+ years of experience who chose to redirect her second chapter toward purpose-driven work. Having spent her career navigating complex organizational systems, Rebecca recognized that the same principles — strategy, collaboration, persistence — applied to one of her deepest personal passions: the welfare of animals.
The need in Southwest Georgia was clear. Community cats lived in the margins — often misunderstood, rarely helped. Rebecca founded Helena's Community Cats to change that reality, bringing a structured, nonprofit approach to a cause that had long relied on the heroic but unsustainable efforts of individual rescuers and volunteers.
Today, Helena's Community Cats is building the infrastructure — the traps, the volunteer networks, the veterinary relationships, the donor base — to make a lasting difference for the cats of Albany and the surrounding region.
Visual Identity
When covering or featuring Helena's Community Cats, please use our official brand colors. Do not alter colors, stretch logos, or use unofficial images to represent the organization.
Official Boilerplate
Use this approved language when describing Helena's Community Cats in articles, press releases, or broadcast coverage.
Helena's Community Cats is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Albany, Georgia, dedicated to the humane management and welfare of community cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), rescue, foster care, and adoption. Founded by Executive Director Rebecca McCathern, the organization serves Southwest Georgia's cat population through evidence-based, compassionate programs and community education. For more information, visit helenascommunitycats.org.
- Feature stories on TNR and community cat welfare in Southwest Georgia
- Coverage of adoption success stories and foster family spotlights
- Kitten season awareness content (spring and fall)
- Stories on the role of nonprofits in addressing animal overpopulation
- Fundraising campaign announcements and event coverage
- Interviews with Executive Director Rebecca McCathern on feline welfare topics
- TNR is the most humane and effective method to manage community cat populations
- Community cats are a community responsibility — everyone can play a role
- Spaying and neutering saves lives by preventing future litters from being born into difficult circumstances
- Every dollar donated to Helena's Community Cats directly funds field operations, veterinary care, and supplies
- Fostering is one of the most impactful ways a community member can help
Get in Touch
We welcome media inquiries, interview requests, and partnership conversations. Our team responds promptly to press outreach.
Executive Director
Helena's Community Cats
For press, partnerships,
and general inquiries
Donate · Adopt · Volunteer
Foster · Learn
Southwest Georgia