About

Services

We support homeless outside cats via the effective, humane TNR (trap-neuter-return) approach. OCC also provides cat food and some minor medical assistance to homeless outside cats.

For adoptions, please contact our partners on our Partners page.

Schedule an appointment

Operation Community Cats

OCC is actively working on new solutions for spaying, neutering, vaccinating, feeding, and providing medical care for homeless outside cats at low cost.

We partner with veterinary clinics and shelters in our area to make spaying and neutering cats affordable for caregivers. We provide funding for Spay Neuter Idaho Pets’ Feral Fridays and Idaho Humane Society’s SPOT clinic in Boise, to name a few.

In addition, we currently have an arrangement with the Idaho Humane Society (IHS) SPOT clinic that allows caregivers to bring feral cats directly to the IHS clinic and OCC will cover the cost of the spay/neuter surgeries. Schedule appointments by calling (208) 331-3985 or email Ewest@idahohumanesociety.org.

Mission

We safely trap outdoor cats using humane methods and equipment.

Vision

A world where all cats live safely inside, and every kitten born can find a loving home.

History

Operation Community Cats (OCC) is an Idaho 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our community, or outside, cat program was founded in early 2019. We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing Humane TNR (trap-neuter-return) for lost, abandoned, stray, and feral cats to reduce the overpopulation of community cats.

In response to a growing need for affordable high-volume feline spay/neuter services, Operation Community Cats coordinated and funded new clinics. Our most recent was the OCC Clinic with the Viking Veterinary Hospital team based out of West Valley Humane Society’s surgical facility. We continue to hold clinics at other facilities.

Operation Community Cats volunteers bring with them countless years of experience in TNR and have helped many southwest Idaho caregivers with their feral colonies.

Our Board of Directors

Shelly Khir-Ott

President/Treasurer

Shelly works as a school-district librarian in Parma. She lives with her husband, Said Khir, and together they care for their Macaw parrot, dogs, and, of course, cats.

Aside from the many years Shelly spent teaching high school, she was also a winemaker, a stained-glass worker, and a television
producer/director. In addition, Shelly holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Idaho. When Shelly has free time, she skis or kayaks.

Lou Ann Gaskell

Vice President

Lou Ann owns Flying Fur Cat Grooming, a feline exclusive salon in Meridian. She worked previously as a software engineer at HP. Twenty years ago, she began volunteering with the Idaho Humane Society doing TNR, managing traps, and scheduling feral cats for surgery. Her family includes her husband, two daughters, a granddaughter, and a grandson. Lou Ann lives with seven cats, a Shorkie dog, and four Morgan horses. Animals have been a passion of hers from an early age.

Amber Rumpel

Interim Secretary

Amber (photo coming soon) is a seasoned community cat advocate currently serving as the Operation Community Cats, interim secretary and clinic supply manager. With over 14 years of dedicated TNR. and kitten rescue/rehabilitation, Amber is passionate about the critical importance of spay/neuter programs and sharing her experienced feline knowledge. She joined the board to support the mission and help further OCC’s impact in the valley. In her free time, Amber enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family.