Our story

It started with someone else's kindness

Paul Drake moved into an apartment on Woodleigh Street where a neighbor was already feeding a handful of stray cats — leaving out food, keeping an eye on who was new, who was hurt, who needed help. When she could no longer keep it up, Paul didn't want the cats to go hungry, so he took over.

That was the beginning. Word spread through the kitty network — the quiet, informal way cats and the people who look after them find each other — and more cats kept showing up. Paul kept feeding them. Over time, what started as picking up where a neighbor left off turned into something steadier and more official: Paul became a registered colony manager with BARC, the City of Houston's animal shelter and animal-control agency, and made the cats of Woodleigh Street his ongoing responsibility.

He's spent his spare time since then caring for the colony and talking to neighbors about TNR — trap, neuter, return — and why it matters. TNR keeps a colony from growing out of control and lets the cats already living there live out their lives without adding more kittens to a hard life on the street. Every cat in our colony has been through it. They're all fixed, and you can spot them by their ear tip, the small notch that marks a cat as already sterilized.

Daily care

Caring for a colony isn't a once-in-a-while thing. Our cats are fed twice a day, every day, rain or shine. We keep watch for anything that looks off — a limp, a runny eye, weight loss, a new scrape — because catching a problem early is often the difference between a quick vet visit and a real crisis. Regulars like Earl and Phil have been part of the colony for a long time now, and we know them well enough to notice when something's wrong. It's not glamorous work. It's just showing up, twice a day, for as long as it takes.

The silver years

Some cats get old on Woodleigh Street. When they do, something special happens: they retire.

A cat who has spent years outdoors, fixed and fed and watched over, eventually moves indoors into Paul's own apartment. No more weather, no more waiting for feeding time — just a warm place to sleep and someone who already knows them well. It's the part of this work we're proudest of. These cats didn't ask to end up outside, and they don't have to end their lives there either.

Who we are

Paul Drake, President — the one who took over the feeding when a neighbor couldn't anymore, and kept it going ever since as a registered BARC colony manager.

Katrina Ellsworth, Board — she's built for the colony with her own hands, including an insulated cat cottage, a weather shelter, and flowerbeds planted with catnip.

Bob Morgan, Board — a steady presence on our board, helping keep the Woodleigh Cats going.

Get involved

You don't need to be a cat person to help — you just need to care. Follow us on Facebook, spread the word about TNR in your own neighborhood, or reach out if you've spotted a cat on Woodleigh Street that needs help. If you'd like to pitch in another way, every dollar goes straight to food and vet care.

Find us on Facebook, or reach out directly at drake9930@gmail.com.