A Wooster man who admitted to killing 17 cats using a makeshift gas chamber has been sentenced to just six months of probation. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to five counts of cruelty to companion animals and one count of petty theft.

The OAA recommended book of the month is Two Frisky Kittens: How to Count High Real Quick by Robin Lapre! This playful yet impactful children’s book highlights the real-life consequences of cat homelessness, environmental impact, and shelter overcrowding — all told through catchy rhymes and heartfelt illustrations.

On a bustling Saturday in Gainesville, Florida, the team at Operation Catnip pulled off an extraordinary feat: spaying and neutering 500 cats in a single day. The high-volume clinic, hosted at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, marked a major milestone—100,000 community cats fixed since the organization’s founding in 1998.

The OAA recommended book of the month is The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham. This book tells the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who, amid the Syrian Civil War, courageously offered safe haven to Aleppo’s abandoned cats. The story follows Alaa through the war-torn streets as he uses the little money he earns from his job as an ambulance driver to buy food and supplies for the cats.

Cats are now part of the story.

While avian influenza (H5N1) has long been a threat to bird populations, a disturbing development has emerged: domestic cats across multiple U.S. states have tested positive for the virus. For shelters, rescues, community cat groups, and access-to-care clinics, this means shifting protocols, staying informed, and protecting both animals and staff.

As the United Spay Alliance State Leader for Ohio, we’re proud to introduce a powerful new message we’re embracing across the country: Fix For Life.

At its core, this is more than a tagline—it’s a call to action. Because fixing isn’t just a procedure—it’s a promise. A promise of health, safety, and compassion for every animal in every community.

At the University of Dayton (UD), a group of passionate students is proving that compassion and community can make a real difference for animals in need. Paws with Claws, UD’s first student organization dedicated to cat advocacy, has already helped nine community cats find safety, medical care, and loving homes since launching in 2024.

Stray cats. Community cats. Problem cats. Neighborhood nuisances. However you refer to them, they exist almost everywhere. In some places they are more prevalent than others: one such place Sabina, Ohio.

On this episode of United We Spay, Vicki Deisner from Ohio Animal Advocates and community cat management expert Dan Spehar address this question through the lens of affordable spay-neuter services. Their conversation with Stacy underscores these initiatives’ critical role in managing overpopulation and fostering collaboration between citizens and local governments. Dan offers compelling insights into the humane effectiveness of trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, highlighting the Together Initiative for Ohio’s Community Cats as a successful model for stakeholder empowerment and local action.

By now, many in the Gahanna, Ohio community have heard the heartbreaking news: several outdoor cats were poisoned last summer—and again in December—with necropsy results confirming the presence of both rat poison and antifreeze in at least one cat's system. But despite these findings, no charges have been filed.

Massachusetts has officially banned the practice of cat declawing, marking a significant victory for animal advocates who have long argued against the procedure’s inhumane nature. Governor Maura Healey signed the bill into law on January 10, 2025, making Massachusetts the third state in the U.S. to outlaw declawing, following New York and Maryland.

As winter approaches, it’s essential to make sure our community cats have a warm, safe, and comfortable place to call home. These outdoor cats face the challenges of colder temperatures, wind, and snow, making it crucial that we provide them with shelter to weather the season. In this two-part series, we'll be sharing expert tips from Louise on how to create winter shelters and provide effective care during the colder months.