There are just too many cats and not enough homes – but one organization is stepping up to do something about it.

Monica Moussight started the Mighty Cat Coalition after seeing the problem close to home. “We started this work because there were cats in our own neighborhoods with no one else coming for them.”

“The need is clear,” said Moussight. “BARC, the city of Houston's shelter, took in 22,445 dogs and cats in 2025 and returned 980 cats to their neighborhoods through trap-neuter-return, according to the city's annual report. Statewide, Texas shelters would need to find homes for 32,000 more cats to reach no-kill status, according to Best Friends Animal Society's 2025 data, which also ranks Texas first in the nation for killing healthy, treatable pets in shelters. Each female cat we spay means fewer litters born outside next season, and that is why TNR [trap-neuter-rescue] matters.” Mighty Cat Coalition is a volunteer-run, foster-based cat rescue in west Houston's Energy Corridor, which works to reduce cat overpopulation through trap-neuter-return, rescue, medical care, fostering and adoption. A three-member volunteer board runs the organization, which has no paid staff, and every cat in the Mighty Cat program lives in a volunteer foster home until it is adopted.

The organization is based in the 77079 ZIP code and currently focuses on west Houston but is available to help with trap-neuter-rescue (TNR) needs in Katy as well. “We don't currently manage colonies in Katy, but we help Katy-area residents with community cats as needs come up,” said Moussight.

Mighty Cat Coalition is a rescue partner of the city of Houston's BARC Animal Shelter, which allows the group to pull at-risk cats from the shelter. “We focus on the cats that have the hardest time leaving on their own: seniors, medical cases, shy cats and cats that have been there a long time,” said Moussighi.

Volunteers foster cats, trap community cats, drive cats to vet appointments and staff Mighty Cat’s adoption events. About 75 people, counting board members, volunteers and foster

families participate in the program with about 20 of those approved for foster homes. Fosters provide daily care and medication, help shy cats get used to people and bring cats to adoption events. Mighty Cat Coalition covers the cats' veterinary care. To get involved, go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573210712408 or email mightycatcoalition@gmail.com. Mighty Cat Coalition Inc. was founded by Moussight and incorporated as a Texas nonprofit on May 13, 2026. The IRS recognized it as a 501(c)(3) public charity effective the same day. In its first year, volunteers have trapped, sterilized, vaccinated, ear-tipped and returned about 30 community cats. In October, SNIP International awarded the group with a grant of 2,000 British pounds (about $2,661) to pay for more sterilization surgeries through April 2027. The project has been made possible with the support of SNIP International. The organization also applied through Walmart's Spark Good Local Grants program, which lets local stores support nonprofits in their communities. The Walmart on FM 529 awarded $500 to the Mighty Cat Coalition in October, which will help pay for vaccines, spay and neuter surgeries, and vet care for local cats. Mighty Cat Coalition works with several low-cost clinics, including Special Pals, Houston Spay & Neuter and Houston Pets Alive, for the sterilization surgeries.

The group focuses on getting cats adopted when possible.

“Truly feral cats aren't adopted,” Moussight said. “They are happiest outdoors, so we sterilize, vaccinate and ear-tip them, then return them to their colony. During TNR, though, we often find friendly cats and kittens, usually abandoned pets or kittens young enough to learn to trust people. Those cats go to a foster home. Each one gets a vet checkup, a spay or neuter, vaccines, a microchip and testing for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, plus time to get comfortable with people. Then we list it for adoption.”

As of November 2, the Mighty Cat Coalition has recorded 35 adoptions this year. “About 28 cats are in our care now,” Moussight said. “We have paused new intake until more of them are adopted so we can focus on finding homes for every cat we have. In the meantime, we still help adopters take home cats directly from BARC, and we welcome applications from adopters outside the Houston area.”

PetSmart Charities approved Mighty Cat Coalition as an adoption partner Sept. 9. In late October, the Katy PetSmart at 19945 Katy Freeway, at Fry Road, agreed to host the organization and potential adopters can meet adoptable cats there most Fridays and Saturdays.

“The cats need homes, and you don't have to drive far to meet them,” Moussight said. “Readers can see our adoptable cats on our Facebook page or come see us at the PetSmart on Fry Road most Fridays and Saturdays.” The current adoption schedule is on the group’s Facebook page or at mightycatcoalition.org.

For more information or to request help with feral cat colonies, please contact mightycatcoalition@gmail.com.