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By RACHEL RAIFORD | Staff Writer 

Rescuing and safeguarding the lives of felines, The Country Cattery opens up foster homes across the state to provide safe, nurturing homes to cats in their care. 

Sisters Terry Bruno and Tracy Leigh, the president and vice president of The Country Cattery, have been working with their team of volunteers to bring hundreds of cats in to go to safe homes. 

They have various programs through the Cattery in order to help local pets and strays. Although they’re based in Shelby County, their program Purrs for Seniors has made a mark on pet owners across Alabama. 

“Giving an older person something to care for is a blessing to them,” Bruno said. “It allows them to have a purpose and tend to something other than themselves. There are studies that show that seniors who own pets have improved mental health and are overall more active.” 

Through the Purrs for Seniors program, people over the age of 62 have the opportunity to adopt an older cat to care for. The Country cattery provides a starter set of food, litter and other necessities to care for the animal. 

“We provide as much as possible for them,” Leigh said. “We send the cats to their new homes fully vetted, so the seniors don’t have to worry about that.” 

The fee for Purrs for Seniors is $50. This is a small fee that aids in caring for each animal they have had the opportunity to take in for placement. 

In addition to their Purrs for Seniors program, The Country Cattery also has a program known as the Pawsitive Impact Project. 

When the Cattery’s rescue ventures first began more than ten years ago, they started providing Trap, Neuter and Release services which help maintain the population of stray felines. 

“The Pawsitive Impact Project offers low cost spay/neuter for low-income families,” Bruno said. “It takes that financial burden away from those that can’t spare the extra.”

Bruno and Leigh believe that this is a small way to not only help families in the community, but also keep stray cat numbers low and keep the animals healthy. 

“With our Program–the rabies vaccination and surgery–comes out to be only $50,” Bruno said. 

Along with their team, Bruno and Leigh have been working diligently to spread the word about their programs. 

On Saturday, Aug. 10,  they will partner with Siluria Brewing Company to host Craft Cat-urday, which will run from 4–7 p.m. Pet supply donations will be accepted, and there will be felines available for adoption. 

On Saturday, Oct. 19, The Country Cattery will host a silent auction to raise money for their programs. The event will feature entertainment from Three on a String from 6–8 p.m. Proceeds will go toward Purrs for Seniors and the Pawsitive Impact Project. 

The Country cattery is always looking for volunteers to foster, and potential new families looking to adopt a furry friend. 

For those interested in learning more about The Country Cattery, their adoption process and their programs, visit Thecountrycattery.com.