Meow Ministry

04/26/2026

So sad to see so many homeless animals. Meow Ministry supports TNR to ease the rate of cat reproduction and overpopulation.

04/22/2026

Janine was recently hit by a woman while she was on a round of feeding. She fell backward and was seriously injured, breaking her hip and an arm. She was hospitalized for a week, and is now recovering at home. Meanwhile, Meow Ministry has dropped off dry food, cases of wet food, and several cat mats knitted at Messiah Lutheran Church. Janine's feeder fill-ins will not be empty handed. Please send healing vibes and prayers to her. 🙏💕

04/13/2026

Please share!

04/05/2026

There is never a lack of cute kittens!

04/03/2026

04/03/2026

Janine of Janine the Bean Rescue was recently attacked on April 1, while feeding a long-time colony of cats. A woman viciously attacked her, running up and smashing her face, followed by Janine falling and breaking a hip and a wrist. The Rochester Police were notified. This was unprovoked and outrageous, and justice needs to be served. Prayers for all involved, and help for these feral cats.

I’m writing this from the hospital after a very traumatic morning.

I was trying to help an animal, on my way into work, doing something I’ve done many times before—leaving the only food these cats (on Parsells Ave) would be able to eat for another 24 hours. Before I even reached the porch, of what I believed was a vacant house , a woman rushed out and violently attacked me. She smacked me as hard as she could on my face causing me to fall down an incline backwards onto the sidewalk, breaking my hip and wrist. I didn't even have time to say stop. I lay in the mud and pouring rain for 10 minutes before a man heard me and came to my aid..

I’m shaken, hurt, and honestly heartbroken for the four cats that will now not have food. No act of kindness should end this way.

Please be careful. And please remember—compassion should never be met with violence.

Ps, she told police I tripped and fell.
Pss, going into surgery soon.

03/14/2026

Cat-approved mats made by Messiah Lutheran in Greece. They are donated to local cat rescue groups.

02/16/2026

There's no room at the inn, so to speak. What can you do to help? Feel free to repost.

Yea! Please! Stop relying on rescues, we can't do it all!

02/11/2026

There are lots of good ideas out there for making shelters. These are vital especially during such a cold winter as we've been having.

01/16/2026

If only everyone loved animals this way.

Kitten

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Birthday to Carol Ann!

12/10/2025

Great job making these shelters!

❄️🐈 DIY WINTER CAT SHELTER: A Cheap & Easy Way to Save Lives! 🏠❄️

Cold weather is here, and community cats need a warm place to sleep. You can build a high-quality shelter for almost $0 using recycled materials! Here is the step-by-step guide to building the shelter shown in the photo.

🛠️ THE MATERIALS

Styrofoam Shipping Cooler: (Thick walled is best!)

Where to get them: Ask local pet stores or fresh seafood markets if they have discarded shipping coolers. Checking their disposal areas or "dumpster diving" are great ways to find them for free!

Insulation: STRAW (Not hay! Hay absorbs moisture and freezes; straw repels moisture).

Covering: Black EPDM pond liner (Best for heat absorption/durability) OR Heavy-duty Black Contractor Bags (Great budget option!).

Base: 2x4 scrap wood or bricks.

Weights: Landscaping pavers or heavy bricks.

Duct Tape.

📝 INSTRUCTIONS

1. PREP THE BASE Place your wooden boards or bricks on the ground. Make sure they are flat and level. This elevates the shelter off the frozen ground, which is crucial for keeping the interior warm.

2. PREPARE THE COOLER

Cut a 6-inch entrance hole on one of the long sides (towards the corner, not the center, to reduce drafts).

Fill the bottom loosely with straw for bedding.

Put the lid on tight and seal the entire seam where the lid meets the box with duct tape to keep wind out.

Use duct tape to reinforce the edges of the entrance hole so the styrofoam doesn't crumble or scratch the cat.

3. WRAP & COVER

Cover the top and 3 sides (leaving the front open) with your black plastic or EPDM liner.

Why black plastic? It helps waterproof the box and absorbs heat from the sun during the day! ☀️

Budget Tip: If you can't afford pond liner, thick black contractor trash bags work great.

4. WEIGHT IT DOWN

Place a heavy landscaping paver directly on top of the shelter. This holds the plastic in place and keeps the shelter from blowing away.

Extend the plastic flaps to the ground on the sides and weight them down with extra bricks/pavers.

5. LOCATION Place the shelter in a spot protected from the wind if possible.

***A plastic cat flap can be cut, and all sides covered with plastic in extreme environments.

♻️ SHARE THIS POST to help others keep kitties warm this winter!