Whiskers: Giving Second Chances To Cats In Need

Having been a lifelong lover (and owner) of cats, I have one rule for myself: Never spend time with adoptable cats if I’m not in the position to take one home. After meeting Jessica Vigos, founder and executive director of Whiskers, and some of the nonprofit’s adoptable kitties, I found it harder than ever to keep myself from putting in an application. Whiskers is a rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit that specializes in finding homes for senior and disabled cats, who make better companions than some may think. “I think that people are like, ‘Oh, it’s too scary,’ but if you have people who are willing to educate you and kind of hold your hand along the way, it can actually be really rewarding,” says Vigos, whose passion for overlooked cats is both undeniable and contagious.

“Our idea is to get them healthy, do their medical care, and make it so somebody from all walks of life can adopt a senior cat who has already had those things done and not have that upfront cost right away.”

Vigos was drawn to cats from a young age watching family members rescue and rehabilitate cats all around her. “I grew up with a grandma who would help stray kitties. I learned how to make winter houses for them, and we really took care of them,” Vigos says. After battling addiction and being on the receiving end of help and compassion, Vigos started volunteering for existing animal services. Eventually, she decided to turn her experience with and love for cats into her own animal rescue and nonprofit. Thus, Whiskers was born. “Giving back to the community was something that was really important to me,” Vigos says. “Helping animals in need really resonates with me because we give them second chances and at one point I needed a second chance, too.”

It’s no secret that adopting a cat can be expensive, especially for senior animals and animals with health issues that may need medications, special diets or extensive medical examinations. Unlike other nonprofits and adoption agencies, Whiskers aims to make adoption feasible for everyone of all backgrounds by covering many costs and procedures before putting their cats up for adoption. “[Some necessary procedures] can cost $2,000 at a regular vet, which prevents these cats from being adopted in our shelters. Our idea is to get them healthy, do their medical care, and make it so somebody from all walks of life can adopt a senior cat who has already had those things done and not have that upfront cost right away,” Vigos says.

Even after adopting from Whiskers, the resources don’t stop coming. The Whiskers team has armed their website with pages of support and information about how to care for different types of cats, all the way from kittens to stray and community cats. Whiskers even offers additional resources for specific adoptable cats. “All of our diabetic cats have been posted on our website, and we offer to pay for their insulin,” Vigos says. “We want to show people how to care for them, how to feed them, really hand-hold anyone who would be interested in them, and we have never received an application for them in four years.” A large part of Whiskers’ goal is to educate the community about these cats with special needs and to provide the support that helps get these wonderful cats a loving home. “When someone adopts from us, they are family for life,” Vigos says. “They can always reach out to us.”

“Helping animals in need really resonates with me because we give them second chances and at one point I needed a second chance, too.”

Many people don’t adopt senior and disabled cats because of the notion that their medical care will be too difficult or expensive to manage, but that often isn’t true (especially with the resources provided by Whiskers!). “It is very possible to take great care of senior cats and to have it not be daunting,” Vigos says. “The heartbreak is worth it, and what you receive by giving to them is life-transforming.”

To learn more about caring for cats in need and to choose the perfect pet for you, visit whiskersutah.org or find them at @whiskersutah on Instagram.

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