People sometimes ask how the feeding operations actually work.
It's a fair question. You support us, you receive photos every month — but what happens in between?
Here's a quick look behind the scenes.
Before We Go Out
Everything starts with preparation.
We get the food ready — sometimes bags of kibble, sometimes chicken and rice, depending on what's available and what the cats in each area need. Everything is portioned and packed before anyone leaves.
Our local partners know the routes. They know the spots where cats wait. Some locations have been regular stops for months. The cats there have learned that food comes. They expect it now.
Other spots are newer. Found when someone notices a group of cats in a place that wasn't on the route before. The map keeps growing.
On the Ground
The feeding runs take us to places most people walk past without noticing.
Behind markets. Under bridges. Near abandoned buildings. Along quiet roads outside of town. Wherever cats have gathered and learned to survive.
Some cats recognize the routine. They hear the sound of the bags or the footsteps and start moving closer. These are the ones who've been fed before. They know what's coming.
Others are more cautious. New cats. Cats who haven't learned yet that this is safe. They hang back, watching, waiting to see what happens.
In these cases, we have started using small, manually modified electric carts to deliver food remotely and avoid scaring the kittens.
The Feeding
We put down bowls or pour food directly on the ground.
Then we step back.
This part is important. Some cats eat immediately — they're hungry and they trust the situation. Others need space. They won't approach until we've moved further away.
We don't rush them. We don't try to touch them or get closer for a better photo. We let them eat at their own pace.
Sometimes a cat finishes and looks up, just for a second, before walking off. Sometimes they stay nearby, waiting to see if there's more. Sometimes they disappear before we even see where they went.
Every feeding is a little different.
After
Once the cats have eaten, we take photos.
Not for marketing. For you
So you can see the moments your support made possible. Real cats, real locations, real meals.
Some photos are clear. Some are blurry because a cats moved. Some have bad lighting because we're under a bridge or it's getting dark. We send them anyway, because they're real.
That's what the monthly updates are — proof that this is happening.
That's It
Simple. Consistent. Real.
No fancy setup. No complicated process. Just food, cats, and people showing up regularly to make sure those cats eat.
Your support is what makes it possible to keep showing up. To keep the routes going. To keep adding new spots when we find more cats who need help.
Thank you for being part of this.
Want to help fund more feeding runs?
Every piece from our collection helps us provide 10 meals to abandoned cats.
— The Paw Sanctuary team