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Don's Custom Catios and Help for Hire, Puyallup, WA (2026)

09/06/2026

Dang that's pretty!

This is George the only one of my 8 colony kitties that I can actually touch.

And sometime in the past few months? He disappeared for a few days.

Then came home with a nasty wound on his neck!

Which is now downright pretty looking! Fortunately with being able to touch him and pick him up.

Getting him into a vet right away was nice and easy.

Because it's EXTREMELY HARD to find one that will even deal with a feral.

So had it been one of the others? First of all I would have had to drop trap them.

Then most likely taken them to the ER which is far more expensive.

But with George it was a simple matter to put him into a carrier and take him to my regular vet.

And now he's all healed up and looking good!

09/05/2026

A little look around my place that starts with my colony area for my 8 colony kitties.

And is then followed up with a quick walk through of my little bity 450 square foot catio for my guys.

Which for some mysterious reason some people have actually claimed are spoiled?

But that's not true! They're simply well cared for in a home that's a feline friendly environment!

Because I adopted them and that's my responsibility to provide them with!

09/05/2026

Dang...12 cats go through a lot of food! 😆 But it's worth it.

That's the 4 that live with me and the colony of 8 that I care for.

Which I've been doing since moving here and discovering them a little over 2 years ago.

But originally it was 14. However 7 were babies that I was able to get placed with animal rescues so they could get a shot at decent lives through adoption.

Then there was 3 adults and 4 kittens that were approximately 5 months old.

Which is to old for rescues to take as they take WAY TO LONG to socialize.

And there simply isn't enough foster homes available.

So they were tnr (trap neuter return) along with the adults and I've been caring for them since.

Little one at my feet was one of those 4 and got her name because she was the smallest.

But...she is one brave girl! Because although none besides George also by my feet are touchable.

And he came along later and is tame for the most part.

Although he has behavioral issues that prevent him from being adoptable as an indoor kitty.

So now he lives here as a well cared for member of the colony.

And although none of the others will let me touch them.

They've come A LONG WAYS in trusting me considering that they would originally run for their lives in fear at the slightest hint of a human presence.

And I enjoy seeing them feeling safe secure and happy.

Little one in particular as she's ALWAYS right at my feet every morning to the point that I have to be careful not to step on her!

I once had a guy actually get mad at me and tell me that feral cats are wild animals and should be left alone.

Which is blatantly false! The fact is that the Felis Catus was domesticated thousands of years ago.

And due to selective breeding over that time simply don't have the same DNA structure as their closest wild cousins.

Thus they are not truly equipped to survive in the wild.

Although because of human neglect millions are forced to try and do so as best they can.

And as a result live short harsh brutal lives.

Although a small percentage find humans like me that at least feed them.

While some of us go beyond simply feeding them and care for them as best we can.

Which starts with tnr! And vet care when necessary?

Along with nice warm beds and heat lamps for the winter.

Which allows them to live fairly decent lives and dramatically increase their life spans.

So although I'm not saving the world. It's nice to be able to help prevent a few animals from suffering needlessly because of human neglect.

09/04/2026

I AM DONE!

AS IN OUT OF BUSINESS DONE!

It's been one hell of a run but I'm calling it quits.

However I can still help you by referring you to my replacement.

But I will not be running this business any longer!

Had I stumbled into this opportunity at 30 instead of 60?

It would have had a far different outcome. But going on 65 now it's time for me to give it up.

But it has been one hell of a run! I'm no business man.

Nor the most highly educated person. Although educated does not equal intelligence!

But there are a lot of things with running a business that does require the proper education.

And at 64 I simply don't have the time to acquire that education.

Nor can I physically do this full time even if I wanted to?

But it's been one hell of run! As I've repeatedly stated.

All that I was ever going to do was simply trap some feral kittens and get them domesticated and find homes for them.

But the sneaky little varmints brainwashed me and abducted me into their cult! 😆

Thus 2 ended up staying! 😆 And building a SAFE outdoor area for them led to me learning what a catio was?

And that Google thing revealed that of THE FEW contractors in the country specializing in building them.

FIVE TO EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLAR MINIMUMS WERE COMMON!

Which I INSTANTLY recognized as a golden opportunity!

Yes it's an EXTREME niche market. But people will spend money on their pets! Trust me I know! 😆

But with it being such an extreme niche market if you could do it at a far more affordable price point?

You would have absolutely zero competition!

Unlike say opening a restaurant if you wanted to start your own business?

So I took A HUGE RISK and got my contractors license and spent around 20 thousand dollars initially.

Plus took a pay cut the last year at my regular job for about the same amount by dropping some hours.

Which I ended up leaving at 62 after learning that I could draw my social security and still legally make some money.

Although the combination still equaled far less than when I was working for someone else.

But it was enough to survive on while doing something that I enjoy and believe in.

And it was one hell of a challenge! Which is something the old Paratrooper in me couldn't resist.

And I've already taken it way further than I had ever intended or anticipated.

But now it's time to walk away and let someone else take over.

Although I'll keep my website and Facebook business page active so I can feed work to him for now.

And for now will help him with a bit of consulting and whatnot.

Then most likely eventually sell both to him along with the name?

Because that has value! Heck...if you look at the analytics of my page?

I generally get a little under two hundred thousand people looking at it any given month.

But one job I posted about a few months back generated over 750 thousand people looking at my page within 28 days! And over 2000 shares!

So while my actual number of followers is fairly low.

I have STARTED to become a known entity. And as I said. That does have value!

But I've really been struggling mentally lately due to the lack of activity.

So plan on getting a part time job to accomplish 2 things.

A. Get me out of the house and around other people on a regular basis.

B. Generate around 2 thousand dollars a month which is all that I can legally make and still receive my social security.

This giving me the financial stability of a known monthly income.

While not screwing up my social security in 2 years when I really need it!

Because if I make to much this year? Which I'm pretty sure that I already have?

They will just take it back the following year by cutting my social security until they're paid back.

So that means that when I do my taxes at the end of this year.

Whatever amount that I'm over will be taken out of my social security the following year.

So I've let my license bond and insurance expire and am done!

But here's a little trip down memory lane starting with 6 years ago in the early days of the pandemic.

First I spent 5 days mornings and evenings luring the kittens into my trap/containment area.

Then once tame enough to handle I built what was supposed to be a temporary 2 story kitty condo onto the back of my shed for them.

Which I later added a basement to and made it 3 stories once I decided to keep two.

And added an extremely rudimentary enclosure to the following spring once they were bigger along with a kitty door and tunnel to it.

Then just a few jobs that I've done for others since.

09/02/2026

Well I guess that nothing is getting done today.

I just started to look at my to do list for the day when my girl Frack decided to lay on it.

So now I can't get anything done!

08/31/2026

My first tnr 6 years ago today.

It was the start of the pandemic and like lots of people I was laid off.

So one day while sitting at home I saw momma kitty and her 4 babies come out from under my neighbor's place.

So I decided to trap the kittens and JUST get them domesticated and find homes for them.

But despite REPEATEDLY saying that I wasn't going to keep any.

The sneaky little varmints brainwashed me and abducted me into their cult! 😆

Thus 2 ended up staying! 😆 And I ended up building them a SAFE outdoor area although I had never heard of a catio.

Which eventually led to me becoming one of the few catio contractors in the country.

But a phone call to the local humane society to inquire about how to get a feral cat spayed?

Resulted in me learning about tnr (trap neuter return)

And a local clinic with a feral program that's only 25 dollars!

And they loan you traps! So I took momma kitty in as my first.

And continued feeding her which of course attracted others.

So now I'm at around 30? With about the same number of young kittens placed with rescues for a shot at decent lives through adoption.

But that includes a colony of 14 that I discovered when I moved here about two and a half years ago.

7 of which were babies that went to rescues while the other 7 were tnr and I've been caring for them since.

08/30/2026

Silly boys!

It's breakfast time but my boys would rather check out the colony kitties than eat. 😆

Then after eating just a little bit my girl came over and got in on the act. 😆

And it's not as if they've never seen the colony as I've been caring for them for almost two and a half years.

Thus not only are they outside of the catio waiting for breakfast every single morning.

But they routinely come over to eat and visit with my guys.

08/28/2026

WE NEED A LOT MORE OF THIS!!!

If you agree and would like to support such a program?

Feisty Felines a local rescue that I'm somewhat acquainted with has a prison program in Washington state where female inmates foster.

And like all rescues everywhere ALWAYS NEEDS help with medical bills and food etc etc.

So should you feel inclined to donate a little something to help facilitate such a program?

It would be greatly appreciated and go to a great cause!

P.S.

I personally would also greatly appreciate it if you would share this as much as possible!

I wanted to share it to Kitties and Catio which is a site that I routinely post on.

But unfortunately am to computer illiterate to figure out how to do it?

08/27/2026

Don't let the innocent look fool you. He's a Churu thief! 😆

Today's job was already partially done and I just finished it.

And the supervisor had his eyes on me the moment that I showed up

Then after it was done his human gave me some Churu for him.

As well as to try and get his feline friend to come out.

But after he finished his treat he stole the other one!

Just picked it right up and took it inside where he tried without success to open it up on his own. 😆

08/26/2026

Kitten education.

6 years ago I learned that the natural curiosity of kittens could be absolutely hilarious!

Although at times could cause them to make less than smart decisions. 😆

The last set of pictures is a perfect example and is similar to the time they trapped themselves under my couch. 😆

Because as it was a travel trailer the couch folded out for a bed.

Thus there was a small gap between it and the wall.

Which of course they had to go through. Just like in this last set of pictures.

They had been coming inside for awhile and gotten comfortable around the big scary human.

Thus they would routinely explore their new environment.

And besides behind/ underneath the couch. One of the fascinating places they found was in the kitchen area.

Where there was a little fold out table above 3 small drawers for silverware and whatnot.

And just above that was a little storage nook.

So my 2 trouble makers Frick and Frack decided to climb up there one day.

And appeared to be quit pleased with themselves at their accomplishment of scaling the cliff as they sat in their new found cave.

Then I looked away for a moment and when I looked back they were gone!

Because there was a little tiny gap in the back they had decided to drop into!

Fortunately it's storage area underneath with doors.

Because they NEVER would have gotten out on their own!

Thus getting the silly little varmints out was a simple matter. 😆

But it taught me that I had TO ALWAYS keep an eye on them! 😆

As well as kitten proof EVERYTHING! 😆 Thus I ended up stuffing a towel into that nook as well as a few behind the couch.

As well as taking other measures to try and prevent them from doing dumb stuff. 😆

Don's Custom Catios and Help for Hire

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

09/02/2026

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

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