In a modest building in Minot, dozens of rescued cats lounge, curl up in blankets or cautiously watch visitors walking through the door. Each has a story, many rescued from harsh outdoor conditions, abandoned homes and soon will be coming from the city pound.
Their second chance is made possible by Hairball Haven Feline Rescue, a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating stray and neglected cats. Since 2018, the organization has been led by director Natalie Davy, a licensed veterinary technician who first became involved with the rescue by helping with routine vaccinations.
The rescue itself began in 2015, founded by a local animal control officer who operated on a small scale with only a couple of volunteers and foster homes. At the time, Natalie was working at a veterinary clinic where the rescue occasionally brought cats for vaccinations and medical care. “One day they asked if I would help vaccinate,” Natalie recalled. “I said, I can do that, I already do that.’”
What started as occasional assistance soon turned into a leadership role. By 2018, Natalie had taken over the organization and shifted its focus. “That’s when the mission changed to saving stray and neglected cats,” she said. For seven years, Hairball Haven worked closely with the local pound, pulling cats every week. Natalie estimates the organization took in roughly 95 percent of the cats that entered the facility. Those that were too feral to live indoors were spayed or neutered and placed in barn homes where they could safely live outdoors.
The effort was part of a broader shift in the community. About 15 years ago, the pound regularly euthanized animals due to overcrowding. “When I started in 2005 at Minot Vet Clinic, they were euthanizing 20 to 30 animals a week,” Natalie said. Today, thanks to the growth of rescues like Hairball Haven, euthanasia is largely reserved for animals that are suffering or pose a danger.
Hairball Haven’s mission is, “To provide cats with the veterinary care they need and the love they deserve.” The rescue focuses primarily on removing stray and neglected cats from the streets both to protect the animals and to prevent uncontrolled breeding. “Spaying and neutering is the only way we’re going to combat the stray cat problem,” Natalie said.
Originally, Hairball Haven operated entirely through foster homes. That changed in 2021 when the rescue moved into its current facility. Since then, growth has been rapid. “At one point we had 117 cats,” said Operations Coordinator Rachelle Scheresky. “That was way too many.” Today the organization caps its population at around 80 cats while continuing to rely on foster homes for the most vulnerable animals, such as nursing mothers and young kittens.
Every cat that enters the facility goes through a careful intake process. New arrivals spend about a week in quarantine to ensure they are healthy before interacting with other cats. During that time they receive vaccinations, deworming treatments and testing for infectious diseases. Spay and neuter surgeries are performed by local veterinarians, while Natalie handles much of the day-to-day veterinary care. Once cleared medically, cats are allowed to socialize and begin the search for a permanent home.
Last year alone, Hairball Haven adopted out 405 cats and kittens. The adoption process is designed to match each cat with the right household. Applicants complete a form describing their home environment, other pets and family members. Volunteers then meet with potential adopters to help identify the best fit.
Despite careful placements, the rescue maintains a standing policy of taking back animals if an adoption does not work out. Returns are relatively rare, usually one to three per month. “Life happens, if a situation changes, we want the cat back so we can find the right home”, Rachelle said.
The rescue also works with members of the local military community, who make up a significant portion of adopters and volunteers. While Hairball Haven primarily focuses on stray and neglected animals, the organization occasionally helps military families who must rehome a pet due to sudden relocation orders. “We don’t take in owner’s surrender cats very often,” Natalie said. “But if someone adopted from us and receives orders somewhere they truly can’t take the cat, we try to help when we can.”
Volunteers from nearby Minot Air Force Base play a major role in the rescue’s success. Many service members volunteer, foster cats or adopt animals before relocating to other parts of the world. “We wouldn’t be as successful as we are without the military community,” Natalie said. “They volunteer, they adopt, and our cats end up going all over the world.”
Volunteers remain the backbone of the operation..
The rescue also relies heavily on donations. Veterinary expenses alone total about $60,000 just last year, covering vaccinations, medical tests, medications, spay or neutering and treatments for common conditions such as respiratory infections and ear mites which mostly all cats arrive with.
One story in particular that was memorable for the whole team, was a large stray tomcat nicknamed “Sewer Bob,” who had spent years surviving outdoors in the sewers of Minot Air Force Base. After being neutered and given time to adjust, the once rough street cat revealed a gentle personality, eventually becoming a nurturing companion to kittens before being adopted into a loving home. Natalie says stories like that reinforce an important lesson.
“Rescue cats are amazing,” she said. “They’ve been through the worst, and when they finally have a warm place and food, they’re incredibly grateful.”
As Hairball Haven looks ahead, its goal remains simple, which is to rescue more cats, expand spay and neuter efforts and reduce the number of animals living and suffering on the streets of Minot.
