Vancouver’s VOKRA faces a $275,000 funding gap as rising vet costs, wildfires and more kittens put pressure on cat rescue services.
A crisis is growing behind Vancouver’s doors
For Vancouver’s cat rescuers, the calls just keep coming.
A family cannot afford veterinary care. A stray cat needs somewhere safe. A mother cat shows up with kittens. Or dozens of cats are found living in one home.
For the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA), these cases have become part of an increasingly difficult year.
Now, the rescue is asking the public for urgent help.
VOKRA hopes to raise $275,000 through its annual Walk for the Kitties fundraiser. However, with less than a week remaining, it had raised only about $29,000.
That leaves the organization facing a massive funding gap.
Vet bills alone are soaring
VOKRA co-founder Karen Duncan says the cost of helping cats has climbed sharply.
Monthly veterinary bills can reach roughly $80,000, she estimates.
Then there is food, litter, medication and other supplies.
All of those costs add up.
“We’re just running as fast as we can,” Duncan says.
The rescue has also seen more people asking for help because they cannot find affordable, pet-friendly housing.
As Vancouver living costs continue to rise, keeping a cat can become difficult for families already struggling to make ends meet.
Wildfires are adding pressure
The situation has become even harder as wildfires continue to affect communities in B.C.’s Interior.
When fires threaten homes, animals also need somewhere safe to go.
That puts additional pressure on shelters and rescue groups across the province.
At the same time, VOKRA says it is seeing more abandoned and stray cats.
Some are left on the street. Others are found outside after seeking shelter from rain or bad weather.
The rescue is increasingly being asked to step in.
“It’s just horrible for cats right now,” Duncan says.
More kittens are showing up
Another troubling trend has emerged in Vancouver.
Duncan says rising veterinary costs may be leading some owners to delay or skip spaying and neutering.
The result is more unwanted litters.
VOKRA says kitten cases have become much more common in Vancouver.
In some situations, rescuers have entered homes containing 20 or more cats.
Duncan says some of the animals have been living in heartbreaking conditions.
She recalls seeing homes filled with kittens and older cats covered in fleas.
“It’s just brutal,” she says.
VOKRA is filling a gap
Vancouver does not have a city pound for cats.
So, VOKRA often becomes the organization people call when they do not know where else to turn.
The rescue also handles cat trapping, which many other agencies do not offer.
It may also help when someone discovers a mother cat with newborn kittens.
At any given time, VOKRA can have around 400 cats in its care.
About 70 stay at the organization’s East Vancouver facility. The rest live with foster families.
Despite the challenges, the group continues to find homes for more than 1,000 cats each year.
In its busiest years, that figure has reached between 1,400 and 1,600.
Every adoption comes at a cost
Finding a new home for a cat is only one part of the job.
Duncan says VOKRA actually loses money on adoptions.
The organization has raised its fees, but that has not been enough to offset the rising cost of care.
The City of Vancouver provided a $4,000 grant this year.
However, VOKRA says much more support is needed.
City council passed a resolution in April 2025 to explore additional support for cat shelter services.
So far, Duncan says she has not heard any further update.
The rescue may have to turn cats away
That is why this year’s fundraiser matters so much.
VOKRA says the $275,000 target is not simply a nice-to-have goal.
If the money does not come in, the rescue may have to limit how many cats it can accept.
Some situations could also become too difficult for the organization to handle.
For a group already receiving calls every day, that would be a major setback.
Supporters will walk for the kitties
The annual Walk for the Kitties will take place Saturday, Sept. 13, along Locarno Beach.
The 5K event is designed for families and includes games and activities.
And while it is a fundraiser for cats, there is one funny twist.
Dogs usually outnumber cats at the walk.
That is hardly surprising. Most cats would rather avoid a noisy crowd.
Still, the event gives animal lovers a chance to show their support.
Participants can also receive a special T-shirt.
For those who cannot attend, VOKRA is accepting donations online and is also looking for business sponsors.
For the rescue’s cats, the need is simple: more help, more homes and more people willing to step in.
