Louise Holton

Louise Anne Holton is the founder and president of Alley Cat Rescue.
Louise Holton, a South African, worked in Africa on conservation issues in the 1970s, concentrating on endangered species such as the cheetah. She also worked with the Johannesburg SPCA on cat overpopulation including pioneering work on nonlethal control of homeless and stray cats.
She moved to the U.S. in 1986 to work in animal protection. She was the founder of Alley Cat Allies in 1990, bringing to the U.S. her experience in working with homeless cats in South Africa and also involving her many British counterparts, biologists and veterinarians, who pioneered this work in Britain and in other parts of the world.
She is often quoted in the media as an expert in dealing with feral cats and on issues pertaining to them, such as rabies control and wildlife predation. Holton has received numerous awards for her articles and newsletters, including several prestigious Muse Medallions, from the Cat Writers Association. She was a keynote speaker at the CWA annual conference in 1999.
Holton has been a member of the Summit of Animals for 8 years. The Summit is made up of 48 national animal protection groups. Holton is also a member of the California Council of Animal Advocates. CCCAA is a diverse group that finds solutions to animal overpopulation. She was a presenter at the Scientific Workshop on Feral Cats sponsored by American Humane Association in 1996. In 1998 Holton presented workshops on feral cats at the Western Veterinary Medicine Conference.
Holton served on the Advisory Panel of President Clinton’s Invasive Species Council. Holton is concerned that exotic species are treated inhumanely, and she was a strong voice on this panel for non-lethal control of all sentient animals. * recognized Holton’s work, and in January 2000 listed this as “one of the Greatest Moments for 20th Century Cats.”
She has been rescuing cats for 30 years, and is an expert in dealing with neonatal kittens, homeless and stray cats. Holton is also a world pioneer in promoting and implementing non-lethal control for feral cats (Trap-Neuter-Return). She advises groups in Australia, South Africa, Israel, South America and other countries.
ProTNR (Trap-Neuter-Return):
Alley Cat Rescue helps cats on local, national and international level, pioneer of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
Cat Fancy:
Orphan Tips for kittens
Rescue of the Month: Saving Tequila from Mexico ACR In Mexico
Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) visited Puerto Vallarta, Mexico along with four veterinarians and two vet techs on March 2 and 3rd, 2007 to hold a free spay-neuter clinic. During those two days, they were able to spay and neuter 100 dogs and feral cats, including several feral cats.
This was the first spay-neuter clinic that Alley Cat Rescue had organized, and largest of its size in Puerto Vallarta. Vets joined them from all over the United States: Dr. Pervaiz Mazoor and Dr. Javaid Manzoor came from Maryland, Dr. Ajaz Alvi came from Chicago, and Dr. Bill Pearce came from Texas. Dr. Pearce was the only vet who had previously participated in spay-neuter clinics in Mexico. When asked why he volunteered at spay-neuter clinics, Dr. Pearce said “Why do you do this? Because it’s the right damn thing to do. And what brings me out? Because I can.”
* to see Alley Cat Rescue video from Mexico.
Awards and Honours:
Holton, L., Manzoor, P., ``Managing and Controlling Feral Cat Populations. Veterinary Forum, March 1993
ACR's newsletter, Alley Cat Mews, and booklet on Feral Cat Colony Management, each won a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writer's Association in 2002.
ACR's Louise Holton was presented with the Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award and Animal Champion Pin from the Doris Day Animal League.
When giving Louise the award, DDAL Executive Director, Holly Hazard, stated "people are often tempted to look the other way or give up in despair when they come across non-human beings in distress. Fortunately for the many cats you have assisted, your empathy and compassion compelled you to act where others would not have."
In 1998, Louise was awarded the National Humane Achievement Award by the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts.
In 1997, Louise won a Muse Medallion from CWA for her series of articles on feral cats published by The Animals' Voice Magazine. These articles can be seen on ACR's website.
The CWA PRESIDENT'S AWARD sponsored by the Cat Fancier's Association, is presented to the best entry among all Muse MedallionTMwinners in the regular contest categories.
The winner is Louise Holton "Veterinary Care: Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats," published by Alley Cat Rescue.
This award was judged by Fran Pennock Shaw, CWA President. Her comments about the winning entry include: "In addition to serving an excellent purpose by benefiting feral cats, this article fully meets its own goals of providing information and guidance to veterinarians and feral cat caregivers."
Alley Cat Rescue and Louise Holton have received Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writer’s Association in 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, and 1998 Feral Cat Colony Management and Control: Fact and Myths about Feral Cats. The first-ever handbook on humane, nonlethal cats for feral cats.

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