How Incarcerated Women Are Helping Thousands of Cats Recover and Get Adopted

Some cats who arrive at animal shelters and rescues need much more than a cozy bed and a quick photo for the adoption page. Some come in underweight or unsocialized, battling upper respiratory infections, healing from injuries, or pregnant and in need of a stable space to give birth. Others are tiny newborns without mothers, dependent on bottle feedings every one to three hours, day and night.

Meeting those needs takes time, consistency, space, and attention — resources that even the most dedicated shelters and rescues can struggle to provide. That’s where the Women Inmate Social Kitty Retreat (WISKR) program, run by the Idaho Humane Society, comes in.

This program brings kittens and cats who require specialized, hands-on care into a dedicated tier of the South Boise Women’s Correctional Center. Here, carefully selected incarcerated women serve as temporary kitty caregivers. The result is a program that creates second chances for both the cats and the women caring for them. 

What is the WISKR program?

WISKR, which stands for Women Inmate Social Kitty Retreat, is a partnership between the Idaho Humane Society and the South Boise Women’s Correctional Center.

Cats in need of specialized care are temporarily transferred from the shelter to the correctional facility, where incarcerated women provide daily medical support, feeding, socialization, and rehabilitation before the cats return to the shelter for adoption.

According to Kristine Schellhaas, public information officer for the Idaho Humane Society, the program grew out of an earlier correctional partnership focused on dogs.

“We first launched a dog-training program at the men’s correctional facility in 2004, where it achieved strong results for both the participants and the animals,” Schellhaas explains. “Building on that success, it was a logical next step to expand programming to support cats at the women’s correctional facility.”

WISKR officially launched in 2016 and, according to Schellhaas, 2,759 cats have passed through the program since 2018.

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Why WISKR matters, especially during kitten season

Each spring and summer, animal shelters and rescues across the country brace for “kitten season” — the time of year when litters arrive in waves. According to the Idaho Humane Society (IHS), that surge can mean more than 100 cats entering their shelter in a single week.

Shelters and rescues operate at full capacity much of the year, but kitten season intensifies the pressure. Neonatal kittens often require feedings every one to three hours, and sick kittens need close monitoring, medications, and frequent weight checks.

In traditional shelter environments, where the staff juggles medical intakes, adoptions, cleaning, enrichment, and more, it can be difficult to provide that level of individualized care for each cat who needs it.

This is one reason WISKR can make such a difference.

“With typically three to four residents assigned to each room, responsibilities such as feeding bottle-fed kittens every one to three hours can be distributed in shifts,” Schellhaas says. “This collaborative approach allows residents to rotate care duties and rest between feedings, ensuring consistent attention for the kittens without placing the full burden on any one individual.”

By sending medically or behaviorally fragile cats to WISKR:

• Kennel space opens up for incoming animals

• Traditional foster homes can focus on other cases

• Cats receive intensive, uninterrupted attention

The cascading effect of the program is significant. When kittens or cats move into WISKR, this frees up room for more lives to be saved.

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Which cats go to WISKR?

Cats selected for WISKR placement are those who will benefit most from concentrated care and a stable environment. According to the Idaho Humane Society’s website, WISKR has assisted with a range of cases, but they most frequently work with cats recovering from upper respiratory infections, mother cats and their babies, and orphaned kittens who need bottle feeding.

Schellhaas adds that fearful or under-socialized cats who need time to build trust, as well as cats recovering from orthopedic procedures, are also common participants.

“Length of stay at WISKR varies based on medical and behavioral needs as determined by our veterinary team,” Schellhaas explains. “Some cats may remain for only a week, while others require several months of care.”

Courtesy Idaho Humane Society /

How the women are selected

Participation in WISKR is not automatic, and it’s not open to everyone.

Residents are carefully selected through a structured, merit-based process. According to Schellhaas, eligibility requires:

• A sentence that aligns with program standards (individuals with convictions such as animal abuse are not considered)

• Demonstrated rule compliance

• Personal accountability

• Positive behavior within the facility

• A genuine interest in participating

Those chosen must then uphold strict standards.

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What daily life looks like for WISKR cats

Once a cat enters WISKR, they’re integrated into a room environment with their assigned caregivers.

Daily responsibilities can include:

• Bottle feeding every one to three hours

• Monitoring weight gain

• Administering medications

• Cleaning litter boxes and bedding

• Tracking medical notes

• Socialization and enrichment

• Grooming and gentle handling

• Managing supply stock, including medications

Beyond medical care and daily duties, there’s something equally important happening: trust-building. Fearful cats who may hide in a shelter kennel often begin to open up in a quieter, more predictable environment. Consistent, patient human interaction teaches them that hands can mean comfort and care. By the time these cats return to the shelter for adoption, many are not only healthy but also well-socialized and confident.

The impact on the incarcerated women

The benefits aren’t one-sided. Programs like WISKR can significantly benefit the women as well. Participants learn and practice responsibility, patience, persistence, empathy, and collaboration.

Many participants describe the program as grounding. The presence of a cat curling up at the foot of a bed and purring softly can provide a sense of calm in an otherwise high-stress environment. Many also say that caring for the cats gives them a renewed sense of purpose and the feeling of contributing to something greater. 

For some participants, WISKR even sparks a future goal of volunteering with shelters or working in animal care after release.

Stories of second chances

While thousands of cats have moved through WISKR, some stories truly highlight the program’s impact.

Courtesy Idaho Humane Society /

Winona’s comeback

Winona arrived at the Idaho Humane Society after a Good Samaritan found her suffering from blunt-force trauma. She had injuries to her mouth and jaw. Further testing revealed she was also suffering from high blood pressure, kidney disease, and a detached retina.

Winona was transferred to the WISKR program for continued monitoring and recovery, where she spent more than two months receiving consistent medical support, a renal diet, blood pressure medication, and daily care.

With time and steady attention, Winona stabilized. Her hypertension and kidney disease were controlled, and although she permanently lost vision in one eye, she adapted well. And best of all, shortly after recovering, she was adopted.

Courtesy Idaho Humane Society /

Fatboy’s long road to healing

Another unforgettable case involved a 12-year-old cat named Fatboy, who was discovered locked inside a car in extremely poor condition. He was suffering from severe dental disease, painful stomatitis, muscle loss, and skin irritation.

After an extensive veterinary exam, Fatboy underwent surgery to remove 22 damaged and broken teeth. Once medically stable, he was transferred to WISKR, where residents provided him with months of attentive, compassionate care.

His recovery took more than seven months, but with patience and consistent support, Fatboy regained his strength. He, too, was adopted — proof that even senior cats with complex medical histories can get a second chance with the right care.

Together, stories like Winona’s and Fatboy’s illustrate how WISKR provides something some cats need most: time, stability, and people committed to helping them heal and trust again.

How you can support WISKR

Programs like WISKR rely heavily on community support. Supplies frequently needed include:

• Cat food, including kitten formula

• Litter

• Blankets and bedding

• Litter boxes

• Scoopable tools and cleaning supplies

• Cat toys 

Donations can typically be dropped off at the Idaho Humane Society, where volunteers will bring the items to the correctional facility.

Community members can also help by fostering or volunteering. Opening your home to a foster cat, especially during busy seasons, or donating your time at a local shelter, helps expand lifesaving capacity and supports programs like WISKR.

And of course, adoption is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference. When you adopt from the Idaho Humane Society (or other rescues and shelters), you’re not only saving a life, but also making room for another animal to get the help they need. 

References 

Hurst, Natalie. “Getting Kittens and Cats Adopted, One WISKR at a Time...” KBOI, 2 May 2018, idahonews.com/news/local/getting-kittens-and-cats-adopted-one-wiskr-at-a-time. 

“WISKR - The Women Inmate Social Kitty Retreat.” Idaho Humane Society, 7 May 2024, idahohumanesociety.org/services/animal-support/wiskr.