You can recognize Sterling ‘Trapking’ Davis from Drew Barrymore Show, Disney+ documentary Pet directed by Bryce Dallas Howard or Netflix ‘Cat People. Maybe you got to see him recently on Catcon or just follow his adventures and efforts on social media. Or maybe you teach him for the first time today.
With countless rescue efforts throughout the United States and abroad and his incredibly contagious love for cats, Sterling is an inspiration for anyone who believes that compassion and collaboration can change the world.
We are without honor to share this special feature with the founder of Trapking Humane Cat Solutions. Sterling has dedicated his life to the Community Cat Care and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and his mission is greater than saving cats-it is about having a positive influence on the path of every living creature that he crosses, and bring diversity into expensive rescue.
We hope you enjoy the story of Sterling and message as much as we do! Follow him on social media to help spread his message and create attention to help more and more cats across the globe.
– Nicole from Catster
Trapking Humane Cat Solutions is a nonprofit organization on Cat Rescue, with a heavy focus on TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and Community Care. We consist of a small board with four people based in Atlanta, GA, but we have worked with TNR/Animal Rescue in Greece, Spain and almost any state in America. Trapking represents #sameteam and #1UP (a United Paw).
TNR is the human alternative to death/euthanasia for stray/wild cats. At Trapking Humane Cat Solutions, we aim to get more men and people in colors involved in animal welfare.
Trapking Humane – Our History and Tips To Start Your Own Organization
I founded Trapeking Humane back in 2017, so I’ve been here since its inception. I often ask people to be strategic before starting a nonprofit as it can be a lot of work and difficult to put the right table/team together. It’s more than just finding people who like cats that you do. You need someone to do the accounts, someone who knows taxes, someone who can organize and plan the meetings on top of sharing your vision in rescue.
I also think it’s good to find your niche and stick to it first instead of trying to do everything. If there are 4 TNR groups within a 50-mile radius apart, don’t also start a TNR rescue. Maybe you can focus on adoptions or promote. I quickly learned that sticking to what I am most effective at being willing to work with others is the best way to fight off of burnout and compassion. However, it has been a journey and I think I am currently working with a team that actually fits!
Challenges, results and things that make me smile
Some of the biggest challenges that faces faces as well as other rescues are resources. Financing for cat surgeries, food and medicine is always needed. Cat traps, cleaning items, places for tnr cats to heal, as well as foster for some of our kittens that are too sweet to return to the streets! So donations are always welcome and if you want to be a fetus (or adoptive parent), you can get in touch with our team.
Some of our greatest achievements are fundraising and rescue events performed in Chicago, Hollywood, Florida and Atlanta, some of which led to documentaries. We were shown on “Pets” (Disney+) and “Cat People” (Netflix). And to win the Aspca Cat Advocate of the Year Award.
I was also very happy to be on the Drew Barrymore show to discuss community cat care. The most important thing we are proud of is to spread the word and the message of the cat scene to different demographies.
Recently, I also traveled to Spain to help with dogs. Galgo dogs, sometimes referred to as “Spanish gray dogs”, are run and tortured every year by thousands. We went to Spain to save 32 of them and ended up with another 4 kittens that we couldn’t leave. We plan to go back in 2026 to help more. I am talking at Ultimate Cat Conference in Tennessee and Sea Meow in Seattle to educate and help with TNR/Community Cat Care. In the long term, we aim to make TNR more affordable as funds in many areas for cat rescue dry up.
One of the funniest or most unique things I noticed while performing Cat Rescue work is that so many people who love and save cats are introverted and/or have no children…. Well, not any two-legged kids, that’s. Any time I am out of feeding with rescue work with people, there is always a need to “come home and feed the cats.” Rarely does it come home again to feed or put the kids to bed. Not sure why it is, but I can examine one day!
The most rewarding thing about Trapking is to be the change and see the change. It feels good to see more men, and more colors people engage in cat rescue/animal welfare. When I see it and I see people promoting #sameteam and working together, it feels like I was playing a role in it. It’s like the feeling you get when you bring a TNR cat back to their colony: let them out of the trap, and after they run out quickly, they look back like saying, “thank you.” 😻🥹
How you can get involved
If you or anyone you know would like to support, shop or volunteer with us, visit www.trapkinghumane.com or follow all my cat father and save shenanigans on Instagram @the_original_trapking or Facebook.