Charity tennis tournament in Ocean Springs helps cats

In Ocean Springs, two local organizations came together over the weekend to raise money for cats while hitting the court for some tennis.

The Feral Feline Coalition and Kiwanis Club of Gautier/Ocean Springs finished its charity tennis tournament over the weekend to help get cats off the streets of Jackson County and into homes.

Halstead Tennis Complex in Ocean Springs hosted the event, featuring a men and women doubles division and consolation prizes. Volunteer Bayley Askins said, “This tournament is happening to raise money for the Feral Feline Coalition and help these cats find a home. Hopefully people here can come and meet these cats and want to take them home with them.”

Some of the players have been enjoying the competition. Player Justin Tuck said, “It’s been intense. Everybody’s competitive of course but I mean nobody is out here throwing hands you know it’s been relaxed and fun.”

Each cat featured at the event was up for adoption. Donations also help the Feral Feline Coalition spay and neuter these cats. Feral Feline Coalition President Linda Sullivan Cox said, “We get them fixed, we get them revolution flee treated, and we get them all their shots and we trim their little ears as you can see.”

“They are feral cats so they, that’s why their ears are clipped. They are being fixed and stuff so they don’t have more cats on the streets put into homes.”

The Feral Feline Coalition strives in improving a cat’s quality of life. “Our mission is to lower the population, to help people who can’t afford to get a cat fixed, to make a better quality of life for cats and basically, and to get cats off the street that are too friendly, because they’re in danger.”

The Feral Feline Coalition is a nonprofit organization and they still have cats available for adoption.