TNR, Compassion, & Cats - TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions’ Story

You may recognize Sterling ‘TrapKing” Davis from The Drew Barrymore Show, the Disney+ documentary Pets directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, or Netflix’s Cat People. Maybe you got to see him recently at CatCon, or just follow his adventures and efforts on social media. Or, maybe you’re learning about him for the first time today.

With countless rescue efforts across the U.S. and abroad, and his incredibly contagious love for cats, Sterling is an inspiration to anyone who believes that compassion and collaboration can change the world.

We’re beyond honored to share this special feature with the founder of TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions. Sterling has dedicated his life to community cat care and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and his mission is bigger than saving cats — it’s about having a positive impact on every living creature’s path that he crosses, and bringing diversity into animal rescue.

We hope you enjoy Sterling’s story and message as much as we do! Please follow him on social media to help spread his message and raise awareness to help more and more cats around the globe.
- Nicole from Catster

TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions is a nonprofit organization about cat rescue, with a heavy focus on TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and community care. We consist of a small board of four people, based in Atlanta, GA, but we have worked on TNR/animal rescue in Greece, Spain, and just about every state in America. TrapKing represents #sameteam and #1UP (One United Paw).

TNR is the humane alternative to death/euthanasia for stray/feral cats. At TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions, we aim to get more men and people of color engaged in animal welfare.

TrapKing Humane - Our History & Tips For Starting Your Own Organization

I founded TrapKing Humane back in 2017, so I’ve been here since the start. I tell people often to be strategic before starting a nonprofit, as it can be a lot of work and difficult to put the right board/team together. It’s more than just finding people who like cats the way you do. You have to have someone do the accounting, 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 that at first instead of trying to do everything. If there are 4 TNR groups within a 50-mile radius of one another, then you shouldn’t also start a TNR rescue. Maybe you can focus on adoptions or fostering. I learned quickly that sticking to what I’m most effective at and being willing to work with others is the best way to fight against burnout and compassion fatigue. It’s been a journey, though, and I think I’m just now working with a team that actually fits!

Challenges, Accomplishments, and Things That Make Me Smile

Some of the biggest challenges TrapKing faces, as well as other rescues, are resources. Funding for cat surgeries, food, and medicine is always needed. Cat traps, cleaning supplies, places for TNR cats to heal, as well as fosters for some of our kitties that are too sweet to go back to the streets! So, donations are always welcome, and if you’re looking to be a foster (or adoptive parent), you can get in touch with our team.

Some of our biggest accomplishments are fundraising and rescue events done in Chicago, Hollywood, Florida, and Atlanta, some of which led to documentaries. We were featured on “Pets” (Disney+) and “Cat People” (Netflix). And, winning 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 main thing we’re proud of is spreading the word and message of cat rescue to different demographics.

Recently, I traveled to Spain to help with dogs as well. Galgo dogs, sometimes referred to as “Spanish greyhounds,” are raced and tortured every year by the thousands. We went to Spain to rescue 32 of them and ended up with an additional 4 kitties that we couldn’t leave behind. We plan to go back in 2026 to help more. I’ll be speaking at the Ultimate Cat Conference in Tennessee and Sea Meow in Seattle, to educate and assist in TNR/community cat care. Long-term, we aim to make TNR more affordable, as funds in a lot of areas for cat rescue are drying up.

One of the funniest or most unique things that I’ve noticed while doing cat rescue work is that so many people who love and rescue cats are introverts and/or don’t have any children….well, not any two-legged children that is. Anytime I’m out feeding pending rescue work with people, there is always a need to “get back home and feed the cats.” Rarely is it getting back home to feed or put the kids to bed. Not sure why that is, but I may do some research on that one day!

The most rewarding thing with TrapKing is being the change and seeing the change. It feels good to see more men and more people of color get engaged in cat rescue/animal welfare. When I see that and I see people promoting #sameteam and working together, it feels like I played a part in that. 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 as if to say, “thank you.” 😻🥹

How You Can Get Involved

If you or someone you know would like to support, shop, or volunteer with us, please visit www.trapkinghumane.com or follow all of my cat dad and rescue shenanigans on Instagram @the_original_trapking or Facebook.