Every Kitten Counts at Kelly’s Kritters

Only one in four outdoor kittens survive in northern Michigan without human intervention and care

By Rachel Soulliere | Sept. 12, 2026

It was only 3pm, and Kelly’s Kritters was preparing to turn away their seventeenth kitten of the day, a heartbreaking reality for a kitten rescue that exists exclusively to give cats a second chance. It turns out, the better Kelly’s Kritters cares for kittens in need, the more they see how many kittens in northern Michigan need saving.

“The odds are way against our local outdoor kittens, and only one in four survive making it to adulthood,” says Kelly Lemcool, owner of Kelly’s Kritters. “There truly needs to be a process in place that helps our cat population, but there isn’t. And by the time we’re called, many of these cats are already on the brink, so quick action is important.”

Working around the clock to change kitten statistics locally, Lemcool has helped 300 cats already in 2026 and thousands since first opening her doors seven years ago. Now, Kelly’s Kritters supports up to 40 cats at a time at their facility and through the fostering program.

“As a vet tech for 30 years who has a deep love for animals, I found myself starting to take one or two kittens home each night who required extra care. That number quickly started to become 10 to 12 kittens a night, and that’s when I realized I’m going to need more space. I then made the decision to purchase our facility and intentionally create a small kitten rescue; however, it has continued to grow to fit the community need,” says Lemcool.

Growing Needs for a Growing Population

At the Kelly’s Kritters facility at 4470 Norton Rd. in Grawn, Lemcool has made it a goal for the entire building to be filled with businesses and nonprofits who can provide the full spectrum of cat and dog care. Right now, there is a dog daycare, groomer, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, the clinic, and of course Kelly’s Kritters. They are still looking for an animal massage therapist and acupuncturist to round their feline and fido offerings out to better support local families and pets.

While Lemcool is offering a wide variety of services, she never expected to see such rapid growth. “I never wanted Kelly’s Kritters to become this big, but it seems like it’s going to continue growing no matter what anyone wants,” says Lemcool.

The growth she hints at is a local cat overpopulation issue that is quickly spreading. Lemcool is calling on the community to step up quickly and warns what’s on the horizon if nothing is done. The week we spoke, she received a call from a farmer who had two cats dropped off at his farm three years ago; that number has now grown to 36 and he needs help, fast.

“Even if it isn’t your cat, step up to help. Kitten care and responsibility is a community movement, and if you can help, please do. This means getting your neighborhood cat neutered or that barn cat you’ve been around spayed. Even 1 Cat in Interlochen has $30 neuters and $65 spays, and the AC PAW Spay & Neuter Project provides service vouchers and assistance programs for it too. If everyone in our community spayed or neutered one cat, we’d be in a much better spot locally and able to save even more kittens and cats,” says Lemcool. 

While Lemcool acknowledges the need for locals to pitch in effort to save outdoor cats, she is also aware that we are in a unique situation in northern Michigan that guides where we’re currently at with cats in our community. 

“As Traverse City and our region continues to grow and welcome more people, businesses, apartment buildings, and homes, we’re seeing an increase in our outdoor cat population, and it’s getting out of control,” says Lemcool. “While we try to focus on kittens, we’re starting to see more cats left in the elements that aren’t being cared for. From a neighborhood cat who hasn’t received care for a decade to a farm cat who is now an amputee due to getting its arm stuck in an engine, we try to help the cats who need it most.”

Adoption and Support

With a clear focus on kitten care, Lemcool and her team still make it a point to get older cats the help they need. She takes them in, provides medical care, and creates a return or adoption plan. Through the Kelly’s Kritters Facebook page, she also posts updates, adoption news or events, and some currently available cats. 

“While we do post some of our available cats on our Facebook page, we don’t post them all and that’s for very good reason,” says Lemcool. “We prefer in-person meetings, as these are the most successful and long-lasting adoptions. Some people already have an idea of what they’re looking for and those adoptions often result in a surrender. When someone comes in person, they can take the time to meet their spirit match—we’ve even seen a kitten so eager to go home with a family it got right into the carrier.” 

Kelly’s Kritters offers on-site adoption by appointment for an all-inclusive price of $125. This includes a spay or neuter, vaccinations to the appropriate age level, deworming, flea care, microchips, and testing. While this price doesn’t fully cover the efforts of Lemcool’s team, it was set intentionally to make adoption accessible and affordable for families. 

“Every home needs a pet, and our goal with lower adoption pricing is to make that a reality for families who may not be able to adopt otherwise. We’ve seen what happens when someone adopts a ‘free’ kitten online; that cat truly doesn’t end up being free and can end up costing a family thousands in care or medical procedures. Through Kelly’s Kritters, every kitten is up to date on everything and ready for their new, loving home,” says Lemcool.

Kelly’s Kritters is 100 percent community funded and supported. No grants, no federal or state funding, just fundraisers, monetary donations and physical donations. Through $5 Friday calls to action, bake sales, and adoption events, Lemcool receives the funding she needs to stay afloat.

But as her efforts continue to expand to support local cats, Lemcool knows more support is needed. 

“We’re always looking for volunteers, foster parents, services donations, physical donations, and monetary donations. From helping socialize kittens to making sure they’ve got enough to eat as they heal, we accept support 24/7 and know we couldn’t do what we do without the community’s contributions,” says Lemcool. “We’re grateful for this journey we’ve been on for seven years and are looking forward to seeing what comes next.”

If you find a litter of kittens that needs help or have a neighborhood cat who could use a check-up, Kelly’s Kritters is on standby to help directly or support in finding the best local resources for you. If you’d like to donate, learn more or see some of the cats, currently up for adoption, visit their Facebook page, where you can find the latest updates.