Who We Are
Meow Mates is a registered student organization at the University of Texas at Austin, and was established in 2024 after a group of students learned about the group of faculty and staff members that had been caring for the stray cats in the UT campus and West Campus for over a decade. These stray cats have been beloved by many in the UT community for years, and upon learning that the care of these cats is only possible through donations and the volunteers’ own funds, these students came together to support the existing stray cat initiative.
What We Do
Meow Mates is open to all students who have compassion for animals and are passionate about treating all life humanely. We connect students to receive proper training for volunteer opportunities involving the care of campus cats, such as daily feeding and trap-neuter-return (TNR). We also promote a positive image of the campus cats and work with the faculty/staff volunteers to advertise adoptable cats. We prioritize spreading awareness at UT about responsible and humane pet care in addition to the benefits of TNR as an effective solution to cat overpopulation and an alternative to euthanasia compliant with Austin’s No-Kill Policy. As an organization, we also fundraise to financially support the care of campus cats as well as animal rescue organizations in Austin. We will also regularly hold social events throughout the school year to build a student community dedicated to animal welfare advocacy, so all cat-loving students are welcome to meet like-minded people here and make a difference at UT!
Our Mission Statement
- Support the welfare of stray cats at UT by providing food, necessary veterinary care, and opportunities for adoption.
- Foster a community of UT students dedicated to animal welfare advocacy.
- Promote a positive image of the campus cats at UT.
- Spread awareness in the community about cat overpopulation, the benefits and costs of responsible cat care, and the humane treatment of animals.