Meet the Member: Gail Wilbur of Patches Place Cat Rescue

Gail Wilbur is the founder of Patches Place Cat Rescue, a home-based nonprofit that has been helping cats in Fayetteville and Lincoln County since 2013. What started as a response to a growing community problem has become a long-running mission to care for cats, reduce overpopulation, and connect animals with loving homes.

Gail was inspired to start the rescue after witnessing how serious the cat overpopulation problem had become. When the Humane Society stopped operating the local shelter and cats were no longer being accepted, the number of stray and feral cats in the area quickly increased. Seeing the need for action, Gail stepped in to help and began operating Patches Place out of her home.

For the past 13 years, Gail has dedicated her time and resources to rescuing cats and improving the lives of animals in the community. Since opening, Patches Place has helped place 121 cats into loving homes. In addition to adoptions, a major focus of the rescue is TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return). This process helps control the feral cat population by safely trapping cats, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and returning them to their environment so they cannot continue reproducing.

Patches Place operates entirely from Gail’s home, making it a truly grassroots effort. What began as assisting the Humane Society gradually evolved into a full rescue operation run with compassion, dedication, and community support.

Gail describes the mission of Patches Place simply: to find homes for as many cats as possible while working to reduce the feral population through spay and neuter efforts.

Community support plays a crucial role in the rescue’s success. Donations help cover the cost of medical care for feral cats, including spay or neuter surgery, rabies vaccinations, and preventative treatment. Gail notes that a $50 donation can cover the full care for one feral cat, helping prevent future litters and improving the health of the animals.

Patches Place joined Fayetteville Main Street to increase awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering cats, connect with more members of the community, and help generate donations to continue their work. Gail frequently participates in First Saturdays on the Square, where she shares information about the rescue and educates the public on how they can help address the cat overpopulation problem.

Through persistence, compassion, and community involvement, Gail Wilbur and Patches Place Cat Rescue continue to make a meaningful difference for cats and the families who adopt them across Lincoln County.