Protecting Every Whisker in the Greater Pittsburgh Area
A foster-based, volunteer-run rescue dedicated to the cats no one else is looking for.
Whisker Protection Program is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, treating, and rehoming homeless and community cats and kittens across the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Through trap-neuter-return, foster-based rescue, emergency veterinary care, and community education, we work to give every cat we meet a healthier, safer life, whether that means a forever home or a well cared-for life outdoors.
Our Story
Our story didn't start with a mission statement, it started with a shared love of animals. Nate and Rebecca met in Philadelphia in 2009, each already devoted to the animals in their lives: Nate's cat, Bailey, and Rebecca's dachshund, Beans. That shared passion led them to volunteer together at the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), and it wasn't long before the work followed them home. Cats had a way of finding their South Philadelphia doorstep, and instead of looking away, Nate and Rebecca started looking after them.
What began as feeding a few strays outside their home grew into something neither of them expected: over a decade of hands-on rescue work, done side by side, long before it had a name.
In 2026, that shared decade of experience became official. Whisker Protection Program was formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, not because the work changed, but because it had finally outgrown what two people could sustain alone.
We didn't set out to build an organization. We set out to help the cats in front of us. The nonprofit is just what that commitment looks like now that it's grown big enough to need one.
What We Do
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)
We humanely trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and return community cats to their outdoor homes, preventing new litters and improving the health of Pittsburgh's outdoor cat colonies.
Foster & Adoption
We place cats and kittens in loving foster homes while they wait for adoption, providing fosters with supplies, medical support, and guidance every step of the way.
Emergency & Preventive Veterinary Care
From routine wellness checks to emergency medical intervention, we make sure every cat in our care, foster or community, gets the treatment they need.
Community Education & Outreach
We help Pittsburgh residents understand TNR, responsible cat ownership, and how to support community cats safely and effectively.
35+
Cats in Foster & Rescue Care
40+
Community Cats Supported Through TNR
2026
Year of Official 501(c)(3) Incorporation
.png)
Nate Meyers
Executive Director
Nate has spent over a decade in hands-on cat rescue, starting in Philadelphia in 2009 and continuing after relocating to Pittsburgh. He co-founded WPP with Rebecca and now leads the organization's operations, from foster and TNR logistics to partnerships and day-to-day organizational strategy.
Rebecca Tomic
Co-Founder & Chief Communications Officer
Rebecca has rescued alongside Nate since day one, starting with volunteer work at the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in 2009 and continuing through a decade-plus of hands-on foster and community cat care. She co-founded WPP with Nate and now leads the organization's public presence, from brand partnerships and social media to community outreach and the organization's finances as Treasurer.