When it comes to caring for stray animals on the streets, most people don’t see it as their responsibility. But one selfless man decided to take matters into his own hands and has been feeding stray cats every single day for over 22 years.
Willie Ortiz is a 76-year-old man, a veteran and a scrap metal collector from Hartford, Connecticut. He has been feeding stray cats in his area for 22 years without missing a single day. Rain, snow, or freezing cold — he still goes out, collects scrap metal to sell, and uses the money to buy cat food and supplies. Willie cares for them every night, feeding them and also having them spayed or neutered to keep the stray population under control.
He started feeding stray cats after he saw a hungry kitten begging for food and being ignored by people. “People were pushing it away, and I could see it needed help,” Willie said. “I know these cats can’t understand my accent, but I need to do something.” From that day on, he decided that caring for stray cats was his life’s mission.
Despite his age, Willie still works hard to ensure the cats have enough to eat. Every morning, he drives around collecting scrap to sell. While most of us go straight home from work to rest, Willie goes out again in the evening to check on the cats, feeding them a nutritious meal of cat kibble and sardines. The cats under his care are healthy and well-fed.
Not only does he feed the cats every day, but he also cares for those that are sick or injured, bringing them in for medical treatment when needed. Although the work is tough, Willie says this is his life — and it truly makes him happy. He says he’ll keep feeding the cats for as long as he possibly can.
Last year, a woman named Kathleen Schlentz noticed the amazing work Willie was doing and created a GoFundMe page to help him buy more food. The fundraiser has already surpassed its goal and raised over $295,000, but people can still donate to support his mission. Kathleen wrote on the page: “Presently he feeds 16 colonies of stray and feral cats — a total of 68 cats — every night, 365 days a year, and has never missed a night in 22 years. He makes sure they get what they need to live the best life possible.”
The world needs more people like Willie — people whose daily acts of kindness make the world a little better.
Willie goes out in all weather to feed the cats. He has stood with them in rain, sleet, snow, and strong winds. Some people question why he does it, but Willie has an answer:
“People ask me why I feed them every day, or tell me I feed them too much,” he said. “You eat every day, right? You get three meals; they eat once every 24 hours.”
