When a fire broke out in the Willow Glen Apartments in Millcreek at the end of July, about 80 people were displaced. Of those 24 units 10 had pet cats with 14 total missing. Whiskers, a nonprofit cat rescue set to work trying to find those cats and reunite them with their owners.

“It was right by my home,” said Jessica Vigos, executive director and founder of Whiskers. “Nobody else was trying to rescue the cats. The fire department told everyone that no cats survived but we rescued and returned six cats to their families.”

The fire department was able to get one to an owner the night of the fire, she said. “One more was seen alive but not recovered yet (as of Aug. 13) so that is eight of 14 alive.”

Unfortunately six of the cats were from the most badly destroyed top units and may not have survived the smoke inhalation alone, however the fire department did open all of the doors, Vigos said. “But what we’ve learned is that not all cats will flee what feels safe and known to them.”

That’s what Whiskers is all about – rescuing cats. “We’re a rescue dedicated to senior cats with medical issues or that are high risk,” Vigos said. “We work with Weber, Davis and Salt Lake Counties.”

There’s a huge gap, she said. “A lot of groups will not take cats with medical needs. They’re at risk of euthanasia. We get them back to health and find them homes.”

It’s a huge barrier to people adopting cats with big medical problems, said Vigos. “No one wants to adopt when it’s $1,000 right out of the gate.”

Whiskers is 100% volunteer run and depends on donations for funding, she said. “In 2023 we had $75,000 in medical bills,” Vigos said. “It’s mostly community support and some grants. We have a very consistent large donor. People who believe in the work we do.” 

The organization holds pet adoption events every month at different Petco locations:

Aug. 23 – Farmington Petco, Station Park

Sept. 6 – Bountiful Petco, 181 N. 545 West

Sept. 20 – Farmington Petco

Oct. 4 – Bountiful Petco

Oct. 18 – Farmington Petco

Nov. 8 – Bountiful Petco

Nov. 22 – Farmington Petco

Dec. 6 – Bountiful Petco

Dec. 20 – Farmington Petco

All events are from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturdays. Dates are subject to change @everyone to see updates. For more information about adoption or to donate visit https://whiskersutah.org/.