Photography by Nina Wilson and Katherine Orr
What began as a modest gesture of kindness in November 2018 soon evolved into a heartfelt mission of compassion. While attending a conference at a lodge in Lanseria, a woman noticed a group of feral cats and kittens scavenging for food from restaurant guests. Moved by their plight, she requested permission to set up a feeding station. Just a month later, as the holiday season approached, she turned to Facebook in search of someone to temporarily take over the feeding duties while she was away.
On a mission for ferals
Nina and her mother were the first to respond to the plea. Driving past the lodge each day on her way to work at the Lanseria Airport, Nina offered to step in and feed the cats for a few days – only, she never stopped. Touched by their need and driven by compassion, she found herself returning day after day. By March 2019, what started as a simple favour had grown into a full-fledged mission.
Nina launched Lanseria Ferals, a Facebook page dedicated to the expanding effort. With the backing of the National Cat Action Taskforce (NCat), she began raising funds for cat food and organised the first Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) session just weeks later. The initiative continued until every cat was sterilised, marking the creation of the first official feral cat colony.
A labour of love
Over time, Nina formed deep bonds with some of the feral cats – connections built slowly, patiently, over months and even years. A few began to trust her enough to come close, to accept a gentle touch, and eventually, to be picked up. For any feral feeder, it’s the ultimate reward: the moment fear gives way to trust. To Nina, these cats aren’t just part of a project; they’re her babies. Each one holds a special place in her heart, a quiet testament to the power of love, consistency, and compassion.
From those humble beginnings, Nina’s mission flourished. She gently tamed, fostered, and found loving homes for her first litter of feral-born kittens in July 2019 – a turning point that deepened her commitment. Support poured in, including donated traps from kind-hearted contributors, enabling her to expand her efforts.
Soon, a second feral colony was established at the Lanseria Airport, where she now oversees six feeding stations. Her rescues have taken her into hangars, terminal basements, wash bays, and even airport parking lots. To keep a watchful eye on both new arrivals and long-time feline residents, Nina has recently installed trail cameras at the feeding sites, allowing her to monitor and care for the colonies with tireless dedication.
In January 2022, a plea for help on Facebook led Nina to a handful of hungry cats scavenging near a nursery’s bins in Muldersdrift. Expecting a small group, she was soon overwhelmed as more cats emerged, many displaced by nearby construction. What began with ten quickly swelled to over forty. Undeterred, Nina spent the next two years patiently trapping, sterilising, and returning every single one. By May 2024, the final unsterilised cat was treated. Today, this Muldersdrift colony stands as Lanseria Ferals’ largest and most challenging – a powerful reflection of what dedication and compassion can achieve.
One colony at a time
In December 2023, Lanseria Ferals reached a major milestone: becoming an officially registered Non-profit Organisation (NPO). This allowed Nina to begin fundraising directly, unlocking new opportunities for growth and outreach.
Since then, the organisation’s impact has spread far beyond its original roots, expanding into areas like Fourways, Elandsdrift, Windsor West and East, Northriding, and Muldersdrift. Working hand-in-hand with other rescue groups, Lanseria Ferals continues to grow its reach and effectiveness. Today, the organisation feeds more than 200 feral cats each month. With the backing of a compassionate community, they feed, foster, medicate, sterilise, and ultimately, save lives – one colony at a time.
Meet the cats – some highlights remind us why we do this:
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Fanta (Lanseria Airport colony): Shot through the head with a pellet gun in July 2020 and miraculously survived. He clearly wasn’t a typical feral; he had the demeanour of a cat who once had a home. Releasing him back into an area where that kind of cruelty existed wasn’t an option. After time in foster care, he was adopted into a safe and loving home. Cases like his are rare, and even rarer are the chances to rehome adult ferals, but Fanta defied the odds in more ways than one.
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Sox (Muldersdrift colony): A fragile kitten who came into care in February 2024. He was desperately ill with pneumonia and on the verge of giving up. He needed urgent hospitalisation, something that would have been impossible without the incredible support of our online community. Thanks to their donations, we were able to give him a fighting chance. Sox pulled through, and while his recovery was slow, it was nothing short of miraculous.
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Patchy-Paws (Lanseria main colony): Suffered a horrific tail injury in January 2025 that left her tail so badly injured that amputation was the only option. Patchy-Paws recovered well after surgery and eventually re-joined her colony.
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Squish (Lanseria Airport colony): A lost house cat missing for eight months, spotted at an airport feeding station in March 2025 and reunited him with his owner in April. He’s now slowly adjusting to life back home. His incredible journey home will be shared in his own Happy Tale.
Despite having a full-time job, Nina continues to volunteer every spare hour – before work, after hours, and most weekends – committed to the mission that began so unexpectedly. Every feeding run, every vet visit, every trap set and reset is part of a much larger promise: to show that feral cats matter.
As of this writing, our application for Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status is awaiting approval from SARS. This next step will allow Lanseria Ferals to expand our fundraising capacity even further, opening doors to corporate and tax-deductible donations that could sustain our long-term goals.
For their wish list, visit https://www.lanseriaferals.org/wishlist-3/ and should you wish to make a donation, visit https://www.lanseriaferals.org/donations-2/
For more information, you can email Nina at lanseriaferals@gmail.com or visit www.lanseriaferals.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
