Helping OC Cats was founded by Romina Yamashiro, who saw firsthand how the lack of affordable veterinary care left both stray and owned cats without options. For years, she personally funded and organized TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) efforts to help control the growing cat population. But it wasn’t just stray and feral cats that needed help—many loving pet owners simply couldn’t afford to fix or care for their own cats.

Time and again, Romina met seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and families on fixed incomes who desperately wanted to provide for their pets but had nowhere to turn. Meanwhile, the county shelter and most city programs offered no real programs or resources to those in need. Many pet owners faced heartbreaking choices—surrendering their beloved cats to overcrowded shelters, giving them away to rescue groups or strangers online, or struggling to afford even basic care.

Determined to create a real solution, Romina founded Helping OC Cats to provide free, accessible veterinary care for both community cats and owned pets. Through our free spay/neuter clinics, we bring in mobile veterinary units to offer spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchipping to those who need it most.

Beyond medical care, we provide goodie bags with food, treats, and supplies, ensuring that pet owners and community cat caregivers have the resources to care for their animals beyond the clinic. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, Helping OC Cats is working to build a future where no cat suffers due to lack of resources, and every pet owner has access to the care their animals need.

Our work doesn’t just benefit cats—it benefits the entire community. By addressing cat overpopulation, we prevent unnecessary suffering, reduce shelter intake, and create a safer, healthier environment for both pets and people.

Helping OC Cats

Active campaigns

Santa Ana TNR

GENERAL DONATIONS