About Us

At Bastrop C.A.T.S., we are dedicated to improving the lives of community and feral cats in Bastrop County, as well as supporting the people who care for them. 

Established in 2015 by Eileen McHugh and TerrieLynn Bach, Bastrop C.A.T.S. emerged from a strong desire to transform the fate of the numerous homeless cats and kittens that inundate the local county shelter each year.

Despite beginning with no financial backing and limited resources, Eileen and TerrieLynn, both lifelong cat enthusiasts, succeeded in founding a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) organization with the support of volunteers, veterinarians, and donors. Today, Bastrop C.A.T.S. successfully spays, neuters, and vaccinates approximately 1,300 cats annually, in addition to aiding countless other sick or injured community cats. Our most successful year was 2025, with 1,540 cats TNR’d and over 400 cats and kittens rescued, bringing our total to over 10,000 TNR’d cats.

Bastrop C.A.T.S. thrives due to a community of animal lovers who unite to enhance the lives of these felines.

Our Mission Bastrop Cats Anonymous TNR Society (Bastrop CATS) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of community cats in Bastrop County, Texas. We are a small “boots on the ground,” 100% volunteer-based organization. We focus our efforts solely on making the largest impact in our community through promoting and facilitating a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program. By sterilizing and vaccinating community cats, Bastrop CATS  improves the lives of these community cats by preventing breeding. We educate and provide resources to the people in our community. This enables them to humanely and effectively manage community cat populations. Our TNR program helps the local county shelter lower its overall intake of cats and kittens and saves lives! Our Vision Bastrop CATS believes that all animals deserve respect and compassion. We believe that many in our community agree with us and will join us in taking action to improve the lives of community cats.  Bastrop CATS provides education and resources to facilitate effective Trap-Neuter-Return which is the proven, most humane method of community cat management.

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Founder; President — TerrieLynn Bach

TerrieLynn Bach has been a lifelong, dedicated cat lover who began her journey by fixing and vaccinating feral neighborhood cats near Houston in the early 1980s. At that time, she personally funded these efforts with a local veterinarian, as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) was not a known practice. In 2014, after moving to the Bastrop area, she recognized a severe cat overpopulation problem in Bastrop County. Understanding that fostering or adoption was not a sustainable solution, and dismayed by the local shelter’s euthanasia rate of 75% for cats, she felt compelled to take action.

Teaming up with fellow cat enthusiast Eileen McHugh, TerrieLynn decided to make a difference. They researched TNR through the Alley Cat Allies website and resolved to establish a nonprofit TNR group. Thus, the Bastrop Cats Anonymous TNR Society – Bastrop C.A.T.S. was born, with a small group of cat-loving volunteers, limited resources, and the support of a dedicated donor.

Today, TerrieLynn serves as the President and Director of Bastrop C.A.T.S., an organization with a growing number of volunteers and donors. Together, they work tirelessly to improve the lives of feral and free-roaming stray cats in Bastrop County.

Board Secretary — Deana Lee

Deana Lee, who also serves as the board secretary, began working with community animals in 2010 with her husband and nephews by volunteering at a local shelter. They progressed to fostering, specializing in “medical fostering,” bringing hundreds of cats and kittens into their lives. Supported by Bastrop C.A.T.S. with education and supplies, the animals they cared for became known as “Leeville Butterballs” due to their thriving under the family’s care. Deana and her family also became passionate about spaying, neutering, and vaccinating community cats. A special birthday gift, a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) trap, became crucial in their efforts. Deana and her husband Christopher continue to support Bastrop C.A.T.S., believing that everyone can make a difference for vulnerable animals.

Board Treasurer — Launa Johnson

Launa Johnson is a passionate advocate for animal welfare, focusing on kitten rescue and foster care. Her dedication has been crucial to the success of Bastrop C.A.T.S., a community-focused organization. Starting as a kitten foster, she collaborated with rescue groups and began managing the Bastrop C.A.T.S. Facebook group in 2019, showcasing her skills in communication and coordination.

Launa has taken on key roles in the organization, including fundraising, social media management, medical care coordination, and overseeing foster and rescue operations. In November 2024, she became Treasurer for Bastrop C.A.T.S., where her analytical skills ensure financial transparency and proper fund allocation.

Her achievements include fostering over 250 animals, demonstrating her commitment to providing them with the care and love they need. Launa’s contributions are invaluable to Bastrop C.A.T.S., driving the organization’s mission and inspiring community involvement.

TNR Coordinator — Martha Granger

Martha Granger is an exceptionally organized and driven volunteer who has made a significant impact through her work with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Initially starting as a volunteer, Martha quickly recognized the potential to make a larger difference by taking on the responsibility of coordinating TNR appointments.

In 2018, she officially began coordinating the TNR Program, and thanks to her remarkable skills, Bastrop C.A.T.S. was able to expand its clinic and veterinary resources significantly. Martha’s dedication and hard work have been pivotal in accelerating the organization’s growth. Today, she continues to serve as the TNR Coordinator, overseeing a program that partners with four non-profit TNR clinics and three private veterinary clinics. These collaborations allow Bastrop C.A.T.S. to spay, neuter, and vaccinate an average of 100 cats each month, demonstrating Martha’s lasting impact on the community and its feline residents.

Founder: Retired — Eilleen McHugh (nee Haag)

Eilleen McHugh (née Haag) retired in November 2024, marking the end of an era in her dedicated service to animals. Her lifelong passion for cats, which began in her childhood, led her and her daughter, Morgan, to start volunteering at their local county animal shelter in 2013. Eilleen was moved by the overwhelming number of stray cats and kittens arriving at the shelter daily, which highlighted the ongoing issue of uncontrolled breeding. Determined to make a difference, she founded Bastrop C.A.T.S., assembling a team of dedicated volunteers who shared her vision. In 2015, her tireless efforts were recognized with the Point of Light award from the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce for her unselfish service to the community. Her commitment and years of service have helped create a robust TNR program, leaving a lasting impact on the community.