Community Hero: Jennifer Hohlt

How it Started

Jennifer Hohlt has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals. Growing up, her home became a haven for unwanted pets, from birds and dogs to a hedgehog and even an iguana! When she started her family in New Town 20 years ago and noticed feral cats having kittens nearby, she knew she had to help.

Partnering with the City of Saint Charles through their Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) Program, Jennifer has helped about 20 feral cats get fixed, vaccinated, and returned to their territory in New Town. When a trapped cat is friendly enough for adoption, Jennifer finds them a forever home, giving them a chance to leave the streets behind.

Fun Fact: The TNR program is a city ordinance to help control feral cat populations. These cats are protected and exempt from the city’s leash laws.

Jennifer recalls one cat, “Momma,” who was so elusive that she had three litters of kittens—18 cats in total—before finally being trapped. This highlights the magnitude of the work Jennifer and her neighbors do every day.

Jennifer also keeps a steady supply of food, fresh water, and cold weather shelters near her home for the various cats and other animals who find her porch within their territory.

Beyond Cats: A Friend to All Animals

It’s not just cats that have benefited from Jennifer’s kindness. She once helped secure a pot-bellied pig on the run through New Town, learning that pigs love grapes but hate leashes! She has also rescued a goat, a one-footed duck, and recently helped medicate a red fox with mange—right from her own front porch.

Volunteering and Fostering

Jennifer volunteers at the city animal shelter, cleaning cages and socializing scared cats and kittens—her favorite part. She helps cats from hoarder situations, surrendered pets, longtime strays, and ferals who can be rehabilitated, working to overcome their fear and distrust so they can be adopted.

Since 2018, with the help of her husband and teenage son, Jennifer has fostered 180 cats and kittens. She has learned to care for neonate kittens who need bottle-feeding every few hours and is skilled at spotting early signs of trouble, such as breathing problems or dehydration.

Jennifer also brings home older cats that are sick, injured, or need specialized care, providing the attention they need that shelters can’t always offer. She even knows how to use feeding tubes for adult cats who can’t eat on their own.

One special case was “Sparrow,” a cat with a broken jaw who needed to be tube-fed four times a day for a month. Sparrow became a “foster fail” and is now a permanent member of the Hohlt family.

The Challenges and Rewards

The hardest part for Jennifer is losing a foster pet, but she finds peace knowing they were loved and comfortable at the end. Saying goodbye when they are adopted is also difficult, but it allows her to help more kittens in need.

The most rewarding part is saving lives, especially when she takes in kittens that wouldn’t have survived another day without her help. Seeing those once-sick animals recover and go on to live happy lives is what makes her love what she does.

Thanks to Jennifer’s tireless dedication, New Town is a kinder, safer place for every cat that passes through. Her compassionate work doesn’t just save animal lives—it strengthens the heart of the entire community.

How You Can Help

Jennifer wants everyone to know that the shelter is a safe, caring place with an amazing staff. She believes that when the community works together, they can make a huge difference in saving lives.

There are many ways to help: volunteer, foster, transport animals, donate supplies, or help organize events. Just call or email your local shelter or rescue to get started.

To support Jennifer’s impact in New Town, you can donate supplies through her Amazon Wish List (also pinned to her Facebook page).

Follow Jennifer’s foster journey on Facebook at Neighborhood Cat Lady. Warning: you might just fall in love with a kitty companion you didn’t know you needed!