'I Didn't Know So Many People Cared.' How Incarcerated Texas Women Raised $11,000 for a Sick Senior Cat.
In a place defined by razor wire, locked doors, and long sentences, a stray cat named OJ became something rare: a constant, living comfort for women who have access to very little else.
And recently when OJ fell seriously ill inside a Central Texas prison, his survival came down to a small group of incarcerated women, a volunteer willing to pay out of pocket, and a daughter on the outside who decided to act.
Kitti Reed, who lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said she learned through one of her mother’s friends that OJ was in bad shape. Reed’s mother is incarcerated at the Patrick O’Daniel Unit in Gatesville, where OJ has lived alongside her for years.
“When I wrote my mom about it, she’s like, yeah, he’s got a kidney infection,” Reed said. “He’s falling over when he tries to walk. Yowling, screaming.”
Reed said the situation hit close to home. She previously lost a cat to kidney problems and knew how serious the condition could be — especially for senior male cats, which often require expensive treatment.
https://thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/13/i-didnt-know-so-many-people-cared-how-incarcerated-texas-women-raised-11000-for-a-sick-senior-cat/