Meet Peyton Skaggs. Peyton is a student at the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky studying neuroscience and psychology and was recently accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Early Assurance Program. While she plans on attending medical school at UK, right now she has also taken on the project of helping feral cats find new life on farms and barns across Kentucky. Peyton attempted to rescue a cat last fall on her street during a rainy day, but her efforts were to no avail. It was obvious it was feral due to the way it bolted as she approached, but she continued to think about how she could have potentially helped not only this cat, but ALL cats that did not have a caregiver. She was advised by a local organization that they could TNR (trap, neuter, and return) the cat to its original area, but that was about it – unless she knew of someone with a barn. The seed was planted!
After Peyton’s cat, Jack, suddenly passed, she decided to start getting more involved and volunteering at local clinics to help at-risk cats. Then, while on a train last December going from Germany to Paris, she was writing her New Year’s resolutions when she looked at her friend Izzy and said, “I think I’m going to start a barn cat program this year!” Once back home, Peyton started contacting other rescue organizations and gathering information on how she could make her new project come to life. Finally after months of planning and preparation, the Working Cat Project became an official organization in June of 2020.
Unfortunately, feral cats are the first to be euthanized at county shelters since they can’t be adopted indoors due to behavioral issues, litter box issues, or having had little to no human contact throughout their lives. The Working Cat Project is working to save as many of these kitties as possible. Peyton says that they receive calls from shelters throughout the state about numerous cats per week. They then work to find placement by reviewing adoption applications that have been submitted online. “I don’t really track down barns. I typically think that if people are asking for cats, the quality of care is going to be better than trying to beg people to take them. I don’t want people that aren’t interested. They are a long term commitment and they’ll still need to be looked after, fed and watered. They are like having an even more low maintenance pet.” Not only are they just finding the cats a new forever home, they also arrange for them to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated before transportation. “There is a lot more that goes into it than just grabbing the cats and going,” says Peyton. All the work is paying off though. Remarkably, in just the first 6 months since starting the non-profit organization, Peyton and her team have placed 166 cats into 60 barn homes!
If you’d like to help in any way or find out more, please visit www.WorkingCatProjectKy.org. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with their success stories.
Thanks, Peyton, for creating such a great organization to help those that cannot help themselves. Jack would be very proud!
Q: What led you to your current career and why do you love it?
A: My passion for medicine stems from my love for caring for others. I have been a caregiver at heart since I can remember and feel so strongly about leaving a meaningful impact on my community.
Q: What would you like for people to know about your job/business?
A: I want people to know how many people in Kentucky are passionate about bettering the Commonwealth and the lives within it. My favorite part of the Working Cat Project is meeting other engaged individuals who are just as passionate as I am about making the world a better place. We could all use more positivity and I want people to know how many good folks there are in our state!
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: I have always lived in Kentucky but started the non-profit earlier this year.
Q: Who is someone that inspires you?
A: Greta Thunberg. She is young, passionate, outspoken, and driven. I think that’s where the future is – young people finding initiatives that they are finding something to be passionate about, which really resonates with me.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Lexington and what is your go to item on the menu?
A: My favorite place to eat in Lexington would be Corto Lima and I always get the Quinoa Chaufa.
Q: If you could travel to anywhere in the world (non-pandemic), where would you go and why?
A: If I could travel anywhere in the world right now, I would travel to Bora Bora. The Keeping Up With the Kardashian episode was the beginning of my desire to travel to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Lexington?
A: It is impossible to narrow it down to one thing. Some of my favorite things include horses, sunsets, backroads, and Ale-8.
Q: Where do you take friends and family from out of town when they visit?
A: Lexington has the best food and drinks and my favorite way to spend time with others is over a good meal. I like to take friends and family to Corto Lima, Doodles, and Bourbon n’ Toulouse.
Q: Have you picked up any new hobbies or skills during this time of social distancing?
A: My newest hobby is the Working Cat Project which I started in March when the pandemic was starting. I also started taking horse back riding lessons last week.
Q: If you could have lunch with any living person, who would it be?
A: Beyonce!
Q: Where can we find you on your day off?
A: One the rare occasion I have a day off, you can find me in bed with my cats reading a book.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I have so many things on my bucket list that it is hard to choose. For the sake of having a single answer, I am going to go with drinking wine on a yacht in Santorini.
Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?
A: Cilantro tastes like soap to me!
Q: What is a topic you wish you knew more about?
A: Horse racing.
Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show & what are you currently binge watching?
A: I secretly love actions movies and would say any of the John Wick movies would make the top of the list. My favorite TV shows are Narcos, Grey’s Anatomy, and Queer Eye. I haven’t had the chance to watch TV the past couple of months but I plan on binging The Crown when I do!
Q: What do you feel that is an essential part of your daily or weekly routine that contributes to your overall well-being?
A: The most essential part of my weekly routine is spending time with my best friend, Izzy. There is nothing I value more than spending time with the people I love.
Q: If you were cast in a movie, who would your co-star be?
A: Will Ferrell
Q: Who is your go to band or artist when you can’t decide on something to listen to?
A: I love female rappers and will fully embrace my Megan thee Stallion obsession. You can never go wrong with her.
Q: If you could give advice to any group of people, what would it be?
A: Follow your dreams, spend less time comparing yourself.
