Donna Sicuranza is the executive director of Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM), the Westbrook, Connecticut nonprofit that runs the state’s first and only mobile spay/neuter and vaccination clinic for cats. Since the clinic hit the road in 1997, its veterinarians have spayed or neutered more than 225,000 cats.
That’s the whole reason her name gets searched. She isn’t a celebrity, and her public footprint is almost entirely about one bus, one mission, and a lot of cats.
So this post sticks to what’s actually on the record: her role, how TEAM works, what it costs, and how to get your cat on board.
Who Is Donna Sicuranza?
She’s the public face of TEAM. When Connecticut TV stations and local papers cover the clinic, she’s usually the one explaining why it exists.
In a FOX61 segment on the clinic, she laid out the problem in plain numbers. A spay or neuter at a regular vet in Connecticut, she said, often runs $200 to $300, and in some parts of the state people have been quoted $500 or more. TEAM’s whole pitch is closing that gap.
You’ll find plenty of pages online claiming to know her age, family, or net worth. Skip them. None cite a real source, and her personal life isn’t part of the public record. What is on record is the work, and that’s the part worth knowing.
What Is TEAM, and Where Did It Come From?
TEAM started with an unusual gift. Vernon A. Tait, a New Haven man, died in 1992 and left half of his multimillion-dollar estate to an animal adoption charity. That money paid for a fully equipped surgical unit built into a bus, which is why his name is on the organization.
Probate and restructuring took about five years. The TEAM Mobile Feline Unit finally went into service on March 1, 1997.
The early numbers were striking:
- Year one (1997–98): about 8,000 cats fixed, at $35 each including vaccines
- Year two (1998–99): about 10,000 more, for 18,200 in two years
- Complication record: just nine deaths from complications out of those 18,200 surgeries
Animal People, a national animal welfare newspaper, reported in 1999 that the first-year total beat the previous mobile clinic record. That record was just over 6,000 animals, set by a Denver program in 1992.
Today the running total sits above 225,000 cats.
How Does a Spay Clinic on Wheels Work?
Picture a vet’s surgical suite squeezed into a bus. A licensed veterinarian and veterinary technicians work on board, and the unit parks in a different town on each clinic day.
Here’s how the model differs from a regular vet visit:
- It comes to you. The bus travels statewide, generally five days a week and sometimes on Saturdays.
- It does one thing at volume. Surgery days are built around spays and neuters, so the team handles a high number of cats per stop.
- It works with local groups. Towns often host it through partners. In Newtown, for example, The Animal Center and the Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown have brought it back repeatedly.
- Feral cats are welcome. Any Connecticut cat, pet or feral, can come aboard.
That last point matters more than people think. Feral cats rarely get to a regular vet, and they’re the ones driving kitten season every spring.
What Does It Cost Today?
The current fee is $245 for a spay or neuter. That price bundles in a lot:
- A brief exam
- The spay or neuter surgery
- Rabies, distemper, and upper/lower respiratory vaccines
- A nail trim
- Ear mite treatment, if needed
A few add-ons, priced separately when the vet decides they’re needed:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Convenia (long-acting antibiotic injection) | $20 |
| Hernia repair | $50 |
| Kitten package (ages 10–16 weeks: exam, first shots, dewormer) | $50 |
| Profender topical dewormer | $15 |
| Ear mite treatment (on its own) | $6 |
Here’s what most people miss: $245 is the all-in price with vaccines. At a regular clinic, you’d often pay for surgery and each vaccine separately, so compare the bundle, not just the surgery line.
How the price has changed since 1997
| Period | TEAM fee per cat |
|---|---|
| 1997–1999 | $35 |
| Around 2014 (FOX61 report) | $80 |
| Today | $245 |
That’s a big jump. Veterinary costs, staff wages, and equipment have all risen sharply since the 1990s, and TEAM relies on donations to keep the fee below typical private-practice prices.
How Do You Book a Spot on the Mobile Clinic?
You book by phone. There’s no walk-up service.
- Call 1-888-FOR-TEAM (1-888-367-8326). The office gives you the schedule and the nearest upcoming stop.
- Check eligibility. Cats must be at least 5 months old, and both you and the cat must live in Connecticut.
- Flag older cats. Cats over 2 years old may cost more, and older cats or those with health problems may not be accepted for surgery.
- Bring vaccine records if your cat is already up to date. Otherwise every cat gets vaccinated.
- Ask about the feral rebate. Caretakers doing trap-neuter-return (TNR) may qualify for a partial fee rebate.
One practical tip: bring each cat in its own carrier. Two stressed cats sharing one crate before surgery is a headache for you and the staff.
Why Does Mobile Spay/Neuter Matter for Connecticut Cats?
Because cost and distance are the two biggest reasons cats don’t get fixed. A family in a rural corner of the state may be an hour from a low-cost clinic, and $500 isn’t realistic for everyone.
The math on unspayed cats is brutal. One female cat can have several litters a year, and her kittens can start breeding at around 5 months old. That’s why TEAM’s stated goal is to fix as many cats as possible before they reproduce.
What TEAM has shown over nearly 30 years, with Donna Sicuranza as its public voice, is that a single well-run bus can make a statewide dent. Few programs anywhere have a 225,000-cat track record.
FAQ
Who is Donna Sicuranza?
She’s the executive director of Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM), a Westbrook, Connecticut nonprofit. TEAM runs the state’s first and only mobile spay/neuter and vaccination clinic for cats. She’s known publicly for that work, not for any celebrity role.
How much does TEAM charge to spay or neuter a cat?
The fee is $245. It includes a brief exam, the surgery, rabies, distemper, and respiratory vaccines, a nail trim, and ear mite treatment if needed. Extras like hernia repair ($50) cost more.
Do I need to show proof of income?
TEAM has historically not required proof of income or need, according to local news coverage. The clinic is open to any Connecticut resident’s cat. Call 1-888-FOR-TEAM to confirm the current rules before your appointment.
Can I bring a feral or stray cat?
Yes. Any Connecticut cat, domestic or feral, is welcome on the clinic. Caretakers doing trap-neuter-return may qualify for a partial fee rebate.
How old does my cat need to be?
At least 5 months old for surgery. Kittens 10 to 16 weeks old can get a $50 kitten package with an exam, first vaccines, and a dewormer. Cats over 2 years may cost more, and some may not be accepted.
Where does the clinic go?
It travels to communities all over Connecticut, often hosted by local animal groups. The schedule changes, so call 1-888-367-8326 for the nearest upcoming stop.
Conclusion
The story here is less about one person than about a model that works: a surgical bus, a fixed bundled price, and a phone line that takes any Connecticut cat. TEAM has stuck to that formula since 1997.
If you have an unfixed cat in Connecticut, the single most useful step is simple. Call 1-888-FOR-TEAM, ask for the next stop near you, and book before kitten season starts in spring.
John Carrol is a Christian writer and prayer minister with over a decade of experience in faith-based content, devotional writing, and spiritual encouragement. Rooted in Scripture and a lifelong love of intercessory prayer, John created PrayersFlower to help believers find the right words when their own run out. His writing draws from pastoral study, personal faith practice, and a deep conviction that prayer is the most powerful act available to the human heart. When he is not writing, John is found in quiet study of the Word, mentoring young believers, and serving his local church community.
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