Lifelines for Felines, Inc.

John Nikolai, the founder and director of this rescue, is a photographer and artist who once taught at MIT and worked at CBGB simultaneously. He began rescuing homeless cats in October, 2017 when he discovered many were being killed by a serial poisoner in a rough neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. It was there that he met Linda, a homeless woman living in her car with her cat and two dogs, who told him about a nearby auto graveyard where homeless cats were having babies in and under wrecked cars that dated back to the 1950s.

With Linda's help, he began rescuing the cats and kittens, obtaining medical attention for the sick and injured, sterilizations for the adults, and hospice care for the terminally ill. From the inception of the rescue organization, John has worked ceaselessly to place adoptable cats and kittens into permanent, loving homes. Several musicians from the original L.A. punk scene became involved, adopting the cats and playing benefit concerts, and the "rescue disorganization," Punks For Pussies was formed. Getting more organized, it became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity in 2020, under the name of Lifelines For Felines, Inc.

Having grown up a littermate in a pack of miscellaneous non-human critters, it was instinctual that Stephanie Babcock would dedicate her life to animal welfare. As a Registered Veterinary Technician, Stephanie is the medical advisor for our organization. (Feel free to reach out to her for veterinary advice, but if it's urgent, head for your closest vet instead of waiting for her to email you back, of course!) Stephanie is the head nurse at California Animal Rescue Emergency Services and fierce Mama Lion to 9 cats, 5 dogs, 7 hens, a pond-full of koi, and a revolving door of patients and fosters.

Delia Inman, grew up in Hollywood CA (very near to DTLA), and now lives in the South Bay. She is a proud owner of three kitty cats; Lucca, Chaco, and Olive. She has always loved all furry friends and as of recently she has really found a passion in advocating for them in any way she can. Punks for Pussies/Lifelines for Felines is the first non-profit she has been a part of, and she is beyond excited to be able to help in making a difference for all the kittens/cats around DTLA.

Cheyne Inman is a realtor and runner in Southern California. He is married to Delia Inman and together they have adopted three cats, Chaco, Lucca, and most recently Olive, a homeless kitten found in downtown LA.

Lynne Sherer met John Nikolai when they were both young punks working for the Ohio U newspaper who bonded over a shared love of the Ramones and the Damned. Decades later their shared love of cats and devotion to animal welfare and rescue rekindled their friendship and led to her involvement in Punks for Pussies. She has been supporting John and his amazing rescue efforts since he moved out to L.A. and began feeding, then rescuing and saving the lives of the cats in the auto graveyard. She couldn't be more proud and honored to be a part of his mission.

She lives in Arizona with her husband, son, and five cats: Fuzz, Izzy, Scooby, Rocky and Beanie. She has been a vegetarian and animal rights advocate since 1990 and has volunteered with many shelters and animal rescues. She currently volunteers with a small, local cat rescue in Chandler, AZ as well as supporting LFF/PFP with all her heart and soul!

Hi, my name is Paula. I started feeding a homeless cat in my building about 15 years ago. It started with 1 cat and grew to almost 20! There were two cats that I named Patches and Tabby, who were the parents to most of the stray cats in my building. Cream came into my life about a month ago. She was rescued about four miles from me. There are so many stray cats, not just in my building but in my neighborhood. It's very dangerous for them! People who want to harm them, just for being on the street! But with the help of people like John, we can get them off the streets and into safe and loving homes!

Heidi Kolkovich became involved with the rescue when she met John Nikolai at the dentist office one day. Her request to foster one kitten resulted in her fostering four brothers and she just completely fell in love with rescue work. She is currently only 18 but she hopes to do this for as long as she can and maybe eventually take over running the rescue.

Kyra Schon, a lifelong animal lover, became involved with Lifelines for Felines, Inc. when John Nikolai flew from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania to visit his mother. His traveling companion on that trip was a tiny, tortie girl born in a bathtub eight weeks prior, who would be delivered to a new life with Kyra. John and Kyra met in New Columbia, PA (which Kyra has renamed "New Kitten, PA"), for the tortie transfer. Kyra named the kitten "Kismet," because she joined the family on the first anniversary of her dear Tuxedo cat, Dimitri's, passing.

Kyra and Kismet live in South Central Pennsylvania with Elly May, Tortie Queen of All She Surveys, tabby terror, Keane Hawkins, Shepherd-Husky mix and cat-whisperer, Ty, The Goodest Boy, and chickens Elsa and Margaret.