MIDDLEBORO — From the couch to the climbing post to the sun-dappled floor, cats find themselves at home in the house of Scott and Missy Hodgdon.

 “I have a very good rapport with them,’’ Scott Hodgdon said. “They call me the cat whisperer.’’

He may communicate with them in whispers, but he wants to make a strong statement about the importance of caring for his feline friends.

The Hodgdons have formed the Walnut Feral Society to rescue homeless cats, care for them and allow them a chance to survive and live a healthy life.

Working with local animal shelters, they support the process of trap, neuter and release, known as TNR in cat rescue circles. Through this process, traps are set up in areas where feral cats are known to live. The trapped cats are then spayed or neutered. 

Some can then be adopted after spending time with people who can help socialize them. This is particularly the case with kittens, which have little experience in the wild and are more adaptable to being domesticated.

Other feral cats will never be comfortable as domestic pets. They are then released back into the wild, no longer able to reproduce, into a location where people commit to feeding and looking after them.

The Hodgdon’s one-acre property is one such location. Right now, a renovated truck cab and makeshift lean-tos provide shelter for outdoor cats. 

They also have a “cat-io’’ at the rear of their home where the cats can and do seek refuge. The couple would like to expand it to accommodate even more cats. 

These feral cats would be fed and sheltered and “allowed to come and go as they please,’’ according to the society’s mission statement.

Some may choose to wander into the Hodgdon home, where they are welcomed no matter their temperament. Others will choose to remain outdoors.

In addition to providing sanctuary for the cats, the Hodgdons want to spread the word about responsible pet ownership.

Unwanted cats should be surrendered humanely, they advise. “If you can’t keep a cat, don’t dump it,’’ Missy Hodgdon said. “Bring it to a shelter.’’

When people abandon a cat in the wild, “all they’re doing is creating more problems,’’ she said. 

Starting at the age of eight months, a cat can have four litters a year. “One dropped cat can turn into 20’’ in a year, she said.

Caring for the cats costs money. They are taking in donations of cans that they can return to the store for refunds. Cans can be brought to their home at 135 Walnut St.

Money raised would help pay for medical treatment for some of the ferals and will help defray the cost of becoming an official 501C3 non-profit, which Scott Hodgdon said would cost about $1,800.

By making a donation, he said, “you’re not helping us, you’re helping them.’’

Caring for the cats takes time and money, but he said that the work is offset by the affection they receive from the animals, he said. “We’re their voice.’’

To learn more about the organization and donation opportunities, visit gofundme.com/f/walnut-feral-society.