New York City Feral Cat Initiative - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

New York City Feral Cat Initiative - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Search this site for:


 

Home

About Us

Services

Information

E-Newsletter

TNR in the News

Upcoming Events

Register a Colony

Volunteer

Donate

FAQ

Contact Us

 

Save JFK Cats!

 

View Brochure

 

Subscribe!

Subscribe to NYC Eartips,
the e-newsletter of the
NYC Feral Cat Initiative.

Your E-mail:

 

Home > About the New York City Feral Cat Initiative

About the New York City Feral Cat Initiative

The New York City Feral Cat Initiative is a joint program of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and Neighborhood Cats, two private non-profit organizations committed to solving New York City's feral cat overpopulation crisis through the humane, non-lethal method of Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR for short.

The NYC Feral Cat Initiative program provides TNR Caretaker Training Workshops in all five boroughs; hands-on assistance at TNR projects in all boroughs; free TNR equipment loans; public advice by phone and e-mail; feline educational events and information via our e-newsletter, web site, and printed materials. In addition, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative hosts the NYC Feral Cat Council, an alliance of organizations that work directly with feral cats and TNR in New York City.

In early 2006, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative launched its innovative online database at www.NYCFeralData.org to gather statistical data on feral cat colonies in New York City. Today, the New York City Feral Cat Database includes hundreds of registered feral cat colonies. Based on the data collected thus far, those colonies are showing a substantial decline in size as a result of TNR! In addition, thousands of friendly cats and kittens have been removed from those colonies and placed in permanent homes, thereby avoiding being taken in by municipal animal services where they might have been euthanized.

TNR is saving money and lives in New York City! In neighborhoods where TNR efforts have been concentrated, there is a striking reduction in the number of kittens being born. In addition, landmark areas like Rikers Island and the Fresh Kills Landfill have shown reductions of more than half of the number of cats.

Our Staff

TNR Director: Meredith Weiss

Meredith Weiss has been a Board Member of Neighborhood Cats since 2000. She is widely recognized for her compelling photographs of feral cats that have appeared in Cat Fancy, The New York Times, and Newsday, among other publications. She has received a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers Association for her color photography series appearing in the Fall 2003 issue of the ASPCA's Animal Watch.

Director of Programs: Valerie Sicignano

Valerie Sicignano has been working with feral cats in New York City since 1990. She also works on international animal issues, including wild horses and chimpanzees, for In Defense of Animals. She holds a Certificate in Humane Education from the ASPCA, and since 2003, has produced several annual national animal conferences, including the Humane Leadership Academy, the Natural Pet Fair, and the National Feral Cat Summit. Her work with animals has been recognized by the Manhattan Pet Gazette's "Animal Guardian" Award and In Defense of Animals "Companion Animal Guardian Award."

TNR Instructors

Our dedicated TNR Instructors include Aimee Hartman, Jamie Lehman, Teresa Noto, Jesse Oldham, and Phil Roseman.

Trap Bank Coordinators

Phil Roseman is our Brooklyn Trap Bank Coordinator.

TNR Field Staff

Our TNR Field Staff includes Jamie Lehman in the Bronx and PJ McKosky in Brooklyn.

Contact Us

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for answers to some of the most common questions we receive regarding TNR and feral cats.

NYC Feral Cat Initiative

c/o Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R290

New York, NY 10001-7604

Telephone: (212) 330-0033

E-mail: info@NYCFeralCat.org

 

Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Copyright © 2008 Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

Photos courtesy of Meredith Weiss and NeighborhoodCats, unless otherwise noted

NYC Feral Cat Initiative  •  c/o Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals  •  244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R290  •  New York, NY 10001  •  (212) 330-0033  •  info@NYCFeralCat.org