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Feral Cat Services

The NYC Feral Cat Initiative is committed to solving the New York City feral cat overpopulation crisis through the humane, non-lethal method of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). The program carries out its mission by providing the following free and low-cost services to individuals and organizations working with feral cats through TNR:

TNR Caretaker Training Workshops

Learn how to properly care for the feral cats in your community and make use of the many New York City resources now available to assist you. All steps in setting up a managed colony are covered, including establishing good community relations, feeding, building and placing shelters, arranging vet care, finding recovery space, safely handling feral cats, and trapping (with an emphasis on conducting a mass-trapping of an entire feral colony at once). All workshop attendees will become TNR certified and New York City residents will gain access to free spay/neuter and trap rental. Join the more than 1,500 caretakers trained to date! View upcoming TNR Caretaker Training Workshop dates, locations, and registration procedures.

Hands-on TNR Assistance

We provide hands-on assistance at TNR projects to first-time trappers and special needs cases. Hands-on TNR assistance is completed by our TNR Director, Meredith Weiss, Field Staff, and TNR Coaches. Hands-on TNR assistance is available on a first come, first served basis in all five boroughs to anyone who has completed a TNR Caretaker Training Workshop. Please e-mail us at TNRCoach@NYCFeralCat.org to request hands-on assistance:

In addition to the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, several other organizations in the New York City Feral Cat Council may be available to provide on-site trapping assistance. View a list of TNR organizations in NYC.

Loans of Traps, Dividers & Cages

Equipment for TNR projects, including traps, trap dividers (isolators), and cages, can be borrowed or rented from trap banks in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island. View locations and requirements.

Free & Low-Cost Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Programs

If you have completed a TNR Caretaker Training Workshop and your colony is located within New York City, free spay/neuter for feral cats is available at the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic (van) and the Humane Society of New York. Low-cost feral cat spay/neuter is available with a MAMA Coupon. Learn about booking these spay/neuter services.

New York City Feral Cat Database

In early 2006, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative launched its innovative, online New York City Feral Cat Database and currently has hundreds of feral cat colonies registered. The data collected shows that, on average, these colonies are already showing substantial declines in size! In addition, thousands of cats and kittens have been rescued and placed in homes from these same colonies. Entire neighborhoods, such as the Upper West Side of Manhattan, are virtually kitten-free, and other landmark areas like Rikers Island and the Fresh Kills Landfill have shown reductions by more than half in the numbers of cats.

Once you join the growing network of feral cat caretakers, you may be able to find some support from those in your neighborhood. After you register your colony in the New York City Feral Cat Database (this information is kept strictly confidential) you will be eligible for our free cat food giveaways. Register your colony.

Information on TNR & Feral Cat Care

Our online library provides a wealth of detailed online and printable information about feral cats and TNR in New York City. Topics include Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) overview; equipment and procedures; feral cat colony feeding, shelter, and eartipping; community relations; free and low-cost spay/neuter programs; care, socialization, and placement of kittens; animal cruelty investigation; emergency rescue and veterinary clinics; frequently asked questions (FAQ); and recommended links.

Advice by Phone or E-mail

You can request advice and guidance on how to help the street cats in your New York City neighborhood by contacting the NYC Feral Cat Initiative at (212) 330-0033 or info@NYCFeralCat.org.

Feline Lecture & Workshop Series

Our feline lecture and workshop series has featured topics including Bottle Babies: Proper Care of Orphaned Kittens; Socializing Feral Kittens; Veterinary Care of Feral Cats for Rescuers; and Animal Hoarding in New York City. Speakers have included Elizabeth Higgins, DVM, and Sandra DeFeo (Humane Society of New York); Tammy Cross (Kitten Little Rescue); Mike Phillips (Urban Cat League); Valerie Sicignano (NYC Feral Cat Initiative and In Defense of Animals); and Allison Cardona (ASPCA). To be notified about upcoming lectures and workshops, please subscribe to NYC Eartips, the e-newsletter of the NYC Feral Cat Initiative.

E-Newsletter

NYC Eartips, the e-newsletter of the New York City Feral Cat Initiative, will debut during Summer 2008. Subscribe now and you won't miss an issue!

NYCFeralCats Discussion Group

Those who have completed the TNR Caretaker Training Workshop are invited to join the NYCFeralCats Yahoo Groups e-mail discussion group to network with other NYC feral cat caretakers. A great way to find resources and get information!