Welcome to Neighborhood Cats!
Do you live or work in New York City and feed cats in your neighborhood or at your job? Do you want to do more, but don't know where to turn? If so, you've come to the right place! There are a wealth of resources here in NYC to help you get feral and stray cats fixed and provide them with the care they need. Neighborhood Cats provides training and support, and will work with you to get your TNR project done. Here's what we offer:
- The Neighborhood Cats TNR Workshop
"TNR" means Trap-Neuter-Return - the most humane and effective method of managing feral and stray cats and improving their lives. Attending our training workshop is the first step to take if you want to do TNR. You'll learn how to trap the cats safely, borrow equipment, schedule spay/neuter surgeries and provide long-term care for the cats. Attendees will be added to our TNR certification list which will mean you can borrow traps, schedule surgeries and receive expert assistance at no cost.
- Referrals for free or low-cost spay/neuter
TNR certification makes you eligible for free or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries at participating clinics in New York City.
- Trap Banks
Trap banks are located throughout the City, including one in Brooklyn and another in Staten Island operated by Neighborhood Cats. In addition to regular traps, we lend out drop traps, trap dividers, cages and carriers, also at no cost for TNR-certified residents. If you want to purchase your own equipment, see our recommendations.
- Coaching assistance
Neighborhood Cats wants your TNR project to be a success! To help make that happen, if you've attended our workshop and want on-site assistance, we will send an experienced trapper to work with you on the first day of your trapping. To request a TNR Coach, email help@neighborhoodcats.org.
- Phone and email advice
We're just a click or phone call away if you have a question. Write to help@neighborhoodcats.org or leave a voicemail at 212-662-5761. We'll get back to you promptly.
- Targeted TNR Grants
Fixed the cats in your backyard and want to now take on the whole neighborhood? Funding and logistics support are available from Neighborhood Cats if your goal is to TNR twenty-five cats or more in a specific target area. For more info, email help@neighborhoodcats.org.
- TNR assistance for the elderly or disabled
If you're feeding community cats and want to get them fixed, but are physically unable to do the trapping and other hands-on work, we can help. Email help@neighborhoodcats.org or phone 212-662-5761.
- NYC Feral Cat Database
Neighborhood Cats maintains a database of colonies throughout the five boroughs of NYC. This helps us locate caretakers when eartipped cats end up in local shelters, so they can be returned home. The data also helps us track our progress in gradually reducing the outdoor cat population, secure funds for TNR and identify areas of need. zit's easy to join - you can register and enter your colony info online.
- NYC Feral Cats Yahoo Group
To stay connected with others practicing TNR in NYC, network for assistance and seek information and advice, join our online discussion group.
- Email Network & Eartipped Cat Alerts
Our NYC email network will keep you informed of the latest news and services for feral cats. Join by sending your name and email address to info@neighborhoodcats.org. The network is also where you'll see our Eartipped Cat Alerts. These alerts are sent out whenever we learn an eartipped feral cat has been admitted to Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), our local open admission shelter. (You can further protect your cats by registering your colony in our online colony database, another way we'll be able to find you if one of your cats lands in ACC.)
- Low-cost winter shelter giveaways
Each fall, we distribute feral cat winter shelters from a local manufacturer at cost, usually about $20 each. Join our NYC email network to be informed of dates and locations by sending your contact info to info@neighborhoodcats.org.
- Volunteer opportunities
No cats to fix but want to help others? If you're TNR-certified, you can assist with trapping, holding cats during a TNR project, fostering kittens, transportation and more. Contact info@neighborhoodcats.org.