NYC Community Cat Caretaker Resources
General Information
For the most complete and up-to-date information on local resources, please visit the NYC Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) at
Certified TNR Caretakers may contact NYCFCI at: . This is a dedicated addressto be used exclusively by Certified TNR Caretakers who have completed the training workshopfor managing a cat colony.
Free or Low-Cost Spay/Neuter
The following organizations offer free or low-cost spay/neuter services (and related treatment) for feral cats. Which organization you should work with will depend on whether or not you are a Certified TNR Caretaker, the scope of your project, and how many cats you can handle at one time.
ASPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic
If you have completed a TNR Certification Workshop and your colony is located within New York City, affordable spay/neuter for feral cats is available at the ASPCA Stationary Clinic in Glendale, Queens ($5 per cat, including a rabies vaccination and left eartipping; other services such as FVRCP vaccinations and antibiotics are also available on request and at reduced cost.). You must sign a Terms of Use document in order to use the clinic's services.For more information, contact the ASPCA at (877) SPAY-NYC (877-772-9692), option 6 for TNR.
The Humane Society of New York Clinic
The Humane Society of New York (HSNY) operates a feral cat clinicthat offers free spay/neuter, left eartip, rabies vaccination, and flea and ear mite medication. Further services, such as testing, are available at regular fees. If a cat is sick or injured, free or discounted treatment may be available at the discretion of the HSNY.
What is the procedure for using the HSNY clinic?
1) / Before you start trapping, call the Appointment Desk at (212) 752-4840 to schedule a date.oPlease provide as accurate an estimate as possible of the number of cats you want to trap and bring in.2) / Drop off the cats between 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the morning of your spay/neuter date at:
The Humane Society of New York
306 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
Very Important: Each cat must be brought in a separate trap, covered completely with a sheet — no exceptions. This is for the protection of the staff. Carriers or other containers are not acceptable.
3) / Pick up cats between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., unless you're told otherwise.
4) / Bring the cats to your own pre-arranged recovery space. The HSNY does not provide
post-surgery boarding.
The Toby Project
The Toby Project offers free spay/neuter in all five boroughs for feral cats. TNR caretakers can call to schedule a spay/neuter clinic.
Bronx/Manhattan/Queens (Thursdays and Fridays): Contact Lori Behrman at
Brooklyn/Staten Island: Contact FeralsIn Peril at (347) 816-2899 or
MAMA Coupon (Muffin's Pet Connection/Mayor's Alliance)
The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals has teamed up with Muffin's Pet Connection to create theMAMA Couponfor low-cost feral cat spay/neuter. Included in the coupon price ($58 for females; $45 for males) are spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, and left eartip. Any other services or costs are strictly optional; we recommend getting an estimate before services are rendered. See for a list of participating veterinarians and program guidelines.
Feral-Friendly Private Practice Veterinarians
The following veterinary practices in New York City have experience working with feral cats. Fees and services vary.
BrooklynAnimal Kind Veterinary Hospital
365 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 832-3899
Park Slope Veterinary Center
639 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11232
(718) 369-7387
Pet Haven Animal Hospital
290 McDonald Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11218
(718) 435-6900
Queens
Animal Clinic of Woodhaven
76-23 Jamaica Avenue
Woodhaven, NY 11421
(718) 296-0500
Steinway Court Veterinarian
32-41R Steinway Street
Long Island City, NY 11103
(718) 728-2822
Whitestone Veterinary Care
22-22 154th Street
Whitestone, NY 11357
(718) 888-0400 / Staten Island
Aadobe Animal Hospital
1294 Forest Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10302
(718) 370-0700
CompleteCare Veterinary Center
1293 Clove Road
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 720-4211
Forest Animal Hospital
1050 Forest Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
(718) 442-4377
Island Bird Cat & Dog Veterinary Group
369 Manor Road
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 370-9472
Northside Animal Hospital
773 Post Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
(718) 981-4445
Pleasant Plains Animal Hospital
6395 Amboy Road
Staten Island, NY 10309
(718) 227-8387
Staten Island Veterinary Group
3875 Victory Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 370-0390
The Clinic at Country Estate
4838 Arthur Kill Road
Staten Island, NY 10309
(718) 356-3933
General Wellness
The feral-friendly cat clinic of Humane Society of New York (HSNY) offers veterinaryservices and treatment for illness and injury. Discounts may be available for these services.
The Humane Society of New York
306 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
For appointments, call(212) 752-4840.
Transport
ASPCA Spay/Neuter Transport
The ASPCA's clinics work in tandem with their transport service, which provides free rides for spay/neuter candidates including feral cats and qualified animals from local rescue groups and humane organizations. Their climate-controlled vehicles were specifically designed to provide safe and comfortable transport for community cats in traps.
There are two FREE options for animal transport to and from the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic:
Private Locations
Eligible animal rescue organizations or individuals can schedule an ASPCA transport vehicle to pick-up aminimum of 15 animalsfrom the location of their choice.
1. Two-Day Transport:
All animals will be returned to the same location the following day.
- Pick up day and time: Tuesday- Saturday 7:00 A.M.
- Drop-off day and time: Wednesday –Saturday 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
2. Same-Day Transport:
All animals will be returned to the same location the same day.
- Pick-up day and time: Tuesday- Saturday 7:00 A.M.
- Drop-off day and time: Tuesday- Saturday 7:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.
OR
Central Locations
Eligible animal rescue organizations or individuals can schedule an appointment to have an ASPCA transport vehicle pick up your animal(s) from a pre-determined location. There is no minimum number of animals required to participate.
1. Two-Day Transport:
All animals will be returned to the same location the following day.
- Pick up days and time: Tuesday- Saturday7:00 A.M.
- Drop off days and time: Wednesday – Saturday 11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
2. Same-Day Transport:
All animals will be returned to the same location the same day.
- Pick-up days and time: Tuesday- Saturday 7:00 A.M.
- Drop-off days and time: Tuesday- Saturday 7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Upon arrival at our clinic, all animals are examined and surgery is performed on healthy candidates. Animals recover in our facility and are transported back to the same location.
All services will be invoiced monthly.
Mayor's Alliance Wheels of Hope
Transport of traps and cats are offered to Certified TNR Caretakers for their scheduled TNR projects. The Mayor's Alliance's Wheels of Hope vans carry traps between trap banks and TNR project sites and transport trapped cats to spay/neuter clinics, surgical recovery spaces, and back to their original colonies.
Trap& Equipment Loans
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. Equipment is lent to Certified TNR Caretakers only. Be sure to book your spay/neuter appointments prior to reserving traps.
Bronx
Jamie Lehman
A limited number of traps are available at this location. An appointment and refundable deposit are required. Traps must be returned cleaned and in a timely manner.
Location: Call or e-mail for location
Phone: (917) 499-2985
E-mail:
Brooklyn
Neighborhood Cats
Traps are lent to Certified TNR Caretakers on Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–Noon. A reservation and refundable deposit are required. Traps must be returned cleaned and in a timely manner.
Location: 30 Prince Street
E-mail:
Web:
NYC Feral Cat Initiative
Traps are lent to Certified TNR Caretakers on Sundays, 1:00–2:00 p.m. A reservation and refundable deposit are required. Traps must be returned cleaned and in a timely manner.
Location: U-Haul Storage, 394 4th Avenue (at 6th Street), Park Slope
E-mail:
Muffin's Pet Connection
Muffin's Pet Connection rents humane cat traps. There is an $80 cash deposit. The charge is $7 for the first day, then $3 a day for each additional day that the trap is out. When the trap is returned, they deduct the rental charge from the $80 deposit. The deposit is forfeited if the trap or cage is not returned. The trap must be cleanedwith bleach and water before it is returned.
Location: Visit the Muffin's Pet Connection website for a list of pick-up locations.
Web:
Queens
ASPCA
The ASPCA rents traps for TNR purposes to Certified TNR Caretakers. Traps must be picked up and returned to the Queens address by appointment only, Sunday–Wednesday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Location: 70-39 83rd Street, Glendale, Queens
E-mail:
Web:
SaveKitty Foundation
An appointment and refundable deposit are required. Traps must be returned cleaned and in a timely manner.
Location: Call for location
Phone: (347) 993-3163
Web:
Friendly Ferals
An appointment and refundable deposit are required. Traps must be returned cleaned and in a timely manner.
Location: Forest Hills, Queens (exact location given with reservation)
E-mail:
Phone: (917) 579-5718
Web:
Staten Island
Staten Island Feral Initiative (SIFI)
Available to all TNR-certified Staten Island residents by appointment only.
Location: Given with reservation
Web: (members-only page)
Cat Colony Information Collection
Note: There are two organizations separatelycollecting details about feral cat colonies. Please read the below information carefully. You must submit your colony information in both systems.
Both the NYC Feral Cat Initiative and Neighborhood Cats strongly encourage Certified TNR Caretakers in the New York City area to submit information about the location(s) of their managed feral cat colony/colonies in order to increase TNR support services and save lives. Please take a few minutes to share your colony details. The information you submit will be kept strictly confidential.
To submit your colony information to the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, visit
Recovery Space Ideas
Suitable areas for recovering trapped cats include: basements, garages, empty storefronts, or a bathroom if only one or two cats have been trapped.
Some general guidelines on deciding whether a space is suitable:
•Located in a safe area
•Secure from other animals & people; cats can’t escape the room
•Temperature-controlled; keep at about 70 degrees
•Low noise level
•Light fixtures or electrical outlet
•Exhaust or ventilation for odor control
•Running water is a necessity
•Flooring & tables that are easy to clean & disinfect
•Capacity: about 108 sq. ft. for 5 cats (e.g., a 9’ x 12’ room)
- a 3’ x 6’ table holds up to 5 cat traps
- 3’ clearance needed on both sides for access to each end of the traps
- space for food prep also needed.
Where to Find Straw
Straw is the best insulated bedding for cat shelters. Bales of straw are plentiful during the fall in garden centers and home improvement stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Even local supermarkets have bales of straw alongside the chrysanthemums! The small “decorative” bales are more expensive than the larger bales for farms, but a little straw goes a very long way when it’s fluffed up.
Note: Bear in mind that stores sometimes refer to it as “hay” when it’s actually “straw.” Straw, used as bedding for livestock, is the hollow, dried stems of harvested grain; it is shiny and yellow. Hay, used to feed livestock, is dried grass; it is duller and greenish. Hay may attract unwanted hungry wildlife and retain moisture in a cat shelter, so straw is the recommended bedding.
Cat Food
People who have completed the in-person TNR Certification Workshop or online TNR Certification Course are eligible for free cat food giveaways. These giveaways are done throughout the year depending on availability.