2018 was an extremely productive year for the NYC Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments, we are pleased to share details with you on how we were able to continue to help countless community cats by educating and supporting Certified TNR Caretakers, collaborating with government and private organizations and individuals, and spreading the word about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) via the media and events.
First, though, we have exciting news about our upcoming TNR workshops…
TNR Workshop Locations to Expand in 2019!
You asked, we listened! Beginning in January 2019, the NYCFCI will offer all of our TNR specialty training workshops in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs! And we’ll continue to offer our TNR certification workshops in locations outside of Midtown Manhattan.
Also starting in 2019, TNR certification workshops hosted at the ASPCA’s Midtown office will be taught and managed by the ASPCA. Further information about registering for the ASPCA’s courses will be available soon.
2018: A Banner Year for the NYCFCI
Education
We certified more than 900 TNR caretakers and taught 12 specialty workshops on our most requested topics — taming kittens, building winter shelters, bottle-feeding kittens, and more.
Adoption
Did you know that we have a Petfinder page where we post courtesy listings of adoptable cats and kittens for Certified TNR Caretakers who don’t have their own Petfinder pages? In 2018, 91 cats found homes through the NYCFCI Petfinder page.
Support
Through our TNR colony registry, we helped hundreds of caretakers network with each other and work together to help their cats. Our Certified TNR Caretaker email help desk has helped hundreds of caretakers — from novices to advanced colony caretakers — work through tough situations with injured cats, difficulties with property owners, and other TNR challenges.
Transport
The Alliance’s Wheels of Hope transport program continued in 2018 to be a reliable and valuable resource for TNR caretakers needing to get cats to and from spay/neuter clinics. Wheels of Hope also provided support for our workshops, transporting training materials to our many workshop locations throughout the five boroughs.
Collaboration
We are extremely gratified that we were able to strengthen our community collaborations in 2018, working with the New York Police Department, Fire Department of New York, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and a host of other city agencies, Precinct Community Councils, and Community Boards, as well as private landowners and developers.
Outreach
The NYCFCI continued in 2018 to be a resource for reporters and other media specialists interested in reporting on the myriad aspects of community cats and TNR. Media coverage for 2018 included The New York Times, New York Post, Brooklyn Daily, and Scientific American; and Channel 7 Eyewitness News, PIX11 News, and WKCR-FM. The NYCFCI is featured in the 2018 documentary, The Cat Rescuers. We published three community cat-focused articles in Pet Lifestyles Magazine. Kathleen O’Malley, the NYCFCI’s Director of Education, presented at Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp in May and spread the TNR message at numerous tabling events throughout the year.
Many thanks to each and every one of you who has helped to make New York City a more humane home for our community cats! We look forward to 2019, and the many opportunities that await to continue to support your TNR efforts!
