My first cat rescue took place 18 years ago. I am a New Yorker. Sylvester, the cat was coated in a commercial adhesive. He was then glued on Amsterdam Ave. at 190th Street. The cat was lying in the road next to some food cans. Since then, I have rescued cats on a non-stop basis.
In grade school, I began rescuing pets
When I was young, I used to bring everything home. Then, I was living in Englewood New Jersey. Although my parents were not thrilled, I did bring home all sorts of animals–including kittens. My mother would buy tuna for me. She had no idea that I taught the cats in my neighborhood how to enter my basement, and fed them tuna. My mother was in the pantry one day looking for tuna so she could make a sandwich. She found no tuna. Most of the cats that I saved lived with me or were adopted by us.
How I transformed a basement to a cat sanctuary
About 50 cats were rescued each year, and I brought them to my home. Some of the cats I rescued were adopted. Others had microchips that were returned by other rescue groups. Some I kept. I was given the basement space by my landlord to make a cat sanctuary. It was in a terrible state–dirty floors from flooding over the years and boarded up windows that were badly needed to be replaced. After spending thousands of dollars and months to paint and clean it, it is now a home that I can trust for my cats. In the past year, I have rescued over 100 cats. At the moment, I own about 38 cats. The sanctuary has half of my cats, and the apartment houses the other half.
The army of volunteers
It’s a part-time gig, but I also walk dogs. My online army shares my posts to spread the word. When people give away toys, pet food, or litter for pets, they put my name into the hat. There are a few people who will pick up and transport goods or animals. Also, I have people that regularly check to see if everything is ok and if there are any needs. No matter the weather, my friends are always willing to help me with a difficult or large rescue. If you are an animal lover, you will want to learn about what shelters need most right now.
The cost is not low
The ASPCA offers free neutering, spaying and vaccinations. Snap tests, which test for FIV and FeLV, cost $45 each. Cats that test positive are taken to a special sanctuary equipped to take care of them. However, I cover all costs associated with injuries and illnesses, as well as de-worming, monthly Revolution to protect cats against fleas, etc.
When my effort is hindered, it’s frustrating
Every year, hundreds of cats end up in the parks of upper Manhattan. There are 500 acres of parkland with trees. It is extremely difficult to save these cats because there’s a New York Restoration Project and New York City Parks Department refuses to communicate with us about the removal of invasive plants in the parks. The natural burrows that the cats use to live are often destroyed or plugged when the invasive plant species is removed. When these burrows remain untouched, it is possible to trap mama cats and their babies.
What I do when I come across a cat
It is important to maintain integrity when there are many cats who need help and few people willing to rescue them. Everyone is not a professional. No one can be perfect. When it comes to saving cats, we all make mistakes. Never step on another person’s territory. First, I document where the cat was found and its living conditions. In New York City, each police precinct has a scanner that can scan microchips containing information about the animal. You can take your cat to a shelter that will check for microchips if yours does not. The shelter may have been informed of the lost cat by an owner.
Next, I start posting, asking for help. Never post your exact location. It’s a bait to animal abusers, such as people who respond to ads just so they can use a dog for dogfights or poison an animal. Bring the cat to your home. Put it in an extra room or bathroom. Get them to the nearest veterinary clinic if they’re injured. You can use an old box or disposable baking pan as a cat litter box. Use shredded paper for litter. Old towels are great for bedding, as they can be easily washed. If you do not have any cat supplies, use tuna or boiled, shredded chicken for the cat food.
Some cats are more easily rescued than others
New York City doesn’t have many feral cats. They are mostly house cats that were dumped. According to my knowledge, “ferals”, do not approach people or make eye contact. People are too quick to call a cat ‘feral’ and assume it is not adoptable. In my apartment, I’ve got several “ferals”. Peanut is one of them. He hates me because I brought him to my apartment. He escaped from my apartment on the third floor when an unintentional repairman let him go. He made his way to the feeding station I set up and then crawled back into my apartment. It was obvious that he felt relieved when he saw my face. As if to say, “It is about time!” He has returned home with his team, but he hates me still. Frenchie is a “feral baby-maker” from the park. She demands attention, and she wants dinner. It’s a fact that she’ll never get adopted, because we bonded. This is the difference between an abused cat and a stray.
Rescuing older kittens
The ASPCA did help me with some kittens once, but it was a very rare occasion as they were extremely overloaded. The majority of rescue groups do not have enough manpower to perform the rescue. Each situation is unique, depending on how old the kittens are, their level of friendliness and the location. After I have figured out what I need to do, I try to count the number of cats. I then plan my strategy. Once I’ve figured out where they are, and if it is a safe area, then I will feed them several times. At this point, I hope that the cats will begin to feel comfortable with me. In the end, I use a trap to catch cats in a more humane manner. When mama is standing back, letting the babies feed first, I use the kittens as bait. When I find a single kitten, I will take it to my home and care for its safety. I can then come back later and look for more.
Rescuers are corrupt
It’s easy to be corrupted when you’re dealing with unscrupulous rescuers. I have had groups collect money for me that was never sent. This is because I have received tracking numbers for donations that were sent to my organization, but with the instructions to send them to me.
You’ll be glad you did
It’s the best when they thank me. The cats may thank me in subtle ways: with a smile, a purr or by snuggling up to me. Sometimes, they make their presence known by climbing into your lap and becoming your shadow. When I watch them in their window relaxing, learning how to use a comfortable chair, or making biscuits on their new bed, my heart melts. If the cats do not survive, at least I am showing them love and kindness. My heart is broken, but I want it to be peaceful for the cats. Even though it is rewarding to rescue cats, I get discouraged a lot. Then I sit down in the sanctuary and take a deep breath. I look at these fat cats who are happy, and then watch videos about my cats. They are loved by their families. The greatest thing in the entire world is knowing that they were once on the streets and have now found a home with devoted parents.