Resources

Learn about cats, cat rescue, where to shop for cat gear, and more!

1. Learn About Cat Rescue

   • Get TNR-Certified!

Online course offered by Neighborhood Cats in partnership with Community Cats Podcast. (It’s how co-founders Jenny Pierson and Reynard Loki got certified!) https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/community-cat-care-training-education/.

1. • What’s TNR?

TNR is trap-neuter-return, and Neighborhood Cats calls it “the most humane and effective method known for managing feral and stray cats and reducing their numbers.” Learn more about TNR from Neighborhood Cats: https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/getting-started/what-is-tnr.

1. • More Rescue Resources (General)

     1. Community Cats Podcast (CCP): https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/.

        • This Massachusetts-based organization is so much more than a podcast. They share a ton of great online resources on cat rescue, frequent webinars on a variety of topics for many audiences, and online TNR certifications.

          • What is a community cat? According to CCP: “Community Cats are cats that are either feral (born in the wild-outdoors), abandoned cats, or owned indoor/outdoor cats that may or may not have caretakers. Unspayed or neutered cats become the cause of severe overpopulation.”

        • And the Community Cats Podcast About page here (includes resources they offer to “turn your passion for cats into action!”): https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/about/.

        • The podcast itself from Community Cats Podcast: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/podcast/.

        • The blog of the Community Cats Podcast: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/blog/.

        • Community Cats Podcast’s How to Help a Community Cat: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/resources-2/. From their site:

          • Find a clinic for spay/neuter.

          • Trap the cat(s).

          • Keep your colony healthy.

          • Deal with issues that might arise.

          • Find or start a community support network.

        • Have you asked yourself, “Is this someone’s cat?” Community Cats Podcast has a great template for paper collars to find out if a new friendly cat in your orbit already belongs to someone: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/paper-collar/.

        • For a slightly deeper dive, the Community Cat Pyramid is a visual tool about effective prioritization of resources for individuals and organizations looking to reduce the number of stray cats in their area: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/cat-pyramid/.

     2. United Spay Alliance: https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/.

        • Rescue organizations should be aware of their subgrant program, the Community Cats Grants program: https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/community-cat-grants/. See site for details on application cycles and more. From CCG: “Grants are targeted toward grassroots TNR groups, rescue organizations, and low-cost spay/neuter providers.”

     3. Neighborhood Cats: https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/.

     4. Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE AWO): https://careawo.org/. Information about diversity, equity, and inclusion of BIPOC and other marginalized voices in animal well-being. They offer a certification course called REDI and many useful resources to make sure rescue organizations serve all people equitably.

     5. Urban Cat League: Taming Toolkit for socializing feral kittens and cats. Includes YouTube videos.

   • Local NYC Rescues and Shelters

     1. Flatbush Cats: https://www.flatbushcats.org/.

        • Flatbush, Brooklyn-based

        • Flatbush Vet: https://flatbushvet.org/ (affordable spay-neuter veterinary clinic).

     2. Greenpoint Cats: https://www.greenpointcats.org/.

        • Greenpoint, Brooklyn-based (with support in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan)

     3. Urban Cat League: http://www.urbancatleague.org/.

        • Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan-based

     4. Long Island City Feral Feeders: https://licferalfeeders.org/.

        • Long Island City, Queens-based

     5. Ollie’s Place: https://www.instagram.com/mightymutts/.

        • East Village, Manhattan-based

        • No-kill cat shelter under the umbrella of 501(c)3 Mighty Mutts

     6. Bronx Community Cats: https://www.instagram.com/bronxcommunitycats.

        • Bronx-based

   • New Jersey:

     1. FOWA Rescue: https://fowarescue.org/.

     2. Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center: https://www.homewardboundnj.org/. 

   • Citywide/National Rescues, Shelters, and Rescue Information:

     1. ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/.

     2. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary: https://bestfriends.org/. 

     3. NYC ACC (Animal Care Centers of NYC): https://www.nycacc.org/.

     4. NYC Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare (NYC): https://www.nyc.gov/site/animalwelfare/index.page.

     5. Bideawee: https://www.bideawee.org/.

     6. Social Tees: https://www.socialteesnyc.org.

     7. Muddy Paws Rescue: https://www.muddypawsrescue.org/ (dogs only).

   • Affordable Services and Financial Assistance Recommendations for Pet Owners, Adopters, and Fosters

     1. Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition (BBAWC) offers affordable spay/neuter appointments at their vet clinic for rescuers and pet owners: https://www.bbawc.org/clinic/. (They also created the community adoption and rescue space, the Brooklyn Cat Café.)

     2. The Toby Project is a nonprofit organization working to end the killing of thousands of adoptable dogs and cats each year in New York City’s animal shelters through a targeted low-cost spay/neuter initiative. Email info@tobyproject.org to schedule an appointment for your pet or feral cat.

     3. NYCACC helps pet owners in financial need with food and vet assistance. They also foster pets short-term for hospitalized owners and have a tenant advocate for landlord issues: https://www.nycacc.org/programs/community-outreach/.

     4. Humane Society helps people find affordable vet care and free pet food among other things: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-you-having-trouble-affording-your-pet.

     5. Pet Food Pantries in New York (via the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, as of 2011): https://www.amcny.org/blog/2011/07/28/pet-food-pantries/.

     6. Muddy Paws regularly leaves dog and cat food along with pet items they don't need on a table outside their 821 9th Avenue location.

     7. Buy Nothing Group members regularly offer free pet supplies. Find your area on their site, or (recommended) search Facebook for Buy Nothing + your neighborhood name.

     8. Vetco at Petco offers low-cost vaccinations: https://www.vetcoclinics.com.

     9. VIP Pet Care also offers low-cost vaccinations: https://www.vippetcare.com.

     10. TNR organizations in New York recommended by the NYC Department of Health (there are other great ones!): https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/trap-neuter-return-of-feral-cats-in-nyc.page.

     11. Uplift Families Residence is a new (as of May 2024) homeless shelter in the Bronx that will allow pets: Pix 11 News.

     12. Create a GoFundMe for your rescue effort or emergency pet fund needs and share it.

     13. Search Facebook (your neighborhood + "Cats and Dogs" or "Pets") to see if you have a local network of pet owners/rescuers for mutual aid or pet-sitting opportunities.

2. Learn About Cat History

   • The Hatching Cat blog by Peggy Gavan (author of the recommended book on the same subject The Cat Men of Gotham) includes regular posts about cat history in NYC (other animals are featured too). https://hatchingcatnyc.com/.

3. Cat Entertainment

   • The Meow Parlour cat café based in Manhattan’s Lower East Side (book a regular visit or cat yoga): https://www.meowparlour.com/.

   • Brooklyn Cat Café: https://catcafebk.com/.

   • Catbaret is a cat-themed variety show including burlesque, comedy, music, and dance (latest show listing as of writing: October 31, 2024, for Meowloween, at Caveat in the Lower East Side of Manhattan): https://www.caveat.nyc/events/catberet-10-31-2024.

   • Salem Cat Museum: Currently looking for their next local location after a summer 2023 pop-up in Salem, Massachusetts: https://salemcatmuseum.com/.

   • The Purrrcast: a podcast all about cats: https://www.stevenraymorris.com/thepurrrcast.

   • Kedi: a film about community cats of Istanbul and the people who care for them. https://www.kedifilm.com/.

   • Little Kitty, Big City: A fun open-world video game where you are a little kitty lost in a big city (luckily a plumbing issue has paused car traffic so it is not as dangerous as being a real kitty lost in NYC!). https://www.littlekittybigcity.com/.

   • Stray: a beautifully rendered video game about cats. https://www.stray.game/.

4. Cat Merchandise

   • Taleology custom pet keychains by Emma Sadler: https://taleology.com/.

   • Ben Lenovitz pet portraits and cat person merchandise including mugs, tote bags, and cards available at Fishs Eddy in the Flatiron District of Manhattan: https://benlenovitz.com/.

   • Poorly Drawn Cats artist Heloísa Nora merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, and more: https://poorlycatdraw.threadless.com/.

   • The Lucky Neko (artist Millie Wollney) cat prints, ceramic sculptures, candles, and many other products: https://www.theluckyneko.com/.

   • Travel Cat backpacks, harnesses, beds, and more, including resources on taking your cat outside responsibly: https://travelcatshop.com/.

   • Toasty Cat bread beds for cats: https://www.toastycat.com/.

   • Allison Tanenhaus glitch cat art: https://allisontanenhaus.com/. 

   • Lemon Zesty (artist Monica Martino) merchandise including easy, greasy, beautiful butter girl prints and products of her cat Patches: https://lemonzesty.com/.

   • Sunnyside by Sun (artist Cindy Sun) cat illustration merchandise on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sunnysidebysun/.

   • Notso Kitty accessories for you and your cat by Salem Cat Museum founder Wendy Casazza Scruton: https://notsokitty.com/.

   • Volana Kote custom handmade jewelry from your cat’s naturally fallen whiskers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VolanaKote.

5. Other

   • Cat Behavior Tips

From expert Mikel Maria Delgado, PhD, author of the book Play With Your Cat!. Website: https://mikeldelgado.com/. Instagram: @mikel.delgado.

5. • Our Pet Grief Resources

https://www.catmuseumnyc.org/resources/grieving-a-pet.

5. • Bird Rescue in NYC

     1. See a sick pigeon? Check out information on what to do at NYC Pigeon Rescue Central (NYCPRC): https://nycprc.org/.

     2. The Wild Bird Fund is the only wildlife rehabilitation center in NYC. Based in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. https://www.wildbirdfund.org/.

6. Suggestions

Did we forget something? Suggest an addition to this Resources page by emailing catmuseumnyc@gmail.com.