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Cats (not the musical!) in PH/CH — Brooklynian

Cats (not the musical!) in PH/CH

laura b
laura b
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights
Hi Neighbors,

You’ve seen them. You’ve most certainly heard them. You’ve wondered what to do about them.

We have a feral cat situation in the area. Slope Street Cats is currently doing an outreach for the block of Prospect Place near the S shuttle station. The purpose is to teach people about the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method and, hopefully, get the community involved.

Whether you love or hate cats, TNR works. Some reasons why:
  • The number of cats won’t increase.
    Fewer cats digging in your gardens.
    No more sick, suffering kittens (kitten mortality rate is approx. 75%).
    Noise reduction (no more females in heat crying or males fighting over them).
    Little to no spraying (and neutering reduces the musky smell of male cat urine).
    No females in heat attracts fewer male cats to your block.
Slope Street Cats offers assistance with TNR projects. We’re an all-volunteer nonprofit 501(c)3 group registered in the state of New York. We have trained volunteers for hands-on assistance and a trap bank for anyone who has taken a Neighborhood Cats feral cat workshop.

We’re asking for the help of the cat caretakers—those who feed or shelter the cats—on the block of Prospect Place near the S shuttle station. All contacts will be kept confidential. We’ll need the caretakers’ help to get an accurate count of the cats needing spay/neutering in order to have enough humane traps, assistance, and recovery space. We’ll also need cooperation from all of the feeders to withold food on the days we are catching the cats.

Don’t contact us if you want the cats removed. Animal Care & Control no longer does this because it’s cruel and ineffective—nor will we. Removing the cats means having them killed. Every cat we neuter will be returned exactly to the place where it was caught. If the cats are unwanted on your property, please see our website for cat deterrents—some are very easy to do. If you’re still having problems after trying these, please call us for an assessment and additional help.

Thanks!

slopestreetcats.com
[email protected]
917.207.5282

Comments

  • vanilla
    vanilla
    what about cats in other locations?
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Woo hoo! 'bout time! I don't feed any of the cats (other than the pregnant one that we took in and the subsequent litter of kittens), but I'd be interested in learning if there's another way that I can help. Oh, there seem to be a few on my block, too- Prospect on the other side of Classon.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I guess that there comes a time in every DHer's life...

    The above was me... :oops:
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    everything i try to get close to the litter of kittens or the mom behind where i live, some crazy comes running towards me yelling something like "get away from my cat. that's my cat. she might be a stray but i feed her, she's MINE".

    i know similar posts have been made, but the some peoples' ideas about pet "ownership" are confusing and sad.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    vanilla wrote: everything i try to get close to the litter of kittens or the mom behind where i live, some crazy comes running towards me yelling something like "get away from my cat. that's my cat. she might be a stray but i feed her, she's MINE".

    i know similar posts have been made, but the some peoples' ideas about pet "ownership" are confusing and sad.
    that's the one thing that concerns me with TNR program on this block in particular... do you warn them? if you do, maybe they bring in the cat for a day, and it's out reproducing again... if you don't, they give you evil looks when "their cat" returns with clipped ears...
  • laura b
    laura b
    vanilla wrote: what about cats in other locations?
    Because of the lack of funds and the extent of the problem, it's really up to the people in each neighborhood. Organizations like Neighborhood Cats will provide training, traps, and other assistance, but local volunteers do most of the work.

    That said, for the last couple of months that I've been involved, it's been rewarding and a great way to get to know others in the community.
  • laura b
    laura b
    vanilla wrote: everything i try to get close to the litter of kittens or the mom behind where i live, some crazy comes running towards me yelling something like "get away from my cat. that's my cat. she might be a stray but i feed her, she's MINE".

    i know similar posts have been made, but the some peoples' ideas about pet "ownership" are confusing and sad.
    This can be a delicate situation, but most people are receptive to getting the kitties neutered and vaccinated once you explain to them what the benefits are and talk about any concerns they may have.

    Also, these people should be aware that if "their" cats are out loose they can be picked up by animal control and euthanized. However, if the cat is part of a TNR program (visible because all these cats have a small tip of their ear clipped when they are neutered), Animal Control will not euthanize but instead contact the local TNR groups to find out where the cat lives.
  • bluedove
    bluedove
    I am not a cat caretaker, and I can't volunteer (I'm moving out of state) but my building backs up to the church on Prospect and the building next to it on the shuttle side, and I can tell you that there are five kittens and three adult cats that I see hanging out regularly in our garden/the backyard of the church right now. This is probably the fourth or fifth litter of kittens born in that garden in the two years I've lived in the building, almost all gray and white. They are adorable, but I'm very glad to hear about your plan.
  • stacey
    stacey
    I think that program is great Laura - we have a few strays in our yard that we have been feeding and last year they were spayed/neutered through the TNR program. We were also given a great suggestion by Slope Street Cats for these cats during the winter -- we purchased an animal igloo which keeps the cats warm during the winter months (which are fast approaching). Keep up the good work!
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    stacey wrote: I think that program is great Laura - we have a few strays in our yard that we have been feeding and last year they were spayed/neutered through the TNR program. We were also given a great suggestion by Slope Street Cats for these cats during the winter -- we purchased an animal igloo which keeps the cats warm during the winter months (which are fast approaching). Keep up the good work!
    stacey, you are so amazing. that's SO awesome.
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