Ranger lived in, of all places, the Hallet Bird Sanctuary in Central Park. While he might have thought it was heaven on earth, the birds and the birders didn’t exactly appreciate his presence. A bird sanctuary is no place for a feral cat.

Urban Cat League was on the case immediately. Contacting the Urban Park Rangers we gained access to the sanctuary and within a week, Ranger was in our care.

By applying basic humane principles, trapping Ranger was accomplished in as stress free a way as possible. For a couple of days, food is placed in the trap with the door secured open. This creates a sense of security for the cat and he feels out of harm's way eating the food. After several days the trap is set, the cat is quickly caught and brought to safety.

Ranger is now being socialized to see if he can accept human contact. In time, Urban Cat League will place Ranger in a situation that best suits his temperament, with or without humans.

Hell in Hell's Kitchen

This summer URBAN CAT LEAGUE responded to help 18 former street cats living in our own back yard of Hell’s Kitchen. When we learned that veteran cat caretaker Louise DeMartino was struggling to help the 18 semi-feral cats living in the squalor of a small apartment on 42nd street we made every effort to help her.

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Can you find 18 semi-feral cats hiding in this apartment?
We did, but it took a month.

The cats had been collected from the street one by one by an elderly man who was being evicted from his apartment of 40 years. The youngest cat was 10 years old and they all had severe dental disease. The cats were living in filth and had not had vet care in years. Fortunately another veteran rescuer Nancy Oscar had generously paid to have them all neutered years before avoiding an even more terrible situation.

Trapping them one by one in the disheveled chaos of the horrific apartment took over a month. Then came vetting them and finding homes or suitable situations. A few had become friendly with humans over the years and were easily adoptable but several of the cats were devoted companions. We insisted that those cats be placed with their special friends. This project was an exhausting one but full of the satisfaction of being able to help these brave-hearted older cats to a more comfortable life.

The joy of being able to give Bugsy the eye-repair which he so badly needed was a rewarding moment and also when treating the abcess with which Harvey had been so bravely suffering. The last three cats needing adoption are all extremely friendly and social with other cats. They can go in pairs or singly as long as they will not be only cats.

Special thanks to the following people and groups for their generous gifts of time, energy and/or money toward our common goal of finding a suitable humane life for these deserving cats.

• Nancy Oscar
• Louise DeMartino
• PETS ALIVE SANCTUARY
• West Chelsea Veterinary Clinic
• KITTYKIND
• ASPCA

A Happy Home

Dreams do come true (sometimes)! When URBAN CAT LEAGUE was called in to help a feral cat living alone in a parking lot on restaurant row we all hoped that loving care could soon be arranged for the spunky gray cat struggling on the mean streets of Manhattan’s theatre district.

We never imagined that things would turn out as wonderfully as they did. Urban Cat League rescuer Monica Hoyt set to work and learned that the cat had been living on the street for a couple of years, relying on occasional feedings from a kindly parking attendant. Another attendant asked us if we had any “good” cats he could take home to his family; he had no intention of adopting this “dirty street cat.”

Hoping that someone else from the neighborhood would be more compassionate we posted a photo and notice around the block. Meanwhile we trapped, spayed and vetted the cat and began evaluation of her behavior interacting with humans. When it became clear that she was a truly “feral” cat, our hearts sank realizing how few people are willing to adopt an “unsocialized” cat or provide daily, life-long care for a cat living on the street.

Our spirits soon lifted when we got an enthusiastic response from our flyer. Dezur Kenna had immediately realized the cat was missing and was glad to hear that she was in good hands. Dezur had become aware of the cat from looking down to the inner block from the rear window of her apartment. Not able to approach the cat, Dezur had been lowering food to the cat daily from her window. Dezur had named her “Tess” and was eager to help Urban Cat League with the efforts to socialize her for adoption. With much patience and tender care from Dezur, Tess has gradually become appreciative of human touch and the creature comforts of the great indoors. After the final vote came in from Dezur’s extended family of other pets it was decided that Tess can stay to live with them for life.

Sometimes a cat or colony can be well cared for on the street but it’s especially sad when a cat needs to leave the street and no alternative situation can be found. This is why we are so thrilled that Tess is being cared for by someone from the neighborhood where she lived. So many other stories could have happy endings if only one caretaker or adoption could be found before a situation becomes desperate. URBAN CAT LEAGUE welcomes Dezur to our circle of compassionate New Yorkers willing to go the distance for a cat from their neighborhood. Thanks, Dezur!!

Special Thanks!

Many thanks for the generous response to our recent fundraising brochure. Proceeds will go far to improve our operations.

A sorely needed new gate and running water will be among the very welcome additions. More holding pens will also be purchased to allow for more short-term housing of cats.

This will increase our ability to respond to the needs of the community for recovery after spay/neuter and evaluation of rescued street cats.