Cat 911

I have been part of a TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) project in one small neighborhood in Yonkers this summer. Thus far, we have trapped, neutered/spayed, and vaccinated 8 cats, and saved 4 kittens. We have had to euthanize one cat, due to severe injuries. We have prevented hundreds of new births from this small, ongoing project. More than anything else, this Yonkers experience has made me aware of the terrible plight of stray cats in our area.

I don’t live in Yonkers, but I was alerted to the situation when a group of determined Yonkers residents decided that they wanted to help the cats in their neighborhood. There had recently been a rash of brutal cat poisonings that were reported in the local news. They had watched several cats die gruesome deaths, and were concerned the poisoner would strike again. They were unable to find any shelter to help. So they just kept calling and emailing until they got in touch with Animal Defenders of Westchester, a group that I belong to.

Working together, we were able to slowly but surely help some of the cats. However, apart from spaying and neutering there was the issue of what to do when a cat was injured. “Call Animal Control” is the typical response, but my practical experience has been that there is no one to call for a stray cat. The idea that there will be a helpful team of people arriving to take the animal to safety to the tune of a Sarah McLachlan song is a myth that only exists on tv. 

These days, with small rescue groups stretched beyond their means, helping cats on the street often becomes the responsibility of regular people banding together and doing the best they can. 

Here is a typical scenario: I received a call from one of the residents of the TNR project about an injured cat. He appeared to have a broken leg, as well as many other injuries. He had been wandering around the neighborhood for several days, but no one was sure what to do. In a testament to kindness, people on several blocks had united to try to help this sad creature. Finally, to everyone’s surprise, he simply walked into a cat carrier. I transported him the the animal hospital where it was determined that his injuries were far too severe to treat. Sadly, he had to be euthanized.

Friday night, two other compassionate people had noticed a cat with a six inch long gash on its back, infested with flies. We were unable to capture him. They continue to try, and pray that he doesn’t die from his injuries first. The next morning, another person from another block in Yonkers found two kittens with eyes so badly infected that they were closed shut. Since they were effectively blind, these were easy to catch. We were able to get a last-minute vet appointment, and a temporary foster home. 

Such is a glimpse into the local tragedy of cats on the streets. I would like to see a day when the resources are in place to care for these animals. When you look at how much money is donated to animal charities nationwide, it seems strange that things have gotten so bad, and that so little exists to help cats outside of average citizens and small, shoestring animal charities. Indeed, calling “Cat 911” is becoming the equivalent of “phoning home.”

Many thanks to Magnificat Cat Rescue in Riverdale, and the Animal Defenders of Westchester, for helping these animals.