Organization helps stray street cats

Tens of thousands of stray cats are left to wander the streets of Queens without food or a home. Additionally, they face extermination each day by those attempting to control their overpopulation.
However, organizations like the Carol S. Milker Stray Foundation (CSM Strays), of Kew Gardens, have recognized their plight and are coming to the street strays rescue.
“CSM Strays along with the New York City (NYC) Feral Cat Council is working to humanely and effectively reduce our city’s feral cat population through the use of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR),” said Nancy Fahnestock, Treasurer of CSM Strays.
The humane alternative to reducing the stray cat population, TNR involves removing cats from their colony, taking them to a veterinarian for neutering, and returning them back to the environment.
Cats that behave well and are social are placed for adoption as soon as possible, while cats that are feral, usually anti-social and possibly dangerous are released to areas where food and shelter are available.
“Through Petfinder and Bigapple Pets, we post photos and screen potential adopters for social strays that are being fostered by volunteers,” said Fahnestock.
The cats which are returned still occupy the space and use the resources they did originally which prevents new strays from coming into the area, but after TNR the feral cats are no longer able to reproduce.
“Repeated experience has shown TNR is the only method that works to lower street cat populations over the long term,” said Bryan Kortis, Executive Director of Neighborhood Cats, an organization similar to CSM Strays.
Fahnestock explained that Animal Care and Control does not remove feral cats unless they prove to be in grave danger, and that poisoning cats is not only illegal, but a waste of resources since the problem recreates itself almost immediately.
“Attempts to trap and remove street cats have little or no impact on overall numbers and usually only result in new cats replacing old ones,” said Kortis.
Since CSM Strays is a non-profit organization and relies on donations, Fahnestock said they do not cover the costs for spaying or neutering, but do assist in trapping and transporting the cats to a veterinarian, and can provide access to lower veterinarian costs by being a feral/stray cat caregiver.
For residents in Queens, Fahnestock said, “If you are one of those caring people that feed a stray but it is not social and can’t be handled, contact CSM Strays via email at csmstray@aol.com,” she said.
To donate to the CSM Strays Foundation or find out more about their work, their website is www.csmstray.org. Every donation goes towards TNR programs and the direct care of feral cats.
“Even if it’s for one cat or a larger group of cats, we have the resources to assist you,” Fahnestock said.