New York City caretakers are fortunate to have the ASPCA and the Humane Society of NY as strong backers of our efforts to bring the feral cat population under control. Both organizations offer free spay/neuter services (and related treatment) for feral cats. Which organization you should work with will depend on the scope of your project and how many cats you can handle at a time. 

The American Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
ASPCA Mobile Clinic Program
424 E. 92nd St.
New York, NY 10128
(212) 876-7700,
ext. 4318 (for more information)
http://www.aspca.org/tnr

The ASPCA Cares program offers at no cost the use of its mobile spay/neuter van for on-site surgeries of feral cat colonies. A minimum of 10 cats is required to book a date. Services include spay/neuter, eartipping and rabies vaccine.  Other basic veterinary services are available at heavily discounted rates. 

To reserve the van, you will need to demonstrate experience or training in working with feral cats, such as attendance at a Neighborhood Cats workshop on Trap-Neuter-Return: How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony (Workshops are hosted by the ASPCA on a monthly basis and are also occasionally hosted elsewhere, too. See Events for the date and location of the next scheduled workshop.)

The van typically arrives from 8 to 9 a.m., so all cats should be on-site and ready by then. Convenient bathroom facilities and pre-arranged parking for the van are the caretaker's responsibility. Parking can often be easily arranged by contacting the community officer in your local police precinct. Post-surgical boarding must be arranged by the caretaker.

To book the van or to schedule an appointment for fewer than 10 cats, phone Chris Fagan, Program Manager, on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 917-930-1313. Feral cats are only accepted on an appointment basis and will not be treated on regular days when the van is open to the public.

Humane Society of New York (HSNY)
306 E. 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 752-4842

The Humane Society of NY operates a feral cat clinic that offers, at no cost, spay/neutering, eartipping, rabies vaccine, and flea and ear mite medication. Further services, such as testing, are available at regular fees. If a cat is sick or wounded, free or discounted treatment may be available at the discretion of the HSNY.

To use the clinic, the following procedures are required:

1.  BEFORE you start trapping, call the Appointment Desk to schedule a date. Please provide as accurate an estimate as possible of the number of cats you want to trap and bring in.

2.  Drop off the cats between 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the morning of your spay/neuter date. VERY IMPORTANT: Each cat must be brought in a separate trap which should be covered completely with a sheet - no exceptions. This is for the protection of the staff. Carriers or other containers are not acceptable.

3.  Pick up the cats between 3 to 4 p.m. unless you're told otherwise.

4.  Bring the cats to your own pre-arranged recovery space. The HSNY does not provide post-surgery boarding.
 

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