GET YOUR SHELTERS HERE!!!

(photo c/o D. Lagville)

(no FEMA vouchers needed)

Our amazing volunteers constructed 75 shelters in UNDER TWO HOURS this past Sunday!!!  We would have built more but Lowe's RAN OUT of bins! All these shelters will go to colonies in need whose shelters were destroyed by the hurricane - most of them will be headed to the south shore this week, and some to caretakers in Tottenville.

Stay tuned for updates on our ongoing relief efforts, and see below for tips on how to construct these cozy yet inexpensive dens for your own merry band of felines!

(photo c/o D. Lagville)

And we've already received our first official endorsement from a VERY satisfied customer (we immediately sent him a coupon for 100% off his next shelter purchase)...his written testimonial was rather difficult to decipher, but we're pretty sure that, "prr, prr...mmrrrrowww" means "this shelter ROCKS, people!"  If he had opposable thumbs, we like to think we'd get two way up.

all you need is an 18 gallon bin, with double reflective foil insulation for the lining, and then plenty of straw for nesting...and an awning to keep the weather out - 2 cats fit quite comfortable in one of these, if they are wont to cuddle :)

tips:
- a pinch of  "come hither" catnip in the straw is always a hit

- we use heavy-duty zip ties to secure the "awning" in place (see detail to the right for a better idea of positioning for drilling the holes) - if you insert the ties right, they should lay flat along the top of the awning, NOT stick straight up in the air.  You can always trim them if they stick out too much...and remember the key word is "ZIP"...if you don't hear the "zzzzzip" you've put them in backward.

- if the edges are rough where you've cut the door, you can always soften them with a bit of duct or gorilla tape.

- don't use any more tape then absolutely necessary on the INSIDE (often we don't use any) - it'll make it easier to clean out and re-use the insulation if you don't have to rip it apart.

product links:

bins

reflective insulation:
Lowe's
Home Depot

IN BULK:
http://www.insulation4less.com/
http://www.insulationstop.com/
http://www.ecofoil.com/All-Products/Bubble-Foil-Insulation

Straw - contact us, we have plenty!!!

Fostering a "Sandy cat"

If you are interested in temporarily fostering a cat that has been displaced by Hurricane Sandy until his/her Rescuer or guardian recovers from the storm, please complete our foster application HERE...and THANK YOU for caring!

SIFI launches SoS (Survivors of Sandy) relief efforts on Staten Island

SIFI has launched the SoS (Survivors of Sandy) disaster relief effort to provide resources, supplies, and support to animal guardians on Staten Island.

what we're asking for:

- money...those of you who are familiar with us at all know that 100% of your donation will go directly to the animals

Physical Goods...
- pet food - primarily cat food, both wet and dry, any brand - for those who have no resources left even for themselves much less their animals
- carriers and crates to safely house animals whose guardians don't have homes to go back to
- warm blankets, sheets and towels for cats and dogs inside
- winter shelters for feral colonies across the island to replace those destroyed by the storm
(go to http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_FERAL_CAT_WINTER_SHELTER for examples)

Hands-on help...
- transportation assistance for Rescuers and Caretakers who can't get to their animals or have no way to get them to temporary foster care
- temporary care for the pets and foster animals of displaced guardians and rescuers - many of our Rescuers are STILL pulling animals from the shelter to prevent them being killed in the aftermath, even as they are struggling to get a foothold themselves
- temporary feeders for colonies whose caretakers cannot make it to them

~ Donate securely through Chip-in. (Please contact us directly if you prefer to send a check)
~ for in-kind donations, drop-off at Pet Food City - 477 North Burgher Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310 (718) 273-2900
PFC WILL GIVE 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL DONATED ITEMS PURCHASED AT THE STORE!!!
~ for hands-on volunteer planning, please contact us at info@siferal.org to make arrangements

ASPCA raises TNR clinic prices

New Yorkers pay to volunteer - did the economy bounce back while i wasn't looking?

(a letter from our founder and director)

hi folks-
so...the good news is that we have been making great use of the new ASPCA MASH clinics on SI (let's hope they continue)

the not so good news is that the ASPCA has announced that they will hike their TNR clinic services prices for 2013 - - - don't worry, surgery/rabies/ear-tip will remain $5.00/cat

Revolution will be raised from $10 to $15 (a 50% cost increase)

FVRCP will be raised from $5 to a whopping $15 (a 200% cost increase!)

what this means is that the cost of surgery/rabies/ear-tip/fvrcp/revo combined will climb from it's current $20 to $35/cat (yes, that's a 75% cost increase, which is truly ludicrous.)

coming soon; to a feeder near you

(why just feeding isn't enough, and counter-productive to boot)

The reality is that if you are feeding cats, you are already significantly affecting their lives…you’ve already established some sort of relationship to them in the ecosystem.  The most relevant effect you will have is that by feeding them, you will enable the females to birth larger litters than they might otherwise…as the feline reproductive nature is based on availability of resources…that means more food = more kittens born.  Because males and females alike will have to spend less time hunting for food, they will have more time to mate…once again resulting in more pregnancies and more kittens.

the back-story

(how it all started...with a trap and the best of intentions)

Like most individuals involved in TNR (Trap, neuter, Return), I did not set out to work with feral cats.  I became involved in TNR in direct response to the situation (quite literally) in my own backyard.  In Nov. of  2007, my husband and I moved from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn into a house on Staten Island.  We quickly discovered that the house we had purchased came with a neighborhood full of un-neutered cats.  In place of a house-warming party, we were treated (subjected?) to nightly rounds of howling and yowling; soon accompanied by mating calls as spring approached.  We knew the situation needed to be addressed, and soon; not only for the sake of our sleep and sanity, but in order to avoid the inevitable conclusion: kittens.

We had never heard the term, “TNR.”  But we did the only thing that made sense; we stepped up.