Cool News for Jailhouse Cats

MEOW MIX TO DONATE MORE THAN 30,000 LBS. OF CAT FOOD TO NEW YORK’S HOMELESS CATS AND THEIR CARETAKERS

On November 22, 2008, in the visitors’ parking lot at Rikers Island, Queens, the New York City Feral Cat Initiative will distribute approximately 35,000 lbs. of Meow Mix cat food, donated by parent company Del Monte Foods, to volunteer caretakers feeding managed feral cat colonies throughout New York. The generous contribution will help soften the cost of providing food this coming winter to the many thousands of homeless cats living on the city’s streets, and continue a tradition of abundant Meow Mix donations to assist this segment of the humane community over the last several years.

Feral cats originate from lost or abandoned cats forced to live outdoors on their own and have become too wild to be adopted into homes. Using a method known as Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), volunteers trap the cats, have them spay/neutered and vaccinated, return them to their original territories, then provide regular food and shelter. TNR has been shown to be the only approach that is successful on a large scale at reducing feral cat numbers over time.

Through donations of Meow Mix and its other pet food brands, Del Monte Foods is a strong supporter of animal rescue and shelter organizations throughout the country.

Transportation for this donation was arranged by FreeHaul, NPC, a non-profit organization moving donated goods to charities across the U.S.

About The New York City Feral Cat Initiative

The New York City Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) is a joint program of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, an umbrella group of over 100 animal welfare organizations dedicated to eliminating pet overpopulation in New York, and Neighborhood Cats, a leading feral cat education and advocacy group. NYCFCI provides training, equipment, hands-on assistance and advice to city residents interested in practicing TNR.