When Linda’s Feral Cats of NYC http://lindasferalcatassistance.com/planted the cat

Handsome blue grey Gregory, lounging.

trailer in front of Whiskers Holistic Petcare in the East Village on Saturday, 5/26, there were no feral cats to adopt. “We do not adopt ferals. These are the friendlies,” said Linda Bryant, who runs the efficient 10-year-old rescue organization with a long-term team of volunteers. Feral cats, said Linda, are assisted through the organizations’s trap, neuter, return system, and are provided food where they hang out, whether in Williamsburg or Woodside. Those cats are not adoptable.

“Feral cats are either domestic cats that have reverted to the wild from becoming lost, or were born to a feral mother and lived in the wild,” she explained. “They have to be returned to where they were picked up to find the food and environment they’re used to,” she said.

Inside the trailer, however, were about a dozen of the most beautiful,

Eddie, obviously waiting for his choice of partner.

very large, cats lounging around in individual crates, as well as several kittens like Pansy, Willy, and Wally, who were about 6 weeks old. Teddy, at two weeks old was being bottlefed every coupla hours.

Two-week-old Teddy getting a start in life.

“He was the only kitten from his litter not eaten by raccoons in Astoria,” said Linda. “He’s young enough tolove people, and he’s up for adoption.”

The cats had been rescued from very difficult – okay, let’s say, AWFUL – situations. These cats were ready for adoption. While some were curled up in their litter boxes (“for security,” said Linda), others were very curious about the trail of people coming in and out, looking for love. These sturdy, luxurious, big gray cats stood at the bars of their trailers, watching, watching, watching – happy to be taken out for a cuddle and a pet, or to get some lamb lungs, also donated by Whiskers.

There was Eric, a great big gray and white cat who had been tied up with a rope in a store, and rescued by Racquel Guitterez. Taking him in her arms, Eric nuzzled her nose, and then settled in. Clearly, he knew a good thing when he found it. He was such a charmer, he received an application to be fostered with a view towards adopting him. With five cats of her own, Racquel is a committed cat rescuer, and wants to remain a source for fostering.

Ceara Murtagh, a visitor to the trailer, was enchanted by Friday, a black and white kitten. The feelings were mutual, as the irrepressible Friday played with her through the bars. Ceara came from the Upper West Side for the event, and with two adult cats, was approved as a foster mother for Friday –

Friday and his new foster mom.

and Friday’s brother, who would join them the next day.

The glamour cat of the day had to be Pansy, one of three littermates. Pansy was called a “diluted calico,” in pastel tones of peach and gray, and was absolutely a stunner. She had two applications in for adoption.

The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals www.animalalliancenyc.org  loans the mobile adoption van to Alliance Participating Organizations, such as the North Shore Animal League www.animalleague.org, which provides the van to small rescue groups once a month.

Whiskers Holistic Petcare, as a pioneer in natural pet care for dogs, cats and almost any kind of domestic animal, is an advocate for animal rescue. In the window of the East Village store, you can see the amazing Whiskers Rescue Ranch, set-up as a temporary home for cats awaiting adoption and a permanent home. Connected to rescue groups throughout the city, anyone considering adopting a dog or a cat can turn to Whiskers in the East Village, and in the Astoria store, for whom to call in the first steps of the process.

Here’s to happy homes for all cats from Linda’s Feral Cats of NY – and everywhere!

Linda and her key team of volunteers, L to R, Racquel Guitterez, Linda Bryant, Janet Malvone, and Mary Rooney.