Mission of GNHCP

The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. (“GNHCP”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in New Haven, Connecticut, comprised mostly of volunteers. GNHCP’s mission is to end the suffering of homeless cats through the practice of trap/neuter/return (TNR), and also to educate the community ethically about the importance of animal welfare. Our primary goal is to provide the low-income and transient neighborhoods of the greater New Haven area with a comprehensive TNR program and a low-cost spay/neuter program. These programs play a vital role in giving cats a second chance at life. We are dedicated to providing a safe environment for all stray, abandoned, and feral cats by educating the public as to the importance of our mission and to meet the spay/neuter needs of as many cats and people as possible.

History

GNHCP was founded in 1996 when a group of 40 animal welfare activists from various parts of Connecticut met in New Haven to discuss the escalating problem of stray and feral cat overpopulation, especially in the low-income and transient neighborhoods of the greater New Haven area. From this initial meeting, GNHCP was formed. GNHCP acquired its 501(c)(3) status in August 1998. In 2000, GNHCP moved into its New Haven center of operations (GNHCP Center) which serves as the coordination hub for the organization’s activities including scheduling TNR and spay/neuter appointments, coordinating adoptions, volunteer activities and fundraising events, and to disseminate educational material to the community. In addition, we maintain a small adoption facility at the Center where tame cats and kittens rescued through our TNR program are taken into foster care to be adopted into forever homes. Our adoption center is “no-kill.”

GNHCP has a dedicated corps of approximately 25 volunteers who carry out a breadth of tasks including direct care of our foster cats, fundraising, TNR, writing grants and maintaining social media accounts. In each edition of our bi-annual newsletter CATmatters, a GNHCP volunteer is highlighted recognizing his or her accomplishments. We also have a strong relationship with two veterinarians who reserve a secure number of appointments for GNHCP, enabling us to have the capacity to sterilize up to 20 cats a week.

With more than 25 years of experience, GNHCP has become a valuable resource in New Haven’s low-income and transient neighborhoods. Demonstrating that GNHCP’s services are a critical resource in our community, we receive over 30 calls and emails each week from individuals who care for feral cats, as well as from individuals who have taken in a stray cat, but are financially unable to alter their pet. It is through our TNR and low-cost spay/neuter programs that we offer assistance to these individuals regardless of their ability to pay or make a donation, as our focus is on serving a high-need cat/human population.

GNHCP’s TNR program adheres to a set of policies and procedures that enable us to work together with feral cat caregivers to humanely and efficiently bring feral cat colonies to a managed status through sterilization and vaccination. These procedures include documenting calls from the community requesting us to alter stray/feral cats, collecting assistance information from each caller, evaluating the situation, trapping the cats, providing pre-operative care, transporting the cats to the veterinarian, providing post-operative care, and returning the cats to their home environment. We have three dedicated volunteers who engage in the trapping, transporting and recovery steps of our program.

In 2023, GNHCP provided assistance to 683 cats – spaying/neutering 628 cats and kittens (feral and tame) and assisting 55 other cats with injuries and other matters.

GNHCP is also dedicated to improving the lives of all cats through community outreach focused on educating the public about compassion and respect for all animals and helping community members to appreciate the role they can play in helping homeless cats. When TNR assistance is provided, GNHCP often forms partnerships with feral cat caregivers to get them involved with more than just feeding the cats. They are educated in the correct way to feed and shelter outdoor cats, and many times GNHCP provides outdoor shelters and/or feeding stations to feral cat caregivers who cannot afford these items on their own. Caregivers are encouraged to promote awareness of cat overpopulation amongst community members and to help GNHCP in identifying cats and people in need.  This networking empowers individuals and communities to make a difference by improving the lives of cats living outdoors which not only benefits both caregivers and colonies, but promotes respect for animals and humane values.

In addition to educating caregivers, GNHCP engages in education workshops that include adults and children. It is through such activities as crafts, discussion groups, and informal talks where individuals develop compassion and respect for all animals. During these workshops, GNHCP has the opportunity to talk about the origination of feral cat colonies, and the importance of responsible pet ownership. At these workshops, GNHCP also distributes its own Activity Book, which is available in English and Spanish.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, which is also comprised of an Executive Committee.  This core group provides leadership and stability to enable GNHCP to continue helping feral and stray cats within the greater New Haven community.

Testimonials

Pamela (Orange’s Parent)

“ We cannot thank The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. enough for their assistance in our journey with our newly housed cat, Orange. We were New Haven residents for 15+ years and were feeding feral cats in our neighborhood. Fast-forward seven years, and due to job opportunities we were moving out of state. Many of the feral cats came and went, but one particular cat, Orange, had become a regular. We had allowed her to become dependent on us, feeding her at least twice a day, offering her treats, her choice of heated houses during the colder months, and arranging for substitute feeders when we were going to be away. 

We were never able to pet Orange, but she basically became our outdoor cat, meowing at our door when she wanted something, and over time letting us at least get a little closer to her. We couldn't abandon her but did not have a suitable arrangement in her familiar neighborhood, so we decided to trap her and bring her with us on our adventure to Arkansas, where we hope she will be a safe indoor cat, and hopefully cohabitate with our other indoor cat, also a rescue.

We could not have been successful in our plans without GNHCP’s support. We had set up a trap but Orange had outwitted us, stepping over the sensor plate to eat the food. We contacted GNHCP who provided guidance on trap-training and the next steps of getting her to our veterinarian to make sure we had a healthy-enough cat to continue with our plans without risk to ourselves or our other cat. 

The plan worked; we were able to trap her, arrange for a same day vet visit and bring her home that afternoon. GNHCP also provided guidelines/advice in terms of next steps prior to our move. 

In addition to the moral support and experienced advice, GNHCP also gave us a large carrier for Orange, one where we could have food, water AND a litter box for our two-day drive, and one night hotel stay. They provided the carrier with enough lead time that we were able to introduce it to Orange in our house, and by the day of our departure, she was using it like a house, with just one entry/exit access, so that morning, we simply had to close the door, and we had her safe and sound for the trip. 

Once we arrived in Arkansas, we made arrangements to donate the carrier to another cat rescue near our new home, so that someone else and another cat(s) may make use of it as we did. Worrying about Orange was one of the biggest hurdles we had regarding our move, not packing up after 15 years nor moving 1500 miles away, but GNHCP held our hands in a caring, helpful manner, assuring us that we were taking the correct steps and doing the right thing. We honestly could not have accomplished this without their help.

I cannot say enough good things about this organization, and if we were still local, both my husband and myself would be offering our time to assist them in any way that would be helpful to them.”

Emma

“ I wanted to thank you so much for all of the nice help you do for these poor feral cats. You helped us out with putting an injured feral cat to sleep earlier in the year, rescued some kittens and trapped and released the mama cat back here, and just today we had another feral walk through cat who appears to have been injured that I think will probably be put to sleep. We gave another donation, and will definitely donate again next year and we (my husband Mitchell and I), really appreciate all that you do and it's so nice to know there are caring people like you and your volunteers out in the world !”

Marie Carroll-Noonan

“ One morning I awoke to realize that my husband Brian and I had inherited total responsibility for a large intergenerational family of feline residents. Shortly after we bought our 1895 house in New Haven, our new neighbor, Gayle, confided she was deeply worried about the feral cats in her backyard, as she and her family would soon relocate. Gayle had originally rescued 14 feral cats; with the help of The Greater New Haven Cat Project, she began the trap/neuter/return process that saved and vastly enriched those vulnerable lives. Gayle’s husband Kirk built shelters, and the feline family began getting meals on a regular basis! GNHCP President Cheryl and volunteer Betsy became supportive advisors and official cat aunties. When Gayle’s house was sold, we moved the feral cats to our yard with their shelters, dishes, and uncertainties. Six years ago, Cheryl and GNHCP helped again by spaying a sweet all-white mama who appeared in our yard with six newborns.”