About Us, Our Story
When local animal shelters and rescues are full, many domesticated cats on Long Island are abandoned by their owners and left to survive on the streets without being spayed or neutered. Feral cat trappers and colony caretakers are faced with an overwhelming number of stray cats and kittens who deserve safety, medical care, and loving homes. Tender Loving Cats, Inc. (TLC) was founded to meet this critical need.
Established in January 2017, Tender Loving Cats, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3), no-kill feline rescue dedicated to reducing Long Island’s community cat population through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and the rehabilitation of homeless cats and kittens for adoption. As part of our mission, all cats and kittens adopted through TLC are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. We also educate the public on the importance of TNR and work closely with colony caretakers to help them implement effective TNR programs within their communities.
In 2019, TLC created the Prevent-A-Litter (P.A.L.) Program to address the overwhelming feral, stray, and homeless cat and kitten crisis on Long Island, NY. Since its inception, the P.A.L. Program has spayed or neutered upwards of almost 1,000 feral cats or cats owned by low-income individuals each year, significantly reducing future litters and suffering.
Every rescue begins with a Long Island resident reaching out for help after discovering cats or kittens in need. When we are able to assist, we ensure that all kittens are placed through our adoption program, spayed or neutered prior to adoption, and that mother cats are always spayed at no cost to the property owner. Our work often continues beyond the initial rescue, as we assist with trapping, spaying, and neutering the entire colony. TLC trappers and volunteers understand that simply removing kittens is not enough; mother cats and adult colony cats must also be spayed or neutered whenever possible. Removing kittens alone only perpetuates the homeless cat epidemic on Long Island.
As a foster-based rescue, TLC can only pull cats and kittens from the streets for adoption when foster homes are available to care for them until adoption. If you have a spare room and would like to help save lives, we encourage you to apply to foster cats or kittens.
With the opening of our first PetSmart Adoption Center at PetSmart North Babylon in 2017, followed by our second location at PetSmart West Babylon in 2019, TLC has been able to substantially increase adoptions and rescue more cats and kittens each year. With this growth comes a greater need for dedicated volunteers. If you can spare just two hours a week and live in the Babylon area, please consider applying to become a TLC volunteer.
TLC also takes on many special-needs cases requiring medical care beyond the norm. We never turn away a cat because of cost. Each year, we provide lifesaving medical treatment to some of the neediest cats and kittens on Long Island, including but not limited to eye enucleations, entropion eyelid surgery, orthopedic specialty surgeries, FIP treatment, and extensive dental procedures. All cats and kittens in our care are tested negative for FeLV, fully vaccinated (including rabies), dewormed, spayed or neutered, and microchipped.
This work would not be possible without you—our supporters, donors, volunteers, foster parents, and the dedicated veterinarians who stand behind our mission. We are deeply grateful to Dix Hills Animal Hospital, Long Island Spay & Neuter, Lindenhurst Veterinary Hospital, Animal Surgical Center, West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center, South Shore Animal Hospital, Island Rescue Bayshore, and Helping Paw East Meadow.
We rely on donations from the public to continue this lifesaving work. By making a tax-deductible donation, you are helping us help them.
Tender Loving Cats, Inc.
Rescues the Mistreated,
Saves the Injured and
Loves the Abandoned.
Established in January 2017, Tender Loving Cats, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3), no-kill feline rescue dedicated to reducing Long Island’s community cat population through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and the rehabilitation of homeless cats and kittens for adoption. As part of our mission, all cats and kittens adopted through TLC are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. We also educate the public on the importance of TNR and work closely with colony caretakers to help them implement effective TNR programs within their communities.
In 2019, TLC created the Prevent-A-Litter (P.A.L.) Program to address the overwhelming feral, stray, and homeless cat and kitten crisis on Long Island, NY. Since its inception, the P.A.L. Program has spayed or neutered upwards of almost 1,000 feral cats or cats owned by low-income individuals each year, significantly reducing future litters and suffering.
Every rescue begins with a Long Island resident reaching out for help after discovering cats or kittens in need. When we are able to assist, we ensure that all kittens are placed through our adoption program, spayed or neutered prior to adoption, and that mother cats are always spayed at no cost to the property owner. Our work often continues beyond the initial rescue, as we assist with trapping, spaying, and neutering the entire colony. TLC trappers and volunteers understand that simply removing kittens is not enough; mother cats and adult colony cats must also be spayed or neutered whenever possible. Removing kittens alone only perpetuates the homeless cat epidemic on Long Island.
As a foster-based rescue, TLC can only pull cats and kittens from the streets for adoption when foster homes are available to care for them until adoption. If you have a spare room and would like to help save lives, we encourage you to apply to foster cats or kittens.
With the opening of our first PetSmart Adoption Center at PetSmart North Babylon in 2017, followed by our second location at PetSmart West Babylon in 2019, TLC has been able to substantially increase adoptions and rescue more cats and kittens each year. With this growth comes a greater need for dedicated volunteers. If you can spare just two hours a week and live in the Babylon area, please consider applying to become a TLC volunteer.
TLC also takes on many special-needs cases requiring medical care beyond the norm. We never turn away a cat because of cost. Each year, we provide lifesaving medical treatment to some of the neediest cats and kittens on Long Island, including but not limited to eye enucleations, entropion eyelid surgery, orthopedic specialty surgeries, FIP treatment, and extensive dental procedures. All cats and kittens in our care are tested negative for FeLV, fully vaccinated (including rabies), dewormed, spayed or neutered, and microchipped.
This work would not be possible without you—our supporters, donors, volunteers, foster parents, and the dedicated veterinarians who stand behind our mission. We are deeply grateful to Dix Hills Animal Hospital, Long Island Spay & Neuter, Lindenhurst Veterinary Hospital, Animal Surgical Center, West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center, South Shore Animal Hospital, Island Rescue Bayshore, and Helping Paw East Meadow.
We rely on donations from the public to continue this lifesaving work. By making a tax-deductible donation, you are helping us help them.
Tender Loving Cats, Inc.
Rescues the Mistreated,
Saves the Injured and
Loves the Abandoned.
Board of Directors
President
Rebecca Caro
Treasurer
Richard Bertuglia
Secretary
Jennifer Shah
Officers
Dana Demetres
Marge Goldin
Lisa Landers
Claudia Cannam
Rebecca Caro
Treasurer
Richard Bertuglia
Secretary
Jennifer Shah
Officers
Dana Demetres
Marge Goldin
Lisa Landers
Claudia Cannam
Tender Loving Cats has been nominated for Best of Long Island in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024! We could not be more proud. Thank you Bethpage Credit Union for making this possible.
Tender Loving Cats, Inc. is proud to have been awarded grant funding from the following esteemed grantors -
CALL/TEXT1-866-458-8228 (ILUVCATS)org
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VISIT USOpening hoursMon - Sat: 9–11am & 6–8pm
Sun: 9–11am & 4–6pm |
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DonateTender Loving Cats, Inc. is a registered not-for-profit 501c3. Our Tax ID Number is: 81-5228818. NYS License #346