Mission & Goal
Cat Connections NYC is a volunteer-driven nonprofit founded by a group of cat lovers dedicated to rescuing, fostering, and rehoming homeless cats throughout New York City. What began as a foster-based rescue is growing into a bigger vision: opening a permanent, community-centered cat cafe in Astoria, Queens.
Incorporated in 2025
What We Are Today - A Foster-Based Rescue
Today, we are a fully foster-based rescue powered by dedicated volunteers and compassionate foster homes. Every cat we save lives in a home environment - not a shelter - where they receive individualized care, medical attention, and the time they need to heal and thrive. This model allows us to understand each cat’s personality and needs, ensuring thoughtful matches with adopters and setting both cats and families up for lifelong success.
Our mission is TNA -Trap, Neuter, Adopt cats in need. We cover medical expenses for sick and injured cats before finding them loving homes.
Every cat has a story, and we share it to inspire, educate, and raise awareness about the reality of cats' lives on the streets and the dedication of rescuers to save them.
Our 2030 Goal
Future Vision - Cat Cafe
In the future, we envision a welcoming, community-centered cat cafe: a permanent space where rescued cats can live comfortably while connecting with people in a warm, social setting.
This café will serve as an adoption hub, an educational space for responsible pet ownership, and a gathering place that brings neighbors together around a shared love for cats.
By blending rescue with community, the cat café will help us save more lives, create sustainable support for our mission, and make compassion a daily, accessible experience.
We believe in building nonprofits that are self-sustaining and don’t rely solely on donations to survive. By investing in self-supporting initiatives, we ensure our mission can thrive long-term, create jobs, help more cats, and strengthen our community every day.
The Challenges of a Foster - Only Model
Limited Space &
Intake Capacity
- The number of cats you can help is restricted by how many foster homes are available.
- Emergencies or large-scale rescues can overwhelm the foster network.
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Dependence on Volunteers
- Success relies heavily on committed foster volunteers, who may have limited availability.
- Volunteer burnout & foster fatigue is a real risk.
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Inconsistent Care Environments
- Each foster home may have different routines, experience levels, and resources.
- Maintaining consistent socialization, medical care, and training can be challenging.
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Public Engagement & Fundraising
- Without a central location, it’s harder to raise awareness, host adoption events, or engage the community.
- Limited visibility can affect donations, outreach efforts, and build community trust.
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Medical & Logistical Challenges
- Transporting cats to vets, coordinating treatments, and managing medical records across multiple homes is complex.
- Sick or special-needs cats require special care.
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Adoption Limitations & Exposure
- Matching cats with adopters depends on volunteers’ ability to schedule home visits.
- A lack of a permanent space can slow down adoption processes, and heavily influence hoarding pattern.
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Risk of Cats Hoarding & Collapse
- Without a structured system, some foster homes may unintentionally take on too many cats.
- This can lead to stress and greater consequences - neglect of the cats if the foster is incapacitated.
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Scaling Issues &
Landlords Concerns
- A foster-only model can work well for small-scale rescues, but scaling to help more cats long-term often requires a central facility, café, or shelter.
- Many foster-based rescues have problems with landlords if they're renting the space.
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Limited Community Presence
- Without a central location, it’s harder to educate the public about cat care, responsible adoption, and train volunteers.
- Lack of visibility limits fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and long-term community support.