You spot a “Free Cats” sign and assume it might be quirky or an odd joke. But when it’s posted in a busy New York City warehouse district, you take a second look. A few residents did just that.
They asked questions, shared photos, and slowly realized this was more than a quirky message. The cats behind it weren’t pets someone was giving away; they were part of a larger need.
As word spread, local people showed up ready to help: opening cages, emptying boxes, offering of foster homes. The warehouse became something other than a storage space.
And what began with a simple sign turned into a story of compassion, coordination, and community steps coming together.
A Quick Intervention
After New York residents saw the cardboard sign, they couldn’t believe their eyes. Did someone actually abandon cats there?
Many people got closer to check for more information. The Warehouse owner basically confirmed that there were inside.
Greenpoint Cats wrote on Instagram: “The owners — who started with two cats and now had four — were intending to give away two adolescent kittens to anyone who would take them.”
The Good Samaritan who came to the owners was sad to see just how much animals were suffering in New York, and it was part of a large crisis there.
The person who found the cats told the Warehouse owner that it was necessary to spay and neuter them before handing them off.
Shortly after, the owner thought about just giving them all away, as he really didn’t have the time or desire to care for them.
The Greenpoint staff assessed the situation and determined it was best if they took all the cats. All four of them were taken to the veterinary clinic, where they received a checkup.
Everything Is Going According To Plan
They were all vetted and spayed. About a week after the organization took in the cats, they were shocked to learn that someone wanted to adopt one of them.
This was great news, and it signaled that things were going in the right direction for this cat family. The rescuers believe that their new families might come sooner rather than later.
The three remaining cats are called Crepe Suzette, Soufflé and Flapjack. Out of the three of them, Flapjack is the only one who is still a bit skittish.
It will take him a while before he grows fond of humans, but that might change when he finds a forever home.
Greenpoint Cats ended by saying: “We’ve taken in more than 40 unwanted cats and kittens from local warehouses this year. It’s a real problem that we hope more neighbors, businesses and city agencies will help address — for starters, by requiring and providing spay/neuter services to stop the cycle of suffering.”
I really hope that all the cats in New York get a chance to be with a loving family who will care for them. This is a big issue, but it’s not unsolvable. Sometimes, all it takes is a single phone call.