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Tangerine looks like a cat who was born to be cuddled. He’s got a chunky head with fluffy, pinchable jowls. His teddy bear body is cloaked in ginger plush. At two years old, his tomcat face still has all the innocence of a kitten's. But last month when Tangerine crept silently into a gated Brooklyn lot, he didn’t want to be touched or even seen.
The poor boy was badly injured. His left eye was missing, lost to an unknown trauma. He was frightened by his diminished sight, and pain that never ended. All he wanted when he slipped into the lot was a place where he wouldn’t hurt anymore.
Greta, an elderly local caretaker, found Tangerine. As usual, she arrived at the lot an hour after dark to feed her eight ferals. Setting out dishes in the glow of the streetlight, she spotted a flash of rusty fur under some bushes. Drawing nearer she saw the tabby’s worried face with its sorrowful, empty socket. Greta’s heart ached when she called to him and he answered with a hoarse meow, as if someone he’d once known had spoken to him. Still, he tensed if she came close so she left some food and the next morning came back with an experienced trapper. A couple of hours after that Tangerine was secured.
The poor boy was badly injured. His left eye was missing, lost to an unknown trauma. He was frightened by his diminished sight, and pain that never ended. All he wanted when he slipped into the lot was a place where he wouldn’t hurt anymore.
Greta, an elderly local caretaker, found Tangerine. As usual, she arrived at the lot an hour after dark to feed her eight ferals. Setting out dishes in the glow of the streetlight, she spotted a flash of rusty fur under some bushes. Drawing nearer she saw the tabby’s worried face with its sorrowful, empty socket. Greta’s heart ached when she called to him and he answered with a hoarse meow, as if someone he’d once known had spoken to him. Still, he tensed if she came close so she left some food and the next morning came back with an experienced trapper. A couple of hours after that Tangerine was secured.
Greta knew the exhausted stray needed more care than she could possibly afford so she turned to Neighborhood Cats. We got Tangerine to our vet for emergency removal of his ruined, perilously infected eye. That turned out to be half the battle. While our little patient was still groggy with anesthesia, we learned he has stomatitis, an autoimmune disease that has nearly destroyed his teeth and gums. Extensive dental surgery is needed to finally end his suffering and make him well.
Since the surgery on his eye, Greta has been caring for Tangerine as he rests and quietly gathers strength for the next procedure. At first he was petrified but her infinite kindness has touched his sweet soul. These days when she blinks slowly at him - that’s catspeak for “I love you” - his one golden eye blinks back. He knows he’s not alone and friendless anymore.
Will you be Tangerine’s friend and champion? Your gift towards his urgent care will bring him a lifetime of sunny tomorrows. Please help with your donation today.
Since the surgery on his eye, Greta has been caring for Tangerine as he rests and quietly gathers strength for the next procedure. At first he was petrified but her infinite kindness has touched his sweet soul. These days when she blinks slowly at him - that’s catspeak for “I love you” - his one golden eye blinks back. He knows he’s not alone and friendless anymore.
Will you be Tangerine’s friend and champion? Your gift towards his urgent care will bring him a lifetime of sunny tomorrows. Please help with your donation today.
Susan Richmond,
Executive Director Neighborhood Cats
NeighborhoodCats has perfectly expressed why thousands of people have become cat colony caregivers...
"Why work with ferals? It’s a question we’re often asked.When there’s so much wrong in the world today, why choose to work with animals you may never be able to touch? Who must be trapped to get them fixed and handled carefully so you don’t get hurt? Who are misunderstood by many and resented simply for being there?
Because their lives have value. Because they feel want, pain and, yes, love like everyone. Because they’re innocent and need us. And because you want us to help them, something you make clear every time you donate.
Please consider a generous gift to our Holiday Rescue Fund and make it possible for us to save more of these precious lives in 2026."
Cat Caregivers: Unsung Heroes Appreciated Worldwide
In many corners of the globe, the quiet dedication of those who care for feral and stray cat colonies is not only accepted but genuinely appreciated as an act of compassion and community spirit. Here are some inspiring examples:
- Turkey (especially Istanbul): Rooted in cultural and religious traditions that revere cats, feeding and caring for strays is seen as a virtuous deed; communities, shopkeepers, and even municipalities support caregivers, viewing them as guardians of a beloved urban tradition.
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Japan: Government-backed community cat programs honor volunteers who practice Trap-Neuter-Return and daily care; these caregivers are respected as responsible stewards contributing to humane population control and animal welfare.
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Italy (e.g., Rome): Stray cat colonies at historic sites are legally protected, and those who feed and monitor them are valued for preserving a cherished part of the city's cultural fabric.
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Greece and Cyprus: On islands and in towns abundant with strays, feeding cats is a common, heartfelt act of kindness that's socially embraced as part of everyday life and tourism charm.
