About Us – Who We are, What We Do

Habitat for Cats formed its’ roots in the mid 1990s from a small group of people in Southeastern Massachusetts communities. These people were individually and voluntarily involved in various efforts to care for feral & abandoned cats at the start of the No-Kill and TNR national animal care & rescue movements. Chance encounters at local veterinary clinics by these individuals initiated efforts to collaborate, organize and apply for recognition as a 501(3)c non-profit, all volunteer corporation with a mission to reduce the overpopulation of homeless cats. Habitat For Cats was certified as such in April 1997. Through the years, Habitat for Cats has steadily increased its programs and services.
Board Of Directors
Aura Correia, President /Acting Treasurer
Diane East
Betsy Fuller
Ginny McMahon
Debbie Medeiros
Terry Somerson
Trap Neuter Return Program

Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) is a humane method of managing feral cats, also known as community cats. The TNR program is aimed at the sterilization of these cats.
Feral cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the symbol of a sterilized community cat). The cats will recuperate from surgery under the care of volunteers and then will be returned back to their original territory to live out their lives under the supervision of their caretakers. Cats and kittens that are discovered to be domesticated may be placed in the Habitat Adoption program as openings allow. Domesticated cats/kittens may also be transferred to regional animal shelters to be adopted through those facilities.
Habitat for Cats partners with local low cost spay/neuter clinics and veterinary hospitals to provide spay/neuter, rabies vaccinations and other medical treatment to community cats and kittens. HFC provides help to the areas surrounding and including New Bedford, Mass.
Habitat for Cats provides education and advice to the public in regards to homeless cat care, spay/neuter and managing feral cat colonies. A cat colony is not based on the number of cats; A colony is defined as a place where cats share a common food source or where cats share common territory. Additionally, Habitat for Cats loans equipment for trapping and for the post-surgical care of feral cats to the public
Habitat for Cats is one of a few organizations in the area that has over 20 years of TNR expertise and knowledge to educate and assist the public on matters related to feral cats. We believe that all community cats deserve care and compassion and we seek to improve their quality of life through our TNR and education programs.
Adoption Program
Most of the cats and kitten Habitat for Cats volunteers rescue require a little “TLC” before being available for adoption. The cats & kittens we rescue have often experienced being lost, abandoned, neglected or born outdoors. These cats/kittens need time to re-socialize with people – they get this opportunity in volunteer foster homes until they are ready for placement to a permanent home. In addition to our own adoption program, HFC partners with reputable no kill shelters which primarily work in the adoption field, to transfer some of our cats/kittens to these shelters for quick adoption and home placement.

Accomplishments and Press

• Habitat for Cats celebrated 20 years of operation in 2017
• In the span of 20 years over 10,000 cats/kittens have been through the Habitat for Cats door.
• Habitat for Cats received the Maritime International Community Service Award for two consecutive years.
• In the past 10 years (2011-2021) approximately 3,900 cats were spayed/neutered.