'Cat Lives Matter' Facebook Group Helps Stray Felines In Astoria

ASTORIA, QUEENS -- It all started with one stray cat.

Kevin and Arianny Long didn't know Canela was pregnant when they found the stray feline on the streets and took her in. The Astoria couple would soon find themselves with an entire litter of kittens on their hands.

After rehoming those kittens to friends and family, the couple wanted to help on a larger scale. Three years later, they launched the "Cat Lives Matter (Astoria Queens)" Facebook group in late April with a simple objective.

"Our goal is basically to help the cats in any way we can with the help of the community," Kevin Long told Patch.

Sometimes that means recruiting volunteers to trap, neuter and release stray cats to control overpopulation. Sometimes it's finding loving homes for mother cats and their kittens. Sometimes its donating food and supplies for felines the Longs foster while searching for their permanent home.

"We want to offer help on any side of the spectrum," Kevin Long said.

The couple got the idea from a similar Facebook group they'd joined in Long Island after adopting their first cat. Both were inspired by the number of people offering to pitch in time, expertise and supplies for the area's stray felines. They also noticed a lot of posts to asking for that kind of network in New York City.

"It seemed like there was a lack of support in our community so we decided to start the page and send out Facebook invites to get everyone involved and aware," Kevin Long said.

The community response has been overwhelming, he said. The Facebook group in less than a month has racked up 113 members and is growing each day.

Those who can't foster or neuter the cats have flooded the Longs with supplies for the two litters of kittens they're now fostering. Rather than ask for money, the couple asks donors to pick the feline supplies, toys and food they want to fund from an Amazon Wishlist, Kevin Long said.

"We've gotten an overwhelming response to the donations, and I think it's because (donors) know where their money is going," he said.

And though it has Astoria in the name, the Facebook group isn't limited to just local cats. It features cats in need from across the city, and one kitten in Longs' foster litter came all the way from Long Island.

"We're trying our hardest not to say no to anyone, and we haven't had to yet," Kevin Long said.

In fact, the couple is even contemplating extending their feline support network from the virtual world to the veterinarian's office.

"There's a vet in Astoria that's been very helpful to us... so we're thinking of doing an adoption program with them with the cats we get," Kevin Long said.

It might be a handful, but it's a duty the couple feels they - and all humans - owe to the stray cats who don't get a say in their situation.

"They don't have a voice," Kevin Long said. "I feel like it's human error that caused the cat overpopulation to begin with, so it's our responsibility to help them."

(Lead photo courtesy of Kevin and Arianny Long/Cat Lives Matter)