In recognition of October’s Feral Cat Awareness Month, State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. welcomed Felicia Bownoth, founder and president of Lovely Beans, a Queens-based nonprofit animal rescue organization, to his podcast, Where Do We Go From Here?, to discuss the growing population of feral cats in New York City and the importance of humane animal rescue efforts.

With an estimated 500,000 to one million community cats living throughout New York City, Addabbo and Bownoth discussed the challenges facing animal rescuers, including limited funding, a shortage of volunteers and foster homes, and the need for greater public education.

Bownoth explained that Lovely Beans focuses on rescuing injured, abandoned, and neglected cats, providing necessary medical treatment, and finding permanent homes for adoptable animals. The organization also participates in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), a humane process in which feral cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, provided with medical care, and returned to their communities to prevent further reproduction.

“I think we should be approaching this as more of a community issue, rather than leaving it solely up to rescuers like myself,” said Bownoth. “We need better relationships between government, nonprofits, and communities. The good thing is, TNR works. We know we have a solution. We just need more funding allocated toward TNR programs like the ones Lovely Beans provides.”

During the discussion, Bownoth emphasized that the increasing feral cat population has become a serious concern, particularly in Queens. She encouraged residents to address emerging cat colonies early, seek assistance from local rescue organizations, and consider participating in TNR training.

Addabbo stressed the importance of responsible pet ownership, reminding residents that adopting an animal requires a long-term financial and personal commitment. He also acknowledged the need for continued government involvement through legislation, funding, and partnerships with community organizations.

“Animal welfare is an important issue that deserves our attention, both in our neighborhoods and at the state level,” Addabbo said. “Organizations like Lovely Beans are providing a valuable service to our communities, and by increasing awareness, encouraging responsible pet ownership, and supporting humane solutions, we can work together to address this growing concern.”

The conversation highlighted the significant challenges faced by small nonprofit rescues like Lovely Beans, which rely heavily on donations, volunteers, and foster families to continue their work.

Both Addabbo and Bownoth agreed that addressing the community cat population requires a collaborative effort among residents, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The senator also expressed interest in potentially partnering with Lovely Beans on a community cat adoption event in the spring.

Residents interested in supporting Lovely Beans are encouraged to learn more about volunteer opportunities, fostering, and donations.

It can be contacted on Instagram @the_lovely_beans

Or by email at: thelovelybeans1@gmail.com

The podcast can be viewed on Senator Addabbo’s YouTube channel at the link below:

https://youtu.be/V-dIrY4Ufus