Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative

Home
United States
Wantagh, NY
Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative, 3300 Beltagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY.

A program of Bideawee that supports the work of those who practice Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in New York City and Long Island to improve the lives of feral and stray community cats and reduce the number of kittens being born on the streets Bideawee’s Feral Cat Initiative supports the work of organizations and individuals who help feral and stray community cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in New York City and Long Island.

10/28/2026

It's ! 🌬️❄️🏠🌡️🐱 Straw (NOT hay!) is our #1 choice for cat shelter bedding because its structure keeps cats warm and dry — plus it's eco-friendly. Now is the BEST time of year to find FREE straw for your winter cat shelters! Straw can be ordered online year-round, but it's cheap and plentiful in the analog world during October and November.

But act fast! The bales you see on display as seasonal decorations today will disappear between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Ask your neighbors, community festivals, local stores, restaurants, religious organizations, orchards, and other establishments if you can take their decorative straw off their hands in November.

If you'd rather purchase your cat shelter straw from a hardware, garden, or craft store, be sure to check this off your shopping list before December holiday items fill the shelves, which may happen well before Thanksgiving. Reminder: Look for long, natural straw; avoid chopped straw or craft straw that has been treated with varnish or pesticides.

Save more lives by sharing your stash! If you find a good straw source and have a dry space to store it, consider picking up extra to pass along to other cat caretakers this winter.

For more cat shelter info, check out our recorded webinar, "Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats":
Recording: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSV
Handout: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSH
Construction Videos: https://bit.ly/BFCIYT

Or to get started quickly with our Super Simple Foam Box Shelter, watch our all-ages step-by-step video: https://bit.ly/KidsCatShelter

10/22/2026

Did you miss our "Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats" webinar on 10/21, but still want to learn how to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather? The recording is available on-demand here:

Video: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSV
Handout: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSH
Construction Videos: https://bit.ly/BFCIYT

10/21/2026

It's ! 🌬️❄️🏠🌡️🐱 Join us TODAY, Wednesday, October 21, at 5:00 ET for our FREE "Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats" webinar. Learn the materials, tools, and skills needed to build 4 kinds of warm, waterproof shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather. Building cat shelters is a purr-fect project for adults, teens, and kids who want to help animals!

Can't attend live today? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout tomorrow.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/20/2026

This winter: Less BRRRRR, more PURRRRR! Join us TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 21, at 5:00 ET for our FREE "Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats" webinar. Learn the materials, tools, and skills needed to build 4 kinds of warm, waterproof shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather.

Can't attend live tomorrow? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout the next day.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/19/2026

Winter cold, snow, rain, and wind are coming! Learn the materials, tools, and skills needed to build cozy shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather at our FREE "Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats" webinar on Wednesday, October 21. Building cat shelters is a purr-fect project for adults, teens, and kids who want to help animals!

Can't attend on 10/21? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout the next day.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/18/2026

Join us for a FREE webinar on October 21 to learn how to build 4 different kinds of simple shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather!

Design #4: Deluxe Simple Ice Chest Shelter
This design really only requires a plastic ice chest cooler and an entry hole. The cooler is made of heavy-duty insulation sandwiched between layers of plastic, so it's warm and waterproof. The material can be cut using an ordinary kitchen knife. These coolers are usually on sale in colder months, just when the cats need them.

Free Webinar: Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
5:00–6:30 p.m. ET

Can't attend on 10/21? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout the next day.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/16/2026

Join us for a FREE webinar on October 21 to learn how to build 4 different kinds of simple shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather!

Design #3: Simple 2-Foot Foam Board Cube Shelter
This elegant, economical design uses every square inch of a 2-foot by 8-foot piece of wall/roofing insulation meant for human homes. The boards are thick enough to keep cats warm and they form a sturdy little house with a built-in base and awning. (Originally designed by Karin Hancock, Long Island, NY)

Free Webinar: Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
5:00–6:30 p.m. ET

Can't attend on 10/21? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout the next day.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/16/2026

TODAY, October 16, Celebrate Global Cat Day and National Feral Cat Day!

Each October, our friends at Alley Cat Allies shine a spotlight on cats around the world through their and campaigns. The event's motto, , is a rallying call of this global truth: Cats have lived alongside people for thousands of years, have a place in our communities, and are beings of inherent value who deserve to be protected.

October 16 is a day for each of us to become a cat advocate! Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative encourages you to observe Global Cat Day/National Feral Cat Day all month by taking action on behalf of the cats who share your life — from your pampered indoor pets to the feral and stray community cats who call your neighborhood home.

5 Ways to Go to Bat for Cats:
• Learn how to help community cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): https://bit.ly/LearnTNRNC
• Build a shelter to protect outdoor cats from winter weather: https://bit.ly/KidsCatShelter
• Adopt a cat or kitten: https://bideawee.org/adopt
• Foster a cat or kitten: https://bideawee.org/foster
• Donate to support the work of Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative: https://bit.ly/DonateFCI

Learn more about Global Cat Day/National Feral Cat Day: https://globalcatday.org

10/14/2026

It's ! 🌬️❄️🏠🌡️🐱 Join us for a FREE webinar on October 21 to learn how to build 4 different kinds of simple shelters to protect feral and stray community cats from harsh winter weather!

Design #2: Easy Plastic Bin Shelter
This shelter can last for years. It requires cutting and assembly, but no special skills or tools. It can be made large or small, depending on the size of the storage bin you're using as the shell. When deciding how big a bin you need, remember that the interior space will be smaller than the inside of the bin itself because the floor, ceiling, and four walls with be lined with 1-inch-thick insulation board.

Free Webinar: Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
5:00–6:30 p.m. ET

Can't attend on 10/21? No problem! Everyone who registers will receive links to the webinar recording and handout the next day.

Register: https://bit.ly/BFCIBSR

10/14/2026

It's ! 🐈💛🐈💙🐈 If you've been working to tame feral kittens and they are now comfortable with petting, great! It's time for the final phase of taming.

To prepare kittens for lifting, pet and touch their head and shoulders as usual, then move to touching the underbelly to accustom them to this sensation. Also try nudging them from one side to the other while they're engrossed in eating. Having your hands near them and gently pushing them around will get them ready to be picked up.

For the first lift, sit on the floor so they'll stay close to the floor. Try it when they're eating next to you. Lift them under their chest in front of the food bowl. Next, lift them loosely onto your knees, working up to holding them to your chest. Most young kittens are reassured by the feel of your warm body and heartbeat.

Next, hold them as you rise up on your knees, eventually standing up. Be sure they're comfortable with small lifts before ever reaching down from above to pick them up.

The final step: Handling without food. When the kittens are sleepy and full after a taming session with food, try petting and holding without food. If this works, try it at other times between meals. If that’s successful, they're ready for adoption!

Learn more in our free "Taming Feral Kittens for Adoption" webinar:
On-Demand Recording: https://bit.ly/BFCITFKV
Handout: https://bit.ly/BFCITFKH

And for in-depth info on socializing kittens:
Urban Cat League: https://urbancatleague.org/taming-toolkit
Flatbush Cats: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuusLiEn_3Z2w--AXzrUAIrYV2hwXAZw6
Kitten Lady: https://kittenlady.org/socializing

Address

3300 Beltagh Avenue
Wantagh, NY
11793

Website

https://campsite.bio/nycfci

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bideawee's Feral Cat Initiative posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.