By Carol Tannenhauser
A kitten has been trapped for a month without food in the former AT&T store at 2195 Broadway at West 78th Street, according to Emily Noble, an Upper West Sider who has been “trying desperately for the last 24 hours to save it,” she told West Side Rag by email.
“It was pointed out to me by the man who runs the fruit stand right outside,” Noble, 27, continued. “He was clearly distressed about it as he’s been watching the cat starve since the store closed about a month ago. I immediately called 311 who couldn’t help, and 911 who wouldn’t. A friend suggested reaching out to the news so here I am.”
Noble sent a picture of the empty storefront with a “giant for-lease sign in the window,” displaying the building owner’s phone number. “Unfortunately, they’ve ignored all of my outreach (past 24 hours) and that of my fruit-stand guy (over a longer period of time).” WSR put in a call to the owner earlier this evening, but got an answering machine and has not yet received a response.
Time is of the essence. Perhaps someone lives at 2191 Broadway, which is the address of the building housing the empty storefront, and can reach out to the super or owner. Noble says she is “more than happy to trap the cat myself or coordinate with a rescue group.”
If you have any ideas or information, contact info@westsiderag.com.
Update, August 27, 2:15 p.m.: We have confirmation from Emily Noble that the kitten is safe and has been fed and hydrated. “I just stopped by and there are several people inside – seems like it’s actually being handled!” she wrote. “Yes – super let one of our tenants in the store, left food & water, & will trap & foster tomorrow,” explained a Rag commenter. “Signage has been left in window for all to know.”
Definitely more to follow!
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A shame, this poor kitten needs to be adopted!
Meanwhile hundreds of humans are abandoned on the streets of our city daily.
Ron – really?
You’re against a kitten being adopted?
And humans are not abandoned on our city streets, the problem is that Kendra‘s law is not being enforced.
So when someone from the DHS or the police go up to a mentally ill individual living in filth and squalor, and ask if they would like assistance….the mentally ill person says no.
Instead of the mentally ill person receiving proper care and medication, we let them continue on the street.
That needs to be changed by the proper use of Kendra’s Law.
As an aside, the homeless individuals that I’ve seen here for 20 to 30 years, are still on the streets and none of them have been moved into W. 83rd St., as we all said would happen.
Mental health and drug addiction do not disappear or get fixed in a homeless shelter.
It happens in a hospital.
We should give this kitten a rent controlled apartment? It seems only fair
But we have to follow current City practices. . They can stay in an apartment only if they are migrants (illegal ones are preferred). Native born kittens must wait their turn until they age out as cats.
Excellent idea! And ‘ll be her human roommate.
It’s possible to care about both animals and people at the same time. Why do some people think that when someone speaks up for animal welfare, the person doing so doesn’t also care about people? GMAFB.
The able-bodied adult humans can help themselves. The kitten can’t.
what??? personal responbility is SO 1800’s….
Has anyone tried the ASPCA? Or looked on Facebook for one of the (many) feral cat aid groups? The wonderful Flatbush Cats might know how to help (try online or on Facebook.). If there is a super or building manager/management contact they might help you gain access, even just to open a door, window or vent enough to put food and water and maybe a box in for the cat before full human access is permitted. The landlord likely won’t want cat pee etc in the space so it is in their interest to help someone willing to humanely capture the cat. What a heart-rending photo and story. Bless the fruit guy and Ms Noble . Really hope an update will follow soon with good news for this poor little critter. Good luck!!
Just want to add to your wonderful comment, Mandy, that Flatbush Cats is indeed also…wonderful! Daily News on 8/21/23 did a two-page spread on FC’s brand -new nonprofit spay/neuter clinic offering the procedures for a fraction of customary costs. Kudos to them! They are seriously rolling up their sleeves and dealing with the heart of the burgeoning stray/feral cat situation. Beautiful caring souls.
I hope there is a quick solution. I find it difficult to believe that a kitten went an entire month without food though. Is it at all possible that he found a small spot/a way out and keeps coming back inside? Years ago I called the ASPCA on the UES to save a dog that was left behind in my neighbor’s apartment while she went overseas. I don’t remember what steps the ASPCA had to take but they were able to rescue the dog. Good luck and please keep us posted!
Try calling the ACC directly?
Curtis Sliwa and his wife Nancy are tremendous animal activists and advocates. They host the Animal Rescue Hour on WABC-radio, 770-AM Sunday nights – and they walk the walk as they talk the talk, benefiting countless cats, including the ones that found a loving home with him and Nancy in their UWS apartment. Curtis Sliwa’s Facebook page lists his various contact info. Good luck – and bless you, Emily, and the wonderful fruit-stand guy for your efforts. Praying for a happy resolution!
Called and talked to the owner, who acted clueless about what was going on. I informed him of this article and that it’s bad press for his business. That neglecting to take action is a poor decision. Wish I could do more. Praying.
Did he agree to let someone in?
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get that confirmation from him, but in case you haven’t seen the article update yet, it looks like someone was able to!!
That’s all that matters. It’s not about shaming him. It’s about gaining access to rescue the kitten.
This isn’t a Mall of Abilene situation. (Management made the decision to trap and poison a colony of bats because it took more than a day to rescue/relocate them.)
Maybe the fire department can help?
This is it—call FDNY
Slide deli meat under the door, like in that Seinfeld episode.
There has to be a local TNR organization who could help. They are pro’s at this. Please, someone help this poor baby!
https://www.animalalliancenyc.org/needhelp/injorph.htm
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-2451142
https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/
https://www.bideawee.org/programs/feral-cat-initiative/
https://savekitty.org/
Break a window and lure the kitten out with food.
Maybe walk into a nearby local police station for help? Maybe they somehow can facilitate communication with the landlord to open the door or can give other ideas.
Gee, the building owner must really want that animal cruelty charge. I hear they can lock you away for up to a year. Quite the paper trail now.
Everybody call the landlord and tell him the police are about to break the window, even if they aren’t. Everybodya also call 911 and tell them that if they are supposed to respond to a dog in a hot car, they also have to respond to this. Or call landlord and say you want to look at the space to rent it, so he will come and open the door. Or go to the precint in person. Police are required to respond to animal cruelty. Don’t stop trying. Let Emily Noble or whoever takes the cat know that they cannot give more than just a drop of water or food or it can kill the cat. Take the cat straight to the vet.
Do not call 911. Don’t you think our energency resources are stretched enough?
There are non emergency phone numbers for local precincts or call 311 or an animal rescue group.
Please don’t tax our 911 system
Can you squeeze tubes of kitty paste under the door?
i am going down there this afternoon. its my birthday and that’s all i want to do
God Bless You! Also Happy Birthday!
Is the kitty out safe yet . I will come down too if not
Reach out to ABC 7 on your side. Very effective in solving problems when the media gets involved
Try the fire dept and the aspa.
Just break the glass! No one is going to care.
Cops will. It’s called “breaking and entering” and may get you a stiff fine and/or jail time.
I’m surprised no one has “accidentally” shattered the entire window…
I know. Where is a rioter when you actually need one.
This story is unbearable but I’m so glad the WSR posted it. Please, please someone – save this kitten! Your efforts will be celebrated.
Can the fire dept!
Situation is now being handled, sign in window cat has food & water & will be trapped & fostered tomorrow.
So happy to read this! Thanks to all involved
Oh thank goodness. Westside Rag and its readers have saved a life. Can you tell us how you got in.
Super let one of the tenants of the building in.
God Bless you all! Fro m a caring kitty Mom in Philly who used to live in 10024! xoxo
THANK YOU, GOD!!!
Thank God.
Whoever is the foster I would like to give a donation
That is such wonderful news!
God bless everyone responsible.
So glad to hear that someone is taking the kitten home.
YAY!! Who saved the cat? Who is taking it?
Has anyone thought of a brick?
The ASPCA works with NYPD re. animal rescues–could The WSR rag them?
What about the super or building manager? Is the space available for rent? Try contacting the realtor – who must have keys.
Also, Animal Care and Control should be able to help. If not, someone (the WSR, perhaps) should call the owner of the building to gain access!
I just saw the comment that the situation is under control-thank goodness! I wonder how the cat got left there in the first place.
Perhaps ask the local police station to break in. They’ve done it for animals and babies trapped in locked cars, why not this. Praying this baby can be saved.
Call the fire department.
I see that the cat is all right. I also see that Neighborhood Cats, a good group, was mentioned in a post, their website. Their office is on Broadway and about 92nd St.
Call Aspca! If they can’t help they can direct you to the agency that can.
Have you called Animal Control or one of the Animal Shelters? I suspect they have ties with the police and could get in the building to rescue the cat. Possibly even Blue Pearl on the West side (55th) street or The Animal Medical Center might have suggestions.
Someone needs to call and express interest in renting the space. Say you need to walk it ASAP. Somewhere there’s a leasing agent with keys. Once you make contact, you can tell them what’s going on. It’s in their best interest to not have an animal die in the space.
A kitten can’t survive a month without food/water. Odds are it has some way in/out. I’ve rescued a litter from a loading dock who were able to get into the building through a drainpipe. We had a “cat in the wall” situation at work. Turns out the store next door had an unfinished storage area and the cat could come and go freely. It just liked to get on top of the bar walk-in coolers and meow for the guests. Worth checking with neighbors and looking for unusual point of entry.
The building of which the retail space is under has master key to get into the retail space, at least from the back entrance. Please ask the building Resident Manager or Management company for this building to step in and allow the kitten to be saved.
Good for Emily Noble and the fruit guy! And all the responses point out the very concerned and giving attitude of Upper West Siders!
Thank you for the update
Try to find out if there is a super of the bldg. Also go to the police station n 82nd st see if they will address the situation.
Good to see so many people here expressing genuine concern in the comments.
Now let’s show the same compassion to the people in our neighborhood who are also starving, homeless, etc…
Wow, look at this comment section! So if you want to see real and meaningful change in the city, just say a little kitty’s life is at stake for any given issue.
Any update on the rescue mission yesterday with ACC? Want to hear all the good news! Thanks!
Thank you so much for this update! I was just setting off after the fact to see if I could do something about it! Bravo to the rescuers!