PLATTSBURGH — From trapping to sheltering, rescuing cats in Clinton County requires an all-hands-on-deck approach to make it work most days.
However, volunteers at CATS Rescue and Adoption Services, which recently celebrated the opening of its new shelter building at 7196 Route 9, Plattsburgh, to the public, make rescuing look easy when it’s anything but.
Since 2016, the rescue, previously known as Animal Rescue and Welfare Services, has saved and adopted out more than 3,800 area cats. In 2025 alone, 900 cats and kittens found homes through the rescue.
“This is really a community service,” Lillian Cassidy, who is on the board of directors for CATS, said.
CATS purchased its new building, the former site of the Plattsburgh Animal Hospital, in 2023. It took some time before the building could open because renovations needed to be made to meet Town of Plattsburgh code after sitting vacant for many years.
That was finally accomplished this past November, Cassidy said. The facility is now available to visit by appointment due to a lack of volunteers to staff it the entire day.
CAPA ACT
Though the rescue is up and running in its new location, more challenges remain on the horizon for CATS.
Like all shelters in the state, Cassidy said the facility will eventually need to be in compliance with New York’s new Companion Animal Protection Act, too, which went into effect in December of 2025.
The legislation has “good intentions” for animals, Cassidy said, but it will take some time before the facility meets all the requirements outlined in it.
In anticipation of CAPA going into effect, in July, CATS joined forces with two other animal organizations — Keeseville Feral Cat Management and Willsboro Community-Feral Cat Committee — and Kysa Roberts, an independent trapper who neuters, vaccinates and returns cats when needed.
Roberts said joining forces was necessary to meet the strict regulations of the state legislation, and for these organizations to continue helping cats across Clinton County and part of Essex County.
“There were, like, four groups that were running independently, doing what the CATS rescue does but on a smaller scale … I also would take them, foster and adopt out,” Roberts said. “But with the new regulations, we couldn’t do that anymore. We had to be under a 501©(3) shelter, so all of us went under their (CATS) umbrella, and all of our paperwork now goes through one hub. and Lil does all of that.
“All these little groups were going to close and, for being little groups, we were doing very big numbers, and if they closed, that was going to have a huge impact. So instead of all of the little groups closing, we now all work together.”
ADOPTION PROCESS
Any adoptable kittens and cats trapped at these organizations are vetted and adopted through CATS. As of Jan. 21, the rescue had 102 felines in the building, waiting to be adopted.
Those interested in adopting a cat will have to be approved by rescue staff. Cassidy said vetting includes a call to landlords, if there is one, and veterinarians for references.
If it’s too young to be sterilized, Roberts said an adopter will have to sign a form, agreeing to get the procedure done in the future.
INTAKE PROTOCOL
Cassidy said there is an intake protocol for each cat that comes through the door to ensure they’re healthy.
“We test every gap for feline leukemia and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). They’re vaccinated immediately, they’re treated for fleas, they’re dewormed, and then they’re held for a little bit in a cage, just so we can see what their temperament is and where they might fit in,” Cassidy said.
All the cats at the rescue are typically separated into different rooms by age — kittens, one to two year olds and so on.
“But all of our cats are surgically sterilized,” Cassidy said. “Our vet actually has a suite in the back of our building, and she does all of them there.”
Cassidy said Red Fern Spay and Neuter Mobile Veterinary Clinic does the procedures in a timely, affordable manner twice a week.
“I can bring three in at a time, and sometimes, there’s colonies of 40, so it’s a long process,” Roberts said.
Roberts, who has been trapping cats for four years now, said her goal is to stop overpopulation so there are less cats left outside to suffer. As it stands, there are many cat colonies throughout Plattsburgh that she and other volunteers work hard to caretake.
“If you see something, say something,” she stressed. “I got two calls last year for colonies over 40 because they were scared to call and ask for help sooner. They thought they were going to get in trouble, but if they had called when there were five, it would have made such a difference. They reproduce so fast.”
FUNDRAISER
She said she encourages all pet owners to get their animals spayed or neutered to do their part.
“We try very hard to make sure that there’s always a colony caretaker, where they’re looked after, they have fresh food and water. But all of that is very expensive, and there is no funding for that,” Roberts said.
“So I have the fundraiser on Saturday, which I’ve done each year, and primarily, that money goes to the cats that can’t come here and be adopted out, but we still have to stop the breeding.”
In order to fund her work for the year, Roberts is hosting her annual fundraiser at the Keeseville VFW starting at 11 a.m. today. The fundraiser is an all-day event with a craft fair featuring 100 vendors and a Chinese auction.
“I’ve got a great group of volunteers that have gone around and gotten a lot of gift certificates,” Roberts said. “We’re serving food all day, and all the proceeds will go to me also for that.
“And then at 4 p.m., we switch over. We’re doing a turkey dinner take-in or take-out or eat-in. and we also have someone coming to sing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and doing some entertainment. We’ve got 50-50s, also.
“It’s a big day. It’s a long day, and it’s a lot of work … but it’s all for the animals. Every ounce of it goes to spaying and neutering and all of that that’s associated with it.”
Roberts said that last year, she raised $8,000 but is hoping to bring that number up to $10,000 this year. However, with record cold temperatures set to hit the North Country this weekend, she said the odds aren’t in her favor.
“I’m a little worried about that, but I know my regular following will come no matter what,” she said. “That money lasted me until November of (2025), and then I did have some other donations that kept me going. and a lot of times, I’m not gonna lie, I pay for it myself because if I stop trapping, one, it leaves the cats outside, but two, if I don’t fix them, we’re going to have so many kittens in the spring we just can’t keep up, so I just keep going, and I do what I have to do.”
BUILDING EXPENSES
The CATS building is always in need of donations as well.
Cassidy said the building expenses — light, heat, water and maintenance — are high, and the facility is run by volunteers only. Starting Feb. 1, Cassidy said they are raising the adoption fees for all cats to $125 so they can breakeven.
“We cover expenses with adoption fees, fundraising events such as our annual Kitty Fest, but also our thrift shoppe. The Cats’ Meow Thrift Shoppe is also kept open strictly with volunteers and is located at 61 Champlain St. here in the city. The store takes in gently used items from the public and sells to others in need,” Cassidy said.
“It is an important piece to the success of the organization.”