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January 2024 by Stacy Collins
I was just there yesterday and found all of the volunteers to be friendly and helpful so not sure what other people are talking about.Good selection of clothes, shoes, housewares and decorative items.Yes, there are cat cages in the store, but they were clean and the animals were being well looked after.
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November 2023 by Danielle S
I spoke with the rudest woman. I was inquiring about a kitten that my daughter wanted for Christmas... But it was a problem bc my daughter is 5 and they don't adopt out to children under 6? Obviously this is a family kitten and not just for her!!! And then I live too far?! We love animals and would give a great home!!! And she just didn't care to give me the time of day. Very disappointing knowing how many cats need homes and we could give a great home!
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November 2023 by Gayle Easton
Great selection of gently used and repurposed items. As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. There are also friendly cats and kittens in this business who are available for adoption. The staff encourage filling out an online application through their website to visit the strays who are in need of homes. I think this is a wonderful idea because it lessens the chances of the cats and their kittens contracting infections from everyone touching and letting them. I will be going back to bring more items to contribute to a great cause and hopefully, at some point in the near future, come home with a new pair of cuddle buddies providing a home for them.
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October 2023 by Susan F.
I've found some treasures here, and the staff is great! I'm happy to support the cause. As a bonus, you usually get to see lots of beautiful kitties when you go there!
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September 2023 by D C
I recently had the unfortunate experience of dealing with this rescue organization, and I must say, it was one of the most obnoxious and rude encounters I've ever had. Right from the moment I walked through their doors, it was evident that the people in charge, Lynn specifically, had zero regard for basic human decency.To start, the staff members were incredibly dismissive and condescending. Instead of a warm welcome, they stared at me as if I were an inconvenience. It felt like they were doing me a favor by allowing me to adopt one of their animals. It left me with the impression that my presence was putting them out.Adding to my disappointment, their lack of professionalism was staggering. Not only were they rude, but they also showed no interest in providing any helpful information. My questions about the adoption process and requirements were met with eye rolls and annoyed sighs. It's as if I should've known everything without their guidance, the only information they were able to give was “go to the website and fill out the application”.And that's not all. The state of the cages was truly distressing. Overcrowded and filthy, some of the cats appeared visibly distressed. To make matters worse, the wet food left out looked far from fresh. It's common knowledge that it shouldn't be left outside for more than four hours.What shocked me even more was the cages' location within a thrift store. Such an environment is unsuitable and unhygienic for animals. The combination of animal cages and secondhand items is a recipe for potential health issues. It left me questioning their commitment to creating a safe space for these cats.In my view, a rescue organization should possess good knowledge of feline care. It should be staffed by professionals, not well-meaning amateurs who might believe they're doing a great job when, in reality, they're falling short. It's time to wake up to the reality! Passion and dedication don't always equate to proficiency in your field. Lynn should step aside and allow experienced, knowledgeable, trained, and competent experts to take charge, as she's clearly not a good fit for the role.Moving these cats to a more professional setup is crucial for their well-being. A reputable organization would prioritize their welfare, providing them with a clean, safe environment and expert care. Such an organization would have the resources and expertise to meet the cats' medical needs.This isn't an easy decision, but it's imperative to prioritize the cats' long-term well-being. Placing them in the hands of a professional organization increases their chances of finding loving forever homes. These cats deserve the best care possible, and it's time to ensure they receive it.
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September 2023 by Alison Papadopoulos
Caring about the Strays is a fabulous organization! We first discovered them after out 1st cat passed away. We decided to adopt 2 kittens that we saw pictures of on the CATS site and happily brought Sammy and Misty into our home, Lynn fully vetted us, checked out our home to make sure we were fit kitty parents and that our home was kitten ready! My brother also adopted 2 cats from CATS being put through the same vetting processes. Lynn and her staff obviously care a great deal about who their kitties go to. Recently we brought in another CATS kitty. Our Sammy at age 14 passed away from multiple myeloma. We wanted to get another cat but didn't think our 14 year old Misty could handle 2 kittens so after long conversations with Lynn, we are fostering to adopt a 2 year old boy making sure that our Misty gets along with him. Lynn has been wonderful throughout the process offering advice when needed and checking in. CATS is a fabulous organization and I would recommend them to anyone looking to adopt a kitty.
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September 2023 by Brenna E.
We adopted our kitty siblings here and could not be happier. I've seen some folks complain that it takes too long go to adopt, but that's just because they care. When we submitted to adopt Kermit, our kitty, he needed to have some teeth removed. Instead of just handing him over and letting us deal with what would be a costly vet bill, Lynn and her team had the procedure done first. They then checked in regularly. Wonderful people.
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September 2023 by Kevin Long
This place is a nightmare and should be considered animal neglect or abuse! These poor animals are in small cramped cages and it does have a strong feline urine smell. I think the staff has gotten a bit nose deaf when it comes to that. Some of these cats really need medical help and look sickly. I would not adopt from here. I went to the shelter to get my furever friend instead'Lynn' seems a little off in the head. Really did not acknowledge us in the store and really did not care when we wanted prices for some items. Retrospectively, I should not have considered buying since there was hair everywhere and probably cat urine on everything.This makes me think of a backyard breeders are a better place after looking at some of these reviews!I would NOT RECOMMEND this place.
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September 2023 by Luis Daniel
Place is straight-up DISGRACE and DISSERVICE to the poor cats that have to be subjected to small cages, little food, and complete lack of sensibility and care from a disgusting person that calls herself "the manager" Lynn but behaves like someone who might have escaped a mental facility or even prison....If you want to see the Cats that you rescued suffering, depressed, and with someone who puts PROFIT over humanity and compassion, than I would highly recommend this place since its an in accordance with the mission of denying good ethical cat owners with beautiful homes in one of the most expensive towns in Bergen County the right to adopt a cat so that "the manager" can find a buddy that she can shake down and make a couple pennies to pay her debt and legal bills.This place is a joke and will be continued to be reported to the state of New Jersey, PETA and all other animal organizations that actually care about the cat's well-being and of course health.To make matters worse, you are dealing with an openly mentally inept and trashy person who rather keep cats caged up in tiny crates and spaces rather than giving than to hard-working American families who have raised 10+ healthy cats, have an amazing loving home, and plenty of backyard space.STAY AWAY unless your mission is to find a Mental patient who claims that she is a good person... Yet she will leave the Cats a locked up with feces around, depressed, and miserable all so that "the manager" can squeeze a couple of pennies out for her own personal benefit.
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September 2023 by Christina S.
This organization is a very caring rescue. I heard it was a little difficult to adopt from, and I can understand why. There's a huge cat problem in the U.S and Lynn does her best to adopt to homes that have great vet references so she can try to help the situation. I recently adopted 2 adorable kittens from them. They were fixed, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and examined by the vet. I don't have to do anything for almost a year with my cats and that's amazing. Well worth the adoption fee and enjoying my sweet adorable kittens!
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September 2023 by Elaina C.
Smells like cat piss and cat food in the store. Cats everywhere. Cat hair on every item. Disgusting.
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September 2023 by Verónica
Several family members, acquaintances, and I have encountered a disconcerting and troubling situation involving Lynn, the owner of this rescue organization. I believe it is important that animal lovers in this community are aware of the following events.Approximately a month or so ago, my mother encountered a neighbor housing a family of four stray cats - a mother cat and her recent litter - on her property. Given the risks posed by predators such as foxes and coyotes as well as the possibility that the mother could give birth to more cats, my mother decided to undertake the arduous task of rescuing them with the help of a friend.Prior to commencing the rescue, my mother contacted CATS seeking guidance. They conveyed their inability to aid in the rescue phase but affirmed their willingness to accept the cats for adoption after my mother had successfully trapped and vetted them at her own expense. My mother also contacted several other local organizations including CLAWS, which fortunately said that they could provide the appropriate testing and exams at no cost though they not have the capacity to take in the cats at that moment. Despite her lack of prior experience in trapping cats, my mother persevered and accomplished the stressful and demanding task of trapping all four cats, bringing them to CLAWS for an examination, and ultimately taking them to CATS.A few days after bringing the cats to CATS, my mother visited them and observed that the mother cat exhibited lethargy and rapid breathing. She promptly notified on-site volunteers, learning later that the cat had been spayed while nursing due to an apparent "misdiagnosis." Eager to offer her assistance, my mother immediately applied to foster the cats.Upon submitting her fostering application and hearing little from the owner, my mother was subjected to an abrupt home inspection by Lynn. Regrettably, Lynn declared my mother's residence unsuitable, alleging a "musty" atmosphere and insinuating that there was mold. This assertion was perplexing and unfounded, given my mother's meticulous upkeep of her home and the fact that she has three healthy, thriving pets of her own. The baseless implication that her home wasn't an appropriate environment for rescued animals raised a significant red flag.After that, my mother revisited the store, hoping that another individual had stepped forward to foster the cats. Unfortunately, the cats remained confined in a cage that was strewn with feces, vomit, food and litter. Disheartened and dismayed by what she was seeing, my mother renewed her foster request. She proactively addressed the alleged issue by purchasing an additional dehumidifier. Lynn agreed to revisit and evaluate the situation. However, during Lynn's subsequent visit, she exhibited discourtesy and dismissiveness. Her brief inspection was followed by the comment, "it still smells," before she promptly exited, failing to provide constructive feedback or engage in a meaningful dialogue with my mother. While rescue organizations possess discretion in selecting caregivers, I find it unsettling that Lynn casually dismissed my mother's foster application and preferred to keep the cats rather than placing them with a capable and willing caregiver.Recently, a family friend visiting the store discovered that one of the kittens my mother rescued had contracted giardia while under CATS' care. My mother has since received a vitriolic and unprofessional email from Lynn, confirming our suspicion that a personal bias may be influencing her decisions.I implore others to scrutinize this nonprofit and hold Lynn accountable. While this organization undoubtedly offers a valuable service to the community, it is distressing to consider that Lynn appears to be the sole decision-maker here and appears to be wielding that decision-making authority arbitrarily and capriciously. If you ever observe unsafe or unsanitary conditions here or suspect the animals' welfare isn't being prioritized, please report this organization to
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August 2023 by Verónica M.
Several family members, acquaintances, and I have encountered a disconcerting and troubling situation involving Lynn, the owner of this rescue organization. I believe it is important that animal lovers in this community are aware of the following events. Approximately a month or so ago, my mother encountered a neighbor housing a family of four stray cats - a mother cat and her recent litter - on her property. Given the risks posed by predators such as foxes and coyotes as well as the possibility that the mother could give birth to more cats, my mother decided to undertake the arduous task of rescuing them. After discussions with the neighbor, who agreed to my mother's involvement but declined to assist, my mother initiated the rescue by capturing the cats with the help of a friend. Prior to commencing the rescue, my mother contacted CATS seeking guidance. They conveyed their inability to aid in the rescue phase but affirmed their willingness to accept the cats for adoption after my mother had successfully trapped and vetted them at her own expense. My mother also contacted several other local organizations including CLAWS, which fortunately said that they could provide the appropriate testing and exams at no cost though they not have the capacity to take in the cats at that moment. Despite her lack of prior experience in trapping cats, my mother persevered and accomplished the stressful and demanding task of trapping all four cats, bringing them to CLAWS for an examination, and ultimately taking them to CATS. A few days after bringing the cats to CATS, my mother visited them and observed that the mother cat exhibited lethargy and rapid breathing. She promptly notified on-site volunteers, learning later that the cat had been spayed while nursing due to an apparent "misdiagnosis." Eager to offer her assistance, my mother immediately applied to foster the cats, recognizing that she could provide an environment more conducive to play and socialization than their current confined space. Upon submitting her fostering application and hearing little from the owner, my mother was subjected to an abrupt home inspection by Lynn. Regrettably, Lynn declared my mother's residence unsuitable, alleging a "musty" atmosphere and insinuating that there was mold. This assertion was perplexing and unfounded, given my mother's meticulous upkeep of her home and the fact that she has three healthy, thriving pets of her own. The baseless implication that her home wasn't an appropriate environment for rescued animals raised a significant red flag. After that, my mother revisited the store, hoping that another individual had stepped forward to foster the cats. Unfortunately, the cats remained confined in a cage that was strewn with feces, vomit, food and litter. Disheartened and dismayed by what she was seeing, my mother renewed her foster request. She proactively addressed the alleged issue by purchasing an additional dehumidifier. Lynn agreed to revisit and evaluate the situation. However, during Lynn's subsequent visit, she exhibited discourtesy and dismissiveness. Her brief inspection was followed by the comment, "it still smells," before she promptly exited, failing to provide constructive feedback or engage in a meaningful dialogue with my mother. While rescue organizations possess discretion in selecting caregivers, I find it deeply unsettling that Lynn casually dismissed my mother's foster application and preferred to keep the cats rather than placing them with a capable and willing caregiver. It is disheartening to contemplate that animals are unnecessarily retained by an organization that could be placing them with dedicated fosterers and adopters. Recently, a family friend visiting the store discovered that one of the kittens my mother rescued had contracted giardia while under CATS' care. My mother has since received a vitriolic and unprofessional email from Lynn, confirming our suspicion that a personal bias may be influencing her decisions. Needless to say, my mom deepl
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July 2023 by Marie Golden
My daughter and I just love CATS for so many reasons. I appreciate how when you want to adopt a cat or kitten they are very diligent about ensuring the family is ready as a the kitty is longtime family member. They are just so passionate and dedicated to ensuring all cats have loving homes. The amount of hours of volunteer work Lynn and her volunteers put into the store and the cats is really amazing. I saw some negative reviews, but I just haven't seen anything but dedication and love from everyone there. We currently adopted a kitten from there as we already had another kitten and wanted to give him a friend. I highly rec shopping at the store as you never know what you will find and the money goes straight to the cats/kittens. When getting ready to adopt just know it takes a few days because of the process. Thank you Lynn!
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July 2023 by Barbara
I’ve been volunteering with Caring About the Strays (C.A.T.S) for several years in various capacities. C.A.T.S. is unique in that it is a Resale shop AND an animal rescue. So you can shop and visit with the cats and kittens while you’re there. They will also gladly accept your donations of gently used clothing, jewelry, bric-a-brac and lots more. Please see their website for more details and pictures.Above all, I can’t say enough about Lynn, who has been at the helm for 35 years. She truly loves and cares about every animal that crosses her path. She goes above and beyond if an animal is in distress or ill, to get them the help and care they need. When the cats/kittens are ready to be adopted, she personally makes sure the fit is right for the adopter and the pet.I truly don’t believe C.A.T.S. would still be operational if it weren’t for Lynn and her dedicated volunteers, and I’m so proud to be part of this organization.
