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Founded in 2002, Charles River Alleycats is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping improve the lives of outdoor cats across Eastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to reduce the number of homeless and free-roaming cats through non-lethal, humane methods—with a focus on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
We help cats who are:
Feral (unsocialized to people),
Stray (lost or abandoned), or
Friendly but unowned (seeking homes after being rescued from the streets).
What We Do
CRA’s small but mighty team of volunteers works tirelessly to trap over 1,000 cats each year. This work includes:
Responding to reports of outdoor cats
Coordinating trapping, transport, recovery, and vet care
Working closely with colony caretakers
Partnering with shelters to find homes for adoptable cats and kittens
Recently, our focus has grown in the Brockton and Dorchester communities, in particular, due to those areas' lack of low-cost veterinary options.
Whether it’s helping kittens get ready for forever homes, supporting colony caretakers, or managing the population of ferals—our work is hands-on, community-driven, and deeply committed to the cats who need us most—one trap at a time.
Why TNR?
There are an estimated 92 million owned cats in America today—and every year, another 92 million are born. Most of those born outside will never find homes. The only way to address this crisis is to prevent more litters from being born.
TNR is a proven approach that allows us to:
Sterilize and vaccinate outdoor cats
Return feral cats to their territories (ear-tipped to show they’ve been treated)
Rehome kittens and friendly strays through partner shelters
By reducing the number of unsterilized cats on the streets, we give outdoor cats a healthier, safer life—while making space for friendly rescues to find homes.
CRA Awarded 2023 "Organization of the Year" by ACOAM
We were thrilled to be awarded for Organization of the Year by the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM) in October 2023 and for special recognition of our efforts in Brockton. We are so proud of the hard work our volunteers do to help cats get the help they desperately need and having a great working relationship with Brockton Animal Control has been critical to that mission. We are appreciative of the commendation and for the partnership with animal control officers throughout the over 60 towns/cities we work in around Eastern Massachusetts.
Check Out 'The Community Cats Podcast' Interview with CRA President, Kit Lilly
Learn about the impact CRA has made on reducing the number of shelter intakes and euthanasia of cats. From the beginnings of CRA to TNR best practices to Mexico, this podcast has it all!
“I’m Animal Friendly” License Plate Program From Massachusetts Animal Coalition
Charles River Alleycats is proud to be one of many organizations supported by the Massachusetts Animal Coalition's "I Am Friendly" license plate program, which funds low-cost spay and neuter services for animals across the state. In 2025, CRA was awarded a grant through this program to help expand our efforts to rescue and sterilize friendly cats living on the streets. Every purchase of a Spay/Neuter license plate directly supports organizations like ours—saving lives and reducing overpopulation one cat at a time.
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