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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 in our communities.
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).
Our Work
CRA’s small but mighty team of volunteers works tirelessly to trap thousands of 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.
What is 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 happening in the first place.
TNR is a proven humane 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
Step 1: Trap
Community cats are humanely trapped by volunteers.
Step 2: Neuter
Cats are sterilized, vaccinated, and, if feral, ear-tipped at a veterinary partner.
Step 3: Return or Rehome
Feral cats are returned to their colony caretakers, while friendly strays are transferred to a shelter partner for adoption.
By reducing the number of unsterilized cats on the streets, we give outdoor feral cats a healthier, safer life and find space for friendly strays to transition to life indoors.
CRA in Action
CRA Awarded 2023 "Organization of the Year" by ACOAM
In October 2023, the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM) named CRA "Organization of the Year" and recognized our work in Brockton. We are grateful for the partnership with Brockton Animal Control and with officers across the 120+ communities we serve in Eastern Massachusetts.
"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
Charles River Alleycats (CRA) is proud to be supported by the Massachusetts Animal Coalition’s “I Am Friendly” license plate program, which funds low-cost spay and neuter services across the state. In 2025, CRA received a grant through this program to expand our rescue and spay/neuter work for friendly cats living outdoors. Every Spay/Neuter plate purchase helps fund organizations like ours.
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