About Us

Orange cat looking at green grass

The City of Trenton, New Jersey like most urban areas of our country today, suffers from many economic and social difficulties, leaving very few resources to care for the forgotten cats who cannot care for themselves. Trenton Cats Rescue (TCR) has assumed the job of caring for the feral and needy cats of Trenton.


Our Mission

Trenton Cats Rescue (TCR) is a non profit, all-volunteer, 501(c)3 organization committed to helping needy community, sheltered, and family cats in Trenton, NJ since 2012.

We welcome all offers of help or funding in order to continue our vital work in protecting and improving the lives of Trenton’s cats. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.


Our Goals

  • Provide humane, non-lethal methods of free roaming cat population management in the City of Trenton (Trap-Neuter-Return);
  • Reduce the burden on Trenton Animal Shelter by caring for the adoptable cats of Trenton and removing cats from the shelter system whenever possible;
  • Conduct adoption events to place shelter and foster cats into permanent homes;
  • Increase public awareness about resources available to care for homeless and needy cats, most importantly sterilization services;
  • Provide financial assistance where possible for spay and neuter services.


Our Leadership

Kathy Collins

Kathy has been involved in animal rescue since 2007, when she started volunteering and fostering for a local rescue. She managed volunteers, arranged adoptions and took care of cats and kittens in her home and at an adoption center. Kathy also transported dogs to local rescues and learned about and implemented trap-neuter-return practices in her area. She developed a strong network with other rescues and rescuers in Middlesex and Mercer counties.

After leaving her job in finance in 2010, she volunteered at a spay/neuter clinic and continued TNR and adoptions of kittens and cats. She became involved with the Trenton Animal Shelter (TAS) in a minor way when she used her network to help place “urgent” cats with other rescues. When in late 2011 Trenton TNR and TAS Volunteers agreed to merge and form one official group to support the cats of Trenton, she was one of the founding directors of Trenton Cats Rescue (TCR), acting as a “bridge” for TNR and adoptable cats.

Kathy is very proud of the fact that since TCR was formed, all of the cats adopted through TAS and TCR have been spayed and neutered and the “live release rate” has increased for cats at the shelter every year.

Lisa Tusay

Lisa has volunteered with TCR in a variety of capacities since the summer of 2012. Her support has included everything from fostering, coordinating events, processing adoptions, mentoring fosters, assisting with daily operational needs, and more. Currently, Lisa leverages her talents as a creative marketing and production executive to help build and maintain the websites, marketing, and communications for the rescue. She is proud of her direct and indirect activities that have helped save hundreds of cats and kittens over the past 8 years.

Mari Denko

Mari has been volunteering and fostering with Trenton Cats Rescue for many years. She oversees the complete foster process from recruitment to on-boarding through the adoption. This is a critical role for the organization due to the fact that TCR relies completely on the generosity of fosters and volunteers. In addition to overseeing fosters, she assists with adoption events, and spay and neuter clinics. Mari is gifted at helping scared and hissy cats and kittens learn to trust humans again. Her love and patience has helped hundreds of cats find a permanent residence.

Lexi Duran

Lexi is a passionate animal advocate with nearly three decades of experience in cat rescue and care. Having started fostering cats at the age of 6, she has dedicated her life to improving the lives of felines in need. Lexi became a director in 2023, further solidifying her leadership in the animal welfare community. She currently splits her time between working at a cat-exclusive veterinary hospital and serving as an animal control officer for a local township. Lexi has a special affinity for challenging behavioral cats and feral kittens, using her expertise to provide them with the care and attention they need to thrive. At home, she shares her life with her husband and three beloved personal cats, as well as a multitude of fosters.

Deborah Omlor

…bio coming soon…

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