Tiger came to the Saint Mary's community in Harlem, NY on January 7, 1997 as a young cat and lived there for over 20 years. He was loved and cared for by countless members of the community throughout his life, including church staff and members, police at the 26th precinct, and other long-standing residents of the neighborhood. Though blind for much of his life, he knew his way around perfectly. At about 21 years of age, Tiger never stopped going for his daily walks in the courtyard gardens or around the block, eating his favorite beef and chicken snackies, or sitting in his "doorman's post" right next to the office door of Saint Mary's Church, where he sat and greeted everyone as they went in or out the door. Tiger will be forever remembered for his peaceful, resilient spirit, his affinity for splashy puddles and warm blankies, and his love of pats and head scritches. There's so much more we could say about this handsome man, but for now, this is why we're here:

During his last year of life, Tiger gained a sizable internet following on both Instagram and Facebook. Thousands of people around the world were inspired by the daily antics of this little old man and those who cared for him. When Tiger passed away at the approximate age of 21 on June 9, 2017, the outpouring of grief and love from his followers around the world was immediate. Within hours of the initial announcement, followers began creating and posting beautiful paintings and other works of art in his memory. Songs, poems, and pitches for Tiger-based children's books came pouring in. We created a separate Facebook page to keep all the memorabilia together, which prompted people to begin sharing what Tiger meant to them personally, both in public posts and in private messages. We heard from families all around the world who always read their children Tiger's daily post before sending them off to school, who explained to us how their children gained confidence in the face of learning difficulties and social pressures because of the way Tiger just kept going. We received photos of rescued cats from people who, if not for their knowledge of Tiger, would not have bothered adopting an elderly or disabled pet. We heard from people undergoing grueling medical treatments, experiencing the loss of a loved one, or going through an immense personal trauma (often with little to no support), who saw Tiger's posts every day and were inspired by him to keep going. Amid these stories, we also received hundreds of messages asking, "How can I help?"

We created Tiger's Legacy to help other cats like Tiger and to continue educating people about the benefits of rescuing cats like him. We will continue sharing his story and, in the future, the stories of other cats helped through his Legacy. Current donations will be donated to animal rescue centers and shelters to cover medical care and adoption fees for senior and disabled cats, who are statistically less likely to be adopted than typical younger cats.

Our long-term goal involves founding sanctuaries for cats like Tiger, where they can live out their golden years with proper love and care. We will update this description as we gain more support and our long-term goals become more concrete. 

Please visit or follow our Facebook Page, Tiger's Legacy, for photos, tributes, and fundraising updates. Tiger's Legacy is privately owned and is not affiliated with the city of New York, Saint Mary's Church, or any other third party entity.