Community Cats (Feral)

 

Overview of Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) Program

The TNVR program involves humanely trapping feral cats, then spaying or neutering, vaccinating, and ear-tipping them before returning them to their outdoor homes. Ear tipping is a universal sign that the cat has been sterilized, which prevents unnecessary re-trapping and sedation.

Program Details:

  • Services Included: Each feral cat receives a spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, FVRCP vaccine, flea treatment, and ear tipping.

  • Cost:

    • Females: $25

    • Males: $10

  • Additional Treatments: If our veterinary team identifies any additional needs such as intestinal parasites or respiratory infections during surgery, we will contact you before proceeding with treatment. **Additional charges will be applied but will remain at a low cost.

  • Pick-Up: Cats must be picked up on the same day as the surgery.

  • Safety Requirements: All feral cats must arrive in a humane trap for the safety of our staff. This is mandatory, regardless of the cat’s temperament.

Note: Currently, AFRP does not accept healthy community cats into our adoption program but we can provide medical care at a reduced cost to help manage overpopulation.

Trap Rental and Assistance:

  • We do not provide traps but recommend contacting the following organizations for trap rentals:

    • Community Cat Allies

    • Monterey SPCA: They also offer low-cost community cat spay and neuter services to Monterey County, view their website for more information. 

    • Collier’s Feed & Pet Supply in Salinas, CA: (831) 443-6161

    • LA Herane in Prunedale, CA and Harbor Freight sales traps if interested in purchasing one of your own. 

To schedule a surgery, click the link below to submit an appointment request. Our clinic receptionist will contact you promptly.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN APPOINTMENT REQUEST FORM FOR A COMMUNITY/FERAL CAT

If you need assistance with trapping, please reach out to any of the following partnered organizations:

  • Community Cat Allies: Trapping help is available on the Monterey Bay Peninsula (Marina, Seaside, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel). Helps with TNR including trapping, transport and holding for recovery. They can also help with injured or sick feral cats on a limited basis. Please call or text: 831-202-2877, or email meg@communitycatallies.org

  • Our Neighborhood Pet Project: Trapping help is available in Greenfield and Soledad. 

  • Heading Home Rescue: Trapping help is available oin the Prunedale, Castroville, Freedom and Aromas area. 

  • Best Life TNR & Rescue: Trapping help is available in Monterey County, primarily Salinas area. 

  • Garlic City Kitty: Trapping help is available in Gilroy and Morgan Hill. They also have a barn cat program. 

  • Cat Crew California: Trapping help is available in Hollister. They also have a barn cat program. 

Other Additional TNR Resources:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Does TNR Help Cats?

A. TNR keeps wild cats out of shelters. Feral cats are not socialized (or friendly) to people so they can’t live indoors. TNR stabilizes feral cat populations. Because cats are spayed and neutered, the breeding cycle stops, and no new kittens are born. TNR relieves cats of the constant stresses of mating and pregnancy. This helps cats and people co-exist peacefully. Neutering cats curbs behavior associated with mating, like roaming, yowling, or fighting. Feral cats can live healthy lives in their outdoor homes with the help of TNR programs. Hundreds of communities, shelters, and municipalities around the nation and the world support and practice TNR because they’ve seen it work firsthand.

Q. What If I Don’t Want the Cat?

A. If you do not want neighborhood cats in your yard, garden, or elsewhere, there are humane deterrents that are easy and effective. Alley Cat Allies offer this information, and more tips can be found here. A healthy feral cat often has a caregiver, or several, who provide regular food and shelter. With TNR, cats in the neighborhood will no longer mate or yowl, and fighting will be diminished. Removing cats from your neighborhood will not work. When cats are removed from an area, it causes a well-documented phenomenon called the Vacuum Effect. That’s when new cats move into the space to take advantage of resources and breed back to capacity. TNR is the only humane and effective approach to address and stabilize feral cat populations. When cats are spayed and neutered, no new kittens will be born, and the population will naturally decrease. Rest assured you are doing the most humane thing possible for this cat by returning him (spayed, neutered, and vaccinated) to his original location. You cared enough to bring him to us (or call us about him), and we thank you for your kindness and understanding that this is the best possible outcome for him to live a happy life.

Q. Why Can’t This Cat Be Adopted into a Home?

A. A feral cat is an unsocialized outdoor cat who has never had any physical contact with humans and is more like a wild animal than a house pet. Most feral cats are fearful of people and are not likely to ever become socialized or enjoy living indoors.

Q. I found young kittens, can you help?

A. If you find healthy kittens, please leave them where they are; if the mother is not with her litter, she is likely close by. Mothers are the best at raising their babies - watch from afar and bring them to a shelter or rescue when they are between 6-8 weeks of age. If you are unsure please feel free to contact us, one of our partner organizations listed above, or your local county shelter.