HOPE's Community Cat Program
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Watch the video for a quick overview of our program.Goal- Reduce the feral cat population Why- A humane solution to this overpopulation issue Targeting- New Haven |
What Is a Community Cat?
A community cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with people or their contact with people has diminished over time.
The difference between these cats and your pet cat is that they have had little or no contact with people, and so they are wary of us, and cannot be adopted. They have a home—outdoors. They live and thrive in every landscape, from the inner city to rural farmland. Therefore, when these unadoptable cats enter shelters they drain the already limited resources and take up valuable space which is a disservice to both the cats and people in the community. Currently, community cats are considered feral and do not make it out of the shelter.
The difference between these cats and your pet cat is that they have had little or no contact with people, and so they are wary of us, and cannot be adopted. They have a home—outdoors. They live and thrive in every landscape, from the inner city to rural farmland. Therefore, when these unadoptable cats enter shelters they drain the already limited resources and take up valuable space which is a disservice to both the cats and people in the community. Currently, community cats are considered feral and do not make it out of the shelter.
What is Trap-Neuter-Return and why does it work?
Trap-Neuter-Return benefits cats living within the community. Cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against Rabies, and ear tipped (the universal symbol of a sterilized cat), microchipped to their geographical location, and then returned to their outdoor home.
The cat population gradually decline as no more kittens are produced. An added side benefit is that behaviors and stresses associated with mating (yowling, fighting, territory marking, etc.) stop, therefore improving the lives of both the cats and their human neighbors.
Ear Tipping
Have you ever seen a cat with an ear tip? Ear tipping is the sign of a spayed or neutered, free-roaming cat. This prevents cats from the stress of unnecessary trapping and handling. It also reduces the likelihood the cat will be mistakenly turned into a shelter.
The cat population gradually decline as no more kittens are produced. An added side benefit is that behaviors and stresses associated with mating (yowling, fighting, territory marking, etc.) stop, therefore improving the lives of both the cats and their human neighbors.
Ear Tipping
Have you ever seen a cat with an ear tip? Ear tipping is the sign of a spayed or neutered, free-roaming cat. This prevents cats from the stress of unnecessary trapping and handling. It also reduces the likelihood the cat will be mistakenly turned into a shelter.
What is the T-N-R Program Goal?
The ideal outcome of TNR worldwide is to reduce the number of kittens produced each year to lower the overall cat population and eliminate euthanasia of healthy pet cats in shelters.
Here in our community, along with reducing kittens and euthanasia, we are also attempting to modify legislation to allow outdoor cats to live within city limits. |
How Can I Make a Difference for
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