SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC | Free-Roaming Cats
Project Catnip
Free-Roaming Cats
This is a broad category. Coalition: HUMAnE refers to cats that are stray, homeless or exhibiting feral behavior (not able to be handled) as Free-Roaming Cats.
What is a Feral Behaving Cat?
Cats that can not be handled (unable to be picked up and placed in a carrier) and demonstrating feral (wild) behavior are cats that will be scheduled according to our feral cat protocol. These are cats that will be trapped in humane traps for altering and then released to their home and caretaker. This is called Trap Neuter Return (TNR).
What is your protocol for feral cats?
All feral cats will receive the “Catnip” package of services—spay or neuter, rabies vaccine, distemper vaccine, tattoo, ear tip and ear mite treatment (if needed). No exception on the ear tip. Female cats are tipped on the right ear, males on the left ear. The cost for the package is $40.00.
What is ear tipping?
Ear tipping is performed under sterile conditions and does not significantly alter the appearance or beauty of the cat. Rather, it does much toward keeping the cat safe and healthy. No other method of visual identification has proven to be as safe or effective.
Ear tipping is the removal of the distal one-quarter of the ear; 1cm in an adult and proportionally smaller in a kitten. Ear tipping is performed under anesthesia. Click here for more information and a photo of an ear tipped cat.
What about tame, stray, free roaming cats—can they go without the ear tip?
All cats that receive the Catnip package of services (tame or feral) will be eartipped—no exception. However, a tame cat may be served by the clinic as a pet cat and receive our services individually at a higher cost.
Does Coalition: HUMAnE rehome or relocate cats or kittens?
No.
What about a mom and kittens?
A nursing mother should stay with her kittens until the kittens are weaned. At that time the mother can be trapped and altered.
How do I get a trap?
Traps can be obtained from the Humane Society for Tacoma/Pierce County. They are located at 2608 Center Street in Tacoma. Their number is 253.383.2733. There is no charge for the trap, a $40.00 trap deposit is required, and the loan period is one week.
How do I use a trap?
The humane society will educate clients about the use of humane traps.
What do I do after the cat is trapped?
After you have trapped the cat we ask that you bring them to the clinic in the carrier on our surgery days (Monday through Thursday) at 8:30 a.m. We do surgery on three feral cats per day. If we are unable to get your cat in that day, we will hold them over and spay/neuter them the next surgery day.
Free Roaming Cat Take Home Discharge Instructions
More Feral Cat Information:
alleycat.org
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