We Need Your Help

to reduce unwanted litters

feral cat days & spay/neuter info

Feral Cat Information

Did you know that one cat can turn into thousands of cats in just a few years?

Feral cats show up for lots of reasons, and their numbers get out of control quickly, especially when they are being fed by friendly humans. Some cities trap and euthanize community cats, thinking this will help to control the population. However, this method doesn’t work. Other cats will move in to take advantage of the food source, and the problem will continue. This is called the vacuum effect.

At SAAF, we believe in humanely and effectively controlling the feral cat population with TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

With TNR, cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the universal symbol of a sterilized and vaccinated cat), and returned to their outdoor home. Behaviors like yowling, fighting, and spraying stop or are greatly reduced. TNR is humane, and it works.

Feral Cat Days at SAAF

We are happy to offer a special package for feral or ‘community cats’.

Feral cats are defined as cats that live outside full time now and will be returned to live outside once surgery is completed.

The feral cat package includes a spay or neuter surgery, a rabies vaccine, pain medication injection, tattoo, and an eartip.

This package is $40.

We are happy to loan live traps for a refundable cash deposit, up to 1 week prior to surgery day.

Call to schedule a feral cat surgery

To qualify for feral cat pricing, the following requirements must be met:

Cats must live outdoors full-time. This can be any cat that is truly a “feral” A Cat that was born outside that are now house cats, or which you plan to bring inside and find a home for, do not qualify for the community cat package.

A feral cat is an un-owned cat that lives outdoors and avoids human contact: it does not allow itself to be handled or touched, and usually remains hidden from humans.

Cats must arrive and depart in a humane live trap(regular cat carriers or anything other than a humane live trap are not acceptable) with only one cat per trap. For the safety of the animals, there are no exceptions.

Cats must arrive at the clinic between 7:30 and 8:30 on “feral cat day”. If you cannot be at the clinic by 8:30am, please do not set a trap! Discharge times determined by patient load. Receptionists will inform you the day of your appointment.

CALL TO BOOK A FERAL CAT SURGERY

Trapping Info

You may not check outlive trap the day of your appointment. Traps must be checked out at least 2 days in advance.

Live traps are available to check out from the clinic for a $30 refundable deposit. These traps can only be checked out to clients who have an appointment for a feral cat on the next scheduled feral cat day.

The live trap must be big enough so that the cat can comfortably turn around, stand up, and lie down. Squirrel traps are NOT permitted. Traps must be a minimum of 10″X10″X30″

We will not transfer cats from carriers to traps, and we do not permit clients to transfer cats from carriers to traps on our premises, including the parking lot. If you bring a non-feral cat in a live trap on feral cat day, the cat will be declined for surgery that day and you will be requested to make an appointment on another domestic animal day.

Tips for Trapping Feral Cats

You may not check outlive trap the day of your appointment. Traps must be checked out at least 2 days in advance.

Live traps are available to check out from the clinic for a $30 refundable deposit. These traps can only be checked out to clients who have an appointment for a feral cat on the next scheduled feral cat day.

The live trap must be big enough so that the cat can comfortably turn around, stand up, and lie down.

Do not leave the trap unattended overnight, ESPECIALLY IN COLD OR INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Immediately cover a trapped cat with a sheet or towel and move them to a sheltered area. Leave the cover in place while transport and when you bring the cat into the clinic. We will use our own cover when the cat arrives. Be sure and bring yours back at pickup. This significantly reduces stress on the cat.

Additional Info to Know

Vaccines

Cats will receive a rabies vaccine (age-appropriate) and an ear tip. There are no exceptions to this rule.

appointment day

Cats must arrive at the clinic between 7:30 and 8:30 on “feral cat day”.

If you cannot be at the clinic by 8:30am, please do not set a trap! Discharge times are determined by patient load. Receptionists will inform you on the day of your appointment.

how to prepare

Plan ahead! Cats must be kept indoors, in the trap, from 24 – 48 hours post-surgery. You will receive specific instructions upon discharge. It is the trapper’s responsibility to ensure these cats are cared for after surgery.

doing our part

We lose an average of $23 on every feral cat surgery. But we are MORE THAN WILLING to provide this much-needed service because we strongly believe that a major part of controlling animal overpopulation is preventing outside cats from freely reproducing. 

$23 may not sound like a lot, but multiplied by the almost 1,200 feral cats we sterilize each year, it adds up to around $27,000 that we must raise in donations to cover the loss.

We don’t want to increase our prices across the board to cover this loss!  We hope that everyone will be honest with us about the cat being a true feral cat and where will live after surgery so that we can keep all of our fees affordable.

FINANCIAL SUBSIDIES

Organizations that generously provide some financial subsidies for community cats require that the funds they provide are only used for feral cats that live outside permanently.  We risk losing this funding if we allow the funds they provide to be used for anything but cats that live outside permanently.  Since these organizations routinely pay anywhere from $10 to 100% of the cost of feral cat surgeries, it is very important that we follow their rules. Thank you for helping us do this!

FERAL CAT DAY INTAKE FORM

Please download the intake form here!

Feral Cat FAQs

  • A feral cat is defined as un-owned cat that cannot normally be handled.

    For the safety of the cats, our staff, and you, we must ensure that the community cat package is being used only for cats that are truly feral cats.

  • We cannot accept regular carriers for feral cat days.

    The bars on a live trap allow us to anesthetize the cat before they are handled, so there is no risk of injury to our staff or to the cat.

    This is why the size of the trap is crucial.

    A live trap sized 10″X10″X30″ is required so that our staff and the cat can be handled safely.

  • Even if a cat is friendly with you in her own environment, they are very likely going to be stressed after being placed in a carrier and transported.

    This can make her dangerous to you, and you risk injury to the cat if she panics during transfer and you have to try to wrestle her into a live trap.

    We want to ensure that you and the cat are both safe, which is why live traps are required.

  • The community cat package applies to feral cats only.

    We offer this package as a humane way to decrease the cat population in the Midwest.

    It is important for you to know that every community cat day, we lose money as an organization. Regardless of the type of animal surgery, we still have to pay for our facilities, medical supplies, and staff salaries.

    This is why community cat days are reserved for feral cats only.

  • Feral cats can be tested for FIV/FeLV at the caretaker’s request for an additional fee of $25.

  • An outside cat is not necessarily a feral cat.

    To meet the community cat day surgery requirements, the cat must be an un-owned outside cat that avoids human contact.