The term “community cat” is frequently used interchangeably with “feral cat.”
Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Package: $60
Includes:
- Pain injection
- Anesthesia
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Ear tip
- Green line tattoo
- Rabies 1-year vaccination
- FVRCP vaccine
- Applied dose of Bravecto
- Microchip
- Post-op monitoring and recovery
How to schedule:
If you reach voicemail, please leave a message with your information and we will call you back to schedule. Please be patient, we receive hundreds of calls per day and will return your call as soon as possible.
Additional Info:
- Feral cats must come in live humane trap covered in a sheet or towel. Measurements: 32″ x 15″ x 10″.
- We do not see feral cats for wellness exams.
Pre-Surgical Instructions for Community Cats
Food & Water
For cats over 4 months of age, withhold all food and water after midnight (12AM) the night before surgery.
For kittens 4 months old or younger, please feed them a tablespoon of wet food with water mixed in on the morning of their surgery.
Medication
If you care for a community cat and provide the cat with medications, including eye, ear, or skin medications, please provide a full list of these medications, as some medications can interact with other medications or drugs that we use.
Vouchers
If you qualified for and obtained a voucher for free or reduced-cost spay/neuter, please bring it with you, and present your voucher to our front desk at check-in.
*We require that all community cats be brought to our clinic in a humane trap, and the trap MUST be covered with a large towel or sheet. Covering the trap helps calm the cat and provides a sense of protection. The trap must be 30 to 36 inches in length and at least 10 inches wide. Only one cat per trap.
Post-Surgery Care for Community Cats
Please follow these instructions carefully.
We are not responsible for complications resulting from failure to follow post-operative instructions.
Food & Water
A few hours after surgery, you may offer the cat half of their usual amount of food and water. Feeding half a can of wet food with some water mixed in is suggested for their first meal post-surgery. Ensure that the cat is awake and alert before providing food/water to prevent the risk of them falling asleep with their head in the food/water bowl, or being too drowsy to swallow properly. Normal-sized meals can be resumed the next morning.
Abnormal Symptoms
Abnormal signs that will need attention by veterinary staff during the recovery include any discharge coming from the surgery site, bleeding, excessive vomiting, difficulty breathing, unusual odors, and biting/chewing at the incision. Vomiting or lethargy beyond 24 hours is not normal. Contact us should you notice any of these symptoms.
Pain Medication
Each cat receives a long-lasting, 24-hour pain injection to ensure comfort after surgery.
Incision
The sutures your community cat receives are absorbable. Do NOT administer any human products, herbs, or supplements by mouth, or apply ointments/sprays of any kind to the incision.
Environment
Feral cats can experience significant stress, so it is crucial to provide them with a quiet, secluded space to recover from surgery. This area should be sheltered and protected from the elements.
Cats cannot regulate their body temperature for 12 to 24 hours after surgery, so they must be kept in a warm, draft-free environment during their recovery. Ideally, the cat should be kept in a space with a temperature around 70 degrees, especially during the first 24 hours post-surgery. A warm basement, bathroom, garage, or shed is suitable depending on the time of year. However, be cautious not to keep cats in garages, sheds, or the direct sunlight during summer or extreme heat, as temperatures may become dangerously high.
Keep the cat away from loud noises, music, pets and people. Do not let children near them.
Caring for your community cat in their trap
During the recovery period, the cat should remain in the same trap he/she was caught in. Do not attempt to transfer a feral cat to a carrier, or cage. Feral cats are very quick and can easily escape during the process. To help the cat feel safe and calm, keep their trap covered with a large towel at all times.
Line the bottom of the trap with newspapers to keep the cat clean and dry. The cat will use the newspaper as a litter source.
Twice daily, clean the trap by replacing soiled newspaper and provide the cat food and water. Due to limited space, it is beneficial to feed wet food with water mixed in, serving them in the same bowl. Use a trap divider to hold the cat on one side of the trap while you attend to the food, water, and cleaning on the other side. (Keep the side with the cat covered with a towel. To encourage the cat to move to the other side, cover that side with the towel–feral cats tend to move from light to dark areas.)
Safety
For your safety and to prevent unnecessary added stress to the cat, please do not attempt to touch the cat in the trap.
Recovery Time
Male cats should be kept for 24-48 hours for recovery and monitoring after surgery, and female cats should be kept for 48-72 hours for recovery and monitoring. (However, the longer recovery times should only be followed if you have the necessary equipment to properly care for the cat in a trap, including a trap divider.)
If clinic staff informs you that the female was likely nursing kittens, she should be released as soon as she is fully conscious, alert, and clear-eyed. She will still be able to nurse her kittens after surgery.
In cases of extreme cold or wet weather, it is recommended to keep the cat for additional days or nights, if possible, to ensure their well-being.
Returning Community Cats
It is crucial to return the cat to the same location where he/she was trapped. The best times for release are early morning or late at night, when it’s quieter and there is less traffic. Position the traps away from the roads or high-traffic areas. Before releasing the cat, ensuring that no cars are approaching, as the cat may dart out of the trap quickly.