How to help a Feral Cat / Kitten
What are Feral Cats?
Feral cats are the offspring of stray or abandoned cats. Because they are raised without human contact, they revert to a wild nature and are undomesticated. They form colonies where there is shelter and a food source such as near dumpsters and behind restaurants.
Feral cats lead meager lives that are shortened by disease and trauma. It is estimated that there are currently 60 million feral cats living in the US today. Female cats can have as many as three litters of kittens per year with a gestation period of approximately 65 days. This means that a female cat and her offspring can produce as many as 420,000 cats in as little as seven years
If you find a feral cat or know of a colony, please contact one of these groups for help in getting themspayed/neutered. This is the only way to break the cycle and to prevent more kittens from beingborn into this lifestyle. THANK YOU !
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Catnip Connection Spay-Neuter Vouchers - Although their grant funding for this project has been exhausted, Operation Catnip-Raleigh can still offer vouchers for $50 to be used at participating veterinarians under the same conditions that apply to our monthly clinic (i.e., cat must be in a trap, cat's ear must be cropped, etc.) Please send check to Catnip Connection Voucher Program, P.O. Box 90744, Raleigh, NC 27675 with instructions on where the vouchers should be mailed. |
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Special thanks to the veterinary practices that graciously accept our vouchers: Ansede Animal Hospital, Raleigh, NC Broad Street Veterinary Clinic, Fuquay-Varina, NC Falls Village Veterinary Hospital, Raleigh, NC (POP) Pet Overpopulation Patrol (mobile unit) Carolina Mobile Spay-Neuter Clinic (mobile unit) SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program) of North Carolina (mobile unit)
More low cost Spay/Neuter rescources: |
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Safe Haven For Cats
(the fee is $65 and includes):
Available at an Extra charge:
They also accept vouchers from AnimalKind's $20 Fix 919-872-1128
Cat Spay/Neuter - Includes Rabies, Distemper vaccines & pain injection : $60 (Heat/Pregnancy : Additional $15- 20)
Additional services available with spay/neuter: Pain medicine to go home : $2 Microchip for permanent pet identification: $25 (lifetime registration, even if you move!) Feline Leukemia / FIV test for cats $20 Feline Leukemia vaccine is available for additional $10 Frontline to kill fleas/ticks for 30 days (performed on board) Cats $5 3-dose boxes available for purchase to take home. $30-35 Dewormer (2 doses per pet)
$10 919-783-7627
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Animal Kind $20 Fix
You can use this program if you live in Wake, Durham, Orange, Person or Caswell County in North Carolina, AND ,,,,,
If your income qualifies, you will receive a spay/neuter voucher (usually within three weeks after we receive your application) and a list of the veterinary locations or events where it can be used. You must use the voucher within three months of the issue date, or apply again. We can issue up to four vouchers per household. Don't wait to call, some locations have waiting lists. Your co-pay amount (cost to you) is $20 for a cat. This must be paid in cash to the veterinarian when you drop off your pet. If you cannot afford a co-pay, please explain this in your application. http://www.animalkind.org POP (Pet Overpopulation Patrol) Feline Spay: $70 Feline Neuter: $55 In Heat / Pregnancy / cryptorchid : $15 additional FVRCP Vaccine: $5 (free to surgical patients) FeLV / FIV Test : $25 FeLV vaccine : $15 (negative test required) Rabies Vaccine : $5 (free to surgical patients) Post surgical pain meds : $5 Wellness exam: $30 (free to surgical patients) Fecal exam: $15 Frontline Plus: $35 - $40 Dewormers : $10 - $15 Microchip: $15 (includes free lifetime registration) 919-942-2250
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How to Help the Feral Cats
in your Town:
Volunteer to help groups already organized to help these cats (e.g Feral Cat Friends, Operation Catnip, AnimalKind, Safe Haven's TNR program, feralcat.meetup.com, & SNAP.
Work to feed cats that you have identified as unowned and in need of assistance. Keep in mind that this is a long-term commitment necessitating the help of others when vacations, illnesses, and other changes of schedule keep you from bringing food to the cats!
Remember that caring for cats means much more than just feeding them! Build strong, wind resistant / water proof, kitty shelters so that ferals can keep warm and dry in inclement weather.
Check with local shelters and cat rescue organizations to see if they can use old towels, cat carriers, newspapers, or cat food.
Offer to pay the bill for a cat that needs to be trapped and released (contact groups listed in number 1 above).
Arrange to trap a stray in your neighborhood and have it tested for feline leukemia, neutered, and vaccinated. Each and every cat that is neutered DOES count!
Neuter all of your own cats, for their own health, good behavior, and safety, and encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. If someone you know expresses a desire to see kittens born, explain that they can adopt (or provide a foster home for) an already-pregnant stray from a local rescue group and give her AND her kittens a good home.