Community Cats

Living With Cats in Your Community

Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) - A Guide to Community & Feral Cats

 A cat is behind a tree/bush show the left ear tipped to indicate that it is fixed, vaccinated, and a feral community cat.

Courtesy: Ally Cat Allies

What is a community/feral cat?

A community cat is a cat that lives outdoors and does not have a particular home or owner. They may be friendly, or in some cases, feral (not socialized with people). These cats typically depend on humans for their food whether it is a neighborhood caretaker, dumpster, or other source.

What is TNVR?

Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return is an effective and humane way to stabilize feral and community cat populations. Cats are humanely trapped, neutered, ear tipped (the universal symbol of a sterilized cat) and then returned to their outdoor home.

What are the benefits of TNVR?

TNVR benefits the cats and the community! This technique helps cats live healthier and improved lives, in turn, the community benefits because the feral and community cat population stabilizes and declines over time. TNVR reduces cat related nuisances and benefits public health and safety. An effective TNVR program preserves the lives of feral and community cats.

Know that the animal shelter does not bring in healthy adult roaming cats. Adults are defined as 4 months and older. If you attempt to bring them to the shelter, you will be turned away.

Found a stray cat. Now what?

Is the cat sick, injured, or in immediate danger?

No

Leave the cat alone.
This is a community cat and he/she has learned to live outside.

     

Yes

Bring the cat to ACC.

 

 

Is it safe for cats to live outdoors?

Community cats are capable of thriving outside. If a cat is healthy, it's likely he/she has a good source of food and shelter. Not all cats are adjusted to living inside and prefer to live outside.

 

 

Found baby kittens? Stop! Don't kit-nap them.

If the kittens eyes are closed and/or they are unable to walk and they are quiet, leave them alone. The mother likely nearby and could be gone for a few hours. Monitor them.

If the kittens are meowing, stay about 30 feet away and check to see if the mom come back. If there is no sign of her after several hours, gather the kittens, keep them warm, and bring them to ACC.

 

What if the cat is owned and someone is looking for them?

Lost cats are 18 times more likely to find their owners if left where they are. Only 3.9% of cats owners into the shelter are reunited with their owners. 

 

 

I don't want cats in my yard.

The most effective and efficient way to decrease the amount of cats in your yard is Trap-Neuter-Return or TNR. Cats are territorial and if you alter the cats in your yard, they will keep other cats away, and they will not be able to reproduce. There are also effective cat deterrents available to use.

 

I have adoptable kittens who are eating on their own. What's next?

Bring them to ACC and depending on their size they will go to foster care or be placed immediately into our adoption program. Animals that have been cared for over 14 days are considered owner surrenders.

 

Found a Cat or Kittens? Read Before Bringing Them In

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control (ACC) is currently accepting cats and kittens based on their age, health and safety. Finding a roaming cat does not automatically mean the cat needs to come to the shelter or qualifies for officer pickup. Please review the guidelines below before bringing in a cat or requesting assistance.

Cats and Kittens We Can Accept

  • Kittens ages 6 weeks to 4 months, with or without their mother.

  • Kittens ages 0–6 weeks whose mother is known to be missing or gone.

  • Cats and kittens of any age who are in immediate danger.

  • Cats and kittens of any age who are sick or injured.

  • Mother cats with kittens ages 0–6 weeks.

  • Pregnant cats.

Cats We Are Not Accepting at This Time

  • Healthy cats older than 4 months.

  • Healthy feral cats older than 4 months, including cats being trapped. Feral cats are not socialized to people and cannot be safely handled.

The shelter environment can cause significant stress for feral cats, increasing their risk of illness. These cats generally cannot be placed through traditional adoption and are better supported through community cat programs.

Requesting Officer Assistance

The cat intake guidelines above also apply when requesting officer assistance. Healthy cats older than 4 months, including healthy feral cats, are not currently being accepted for shelter intake through officer pickup.

If a cat or kitten is sick, injured or in immediate danger, contact ACC and describe the situation so staff can determine the appropriate response.

Found Kittens?

Not sure how old they are? Use the Kitten Lady’s kitten aging chart, which shows kittens from newborn to 8 weeks old.

Kittens younger than 6 weeks may still depend on their mother. Finding kittens alone does not necessarily mean their mother is missing. Before moving them, determine whether their mother is returning, unless the kittens are sick, injured or in immediate danger.

Community Cat and Spay/Neuter Resources

Trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR), also called trap-neuter-return (TNR), helps manage community cat populations through sterilization and return to their outdoor homes.

Humane Society of Charlotte: Offers low-cost TNR services through its clinics. Learn more about Charlotte Community Cat Services. 

Friends of Feral Felines: Provides TNR support for Mecklenburg County residents willing to participate in caring for neighborhood cats. The organization does not set traps to remove cats from properties. To request assistance, complete its community cat assistance form.

Additional local resources:

National resources and tips:

To learn about the differences between socialized, community and feral cats, explore the Alley Cat Allies Cat Socialization Continuum Guide.

 

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