Want to help LA County's
outdoor community cats?
What is a Community Cat?
Community cats are unowned, free-roaming cats who live and thrive outdoors, rather than indoors as pets. We use the term “community cat” because these animals are part of the community in which they live and are valued and often cared for by community residents.
Did you know?
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If a cat is of healthy weight and body condition, then she probably has a reliable food and water source, and sufficient shelter (often provided by one or more residents).
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The risks of shelter impoundment often outweigh significantly those associated with life on the streets. Community cats are well-suited to living outdoors and are able to thrive in a variety of locations and climates.
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The most common way that lost cats are reunited with their people is when cats return home on their own, which improves the low return-to-owner rate often seen in shelters.
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Community cat management: Best Practices
Best practices are important not only for the cats and the people who care for them, but for the entire community. Tidy, organized feeding stations, for example, are less likely to lead to complaints from neighbors. And well-managed communities (i.e., having all, or nearly all, cats sterilized and vaccinated) are important for getting support from public health agencies and officials.
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The following guidelines are considered proven strategies for community cat management. However, situations in the field don’t always allow for such guidelines to be followed precisely. Caregivers must therefore exercise their best judgment, always being aware that they increase the likelihood that the cats in their care will remain safe from harm if they can conform to these guidelines. (This can be a useful reminder when the extra effort involved seems unnecessary or unfair: If you won’t do it for any other reason, then do it for the cats.)
Feeding practices
Be courteous to residents by:
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Feeding in discreet locations.
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Feeding on a regular schedule.
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Distributing only as much food as will be eaten, so as not to attract wildlife.
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If nocturnal wildlife are eating the food, consider feeding the cats during the day; on the other hand, if the food is attracting birds, consider feeding the cats at night.
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Using bowls or plates, rather than placing the food directly on the ground. Clean up uneaten food, bowls, cans and anything else that might be considered trash.
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Replacing water regularly, using clean bowl.
Health monitoring
Although it can be challenging to re-trap a sick or injured cat, it’s important that caregivers monitor the cats for health issues (upper respiratory infection, abscesses, wounds, etc.). It’s much easier to monitor if you feed on a regular schedule.
Feces and urine accumulation
Consider installing a litter box or sandbox — in as discreet a place as possible — for the cats, and be sure to clean it regularly.
Flea management
Fleas can be an issue here in So Cal. Caregivers should treat cats and their immediate environment for fleas if necessary.
Providing shelter
Use shelters to protect cats from extreme weather. (Do-it-yourself options can be found online.) Be sure to keep shelters clean and in good condition, and locate them discreetly to avoid drawing attention to the cats. Shelters shouldn’t be placed on property without permission from the property owner.
Microchip
Some caregivers are willing to pay to have their community cats microchipped, if it means that any cat who’s impounded will be returned to his neighborhood.
Community Cat Support
Are you in need of spay and neuter support for stray and feral cats in your neighborhood? There are several options.
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Click here for a list of spay/neuter programs. Call your local shelter to see if they participate in a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return program (TNVR).
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Trap loans for humanely trapping community cats for TNR.
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Resources for resolving cat-related issues in neighborhoods.
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We also recommend networking with other advocates through Facebook groups, Nextdoor and other social media.
What is TNVR?
With more than 1.8 million cats entering shelters every year and only 80% of them being saved, cat lifesaving efforts must focus on best possible outcomes that include cats thriving in communities and not just as household pets.
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Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) is the most humane, safe, and effective way to save the lives of as many community cats as possible while reducing the overall stray cat population.
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Once caught, cats receive a medical exam and are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped for identification.
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Cat with ear tip
Cat without ear tip
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Benefits to TNVR
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Reduces community cat populations by preventing unwanted litters
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Saves taxpayer dollars by keeping cats out of municipal shelters
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Decreases the number of cats dying in shelters
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Helps improve the health of outdoor cats
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Reduces nuisance behaviors like spraying, fighting, howling and roaming
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Creates safer and healthier neighborhoods by reducing the number of unvaccinated cats
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Cats are varied and complex creatures, and so are the most effective ways of helping them. For some cats, saving their lives means being adopted and celebrating life indoors. For others, it is a fulfilling job as a working cat in a barn or business. And for others still, it means staying exactly where they are, in the community (after they get spayed or neutered and vaccinated).
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If cats are already thriving outdoors, and kittens are already being cared for by their mother, it is our focus to keep those cats safe and healthy and responsibly reduce their numbers over time, rather than bringing them into a shelter where they may not be able to be saved.
