JUST THE FACTS
Community cats are unowned cats who live outdoors.
Community cats live outdoors in virtually every landscape on every continent where people live. Like indoor cats, they belong to the domestic cat species (Felis Catus). However, community cats, also called feral or outdoor cats, are generally not socialized or friendly, to people. Free-roaming cats, both feral and stray, are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. They produce approximately eighty percent of the kittens born each year. While the cats serve a purpose in helping control rodent populations, over-population leads to a host of problems for the cats and can be a nuisance for the community.
Community cats are generally are not neutered or spayed
Un-spayed free-roaming cats can become pregnant as early as 5 months of age and typically have two live litters per year with an average litter size of 3-4 kittens. Up to seventy-five percent of the kittens may die – from poor nutrition, disease, parasites, freezing or predation – before they reach adulthood. Those who survive will become feral without socialization to people at a young age. Unneutered male cats will roam in search of food and will fight for mates. They may be hit by cars, killed by wildlife, poisoned, etc.
Community cats do tend to live in colonies
Many people who see a free-roaming cat put out food to help the poor animal. This usually ends up with other cats appearing due to a source of food and possibly shelter. Without spaying and neutering, three or four community cats can quickly become a colony of 25 or more. Many dedicated feral cat caretakers pay out of their own pockets to help improve the lives of feral cats and reduce their numbers. Without TNR the population of the colony would continue to increase to the point where caregivers can no longer support it.
Community cat overpopulation can be controlled
Because they are generally not socialized, community cats cannot live indoors with people, and are therefore unadoptable. For this reason, community cats should not be taken to shelters where they will likely be killed. The only humane and effective approach for community cats is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
TNR helps cats and the community
In a TNR program, community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and eartipped (the universal sign that a cat has been part of a TNR program), and then returned to their outdoor homes. TNR improves cats’ lives, and provides an effective, humane, and collaborative way for communities to coexist with cats.