Community/Feral Cats

Feral tabby cat in the woods.

UPDATE 1/28/21: Until further notice, feral/community cats are only allowed Monday-Wednesday. Two cats per person per day are allowed without an appointment on Monday-Wednesday ONLY.

It’s important for everyone to take responsibility for the cats in our community. The term Community Cats refers to friendly stray cats or unsocialized outdoor cats (feral). Left unaltered, these cats can reproduce, and before long there will be dozens of Community Cats living in your neighborhood. The best thing you can do for Community Cats is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). The benefits of keeping these Community Cats in their original location far outweighs the cost of altering them.

What is TNR?

Trap-Neuter-Return, or “TNR,” is the most humane and effective method known for managing Community Cats and reducing their numbers. The cats, who typically live together in a group called a colony, are trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic. They are then spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, and eartipped. After they’ve recovered from their surgeries, the cats are returned back to their original territory where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter. When foster or permanent homes are available, young kittens and friendly adults are removed and placed for adoption.

What is an Ear Tip?

An ear tip is a painless procedure done during the spay/neuter surgery. It is the universal symbol for a Community Cat that has been spayed or neutered. Ear-tipping allows people to tell from a distance whether or not a Community Cat has been spayed or neutered. That tipped ear saves the cat the stress of being trapped and anesthetized a second time. It does not affect their hearing.

Benefits of TNR

Ends nuisance behaviors from Community Cats such as fighting, spraying, and howling
Prevents repeated unwanted litters of kittens
Saves thousands of taxpayer dollars by keeping these cats out of county shelters
Rids neighborhoods and businesses of rodents and snakes organically. With a Community Cat on the premises, you will finally be able to do away with rat poisons, mouse traps, and dirty rodent droppings.
Studies prove that spaying and neutering Community Cats improves their overall health

TNR balances the needs and concerns of the human communities in which many Community Cats live. People don’t want cats rounded up and killed. TNR is the only humane option to reduce and stabilize the large populations of Community Cats.

Removing Community Cats from their home is counter productive. Each colony of cats has a territory that they defend from other colonies of cats. If cats are removed, it leaves an open territory where more unaltered cats will move in and start the breeding cycle all over again.

If taken to a shelter, unsocialized Community Cats “feral cats” are not considered adoptable and, unfortunately, are often euthanized.

Trap Loans

Cat smelling a donated trap. We loan humane traps to the public at no charge. If you would like to reserve a trap, you can click here to fill out our online Trap Reservation Request form or give us a call at (678) 561-3491. We loan our traps out for 2 weeks at a time. We require a deposit for each trap. We will not charge your credit card unless you do not bring the trap(s) back within two weeks’ time. There is usually a 1-2 week waiting list for our traps.

Our Community Cats program is a resource, not a rescue. We will not remove cats from your property. We will provide you with the tools and support you need to effectively and humanely manage these cats. If you need help with trapping a colony or any other questions please contact us at (678) 561-3491 or communitycats@pethoodga.org.

Are you are interested joining our TNaRmy? Volunteers are needed to help at predetermined trapping locations around Gwinnett. Please fill out a volunteer application today!

Visit our Spay and Neuter Surgery page for information and pricing for feral cat spay/neuter surgery!

Additional help in Gwinnett County:

Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement has started to offer assistance to Gwinnett residents for TNR and feral cats. Gwinnett residents can trap, transport, and return cats back to their communities after a FREE spay/neuter, microchip, and vaccination at the county shelter. Cats MUST be in a trap. No carriers or wire crates. You can borrow a trap from Planned PEThood. Just submit a request here. Limited to two cats per person per day.

Drop-off: Mon-Friday 7:30am to 9am

Pick-up: Mon-Fri 3-4:30pm

Contact RTCCP@GwinnettCounty.com or 678-226-7730 for questions.