Community Cat Program
What are Community Cats?
Community cats, sometimes known as feral cats or outdoor cats, are cats that live and thrive in outdoor environments. These cats may be feral, meaning they have had little to no human contact and are wary of people, or they could be friendly and approachable. They typically form colonies in neighborhoods, parks, and other outdoor areas where they have access to food sources and shelter. Many of the cats belong to Community Cat Caretakers.
At the Nebraska Humane Society, we are committed to helping community cats lead healthy lives while also managing their population. Our Community Cat Program focuses on identifying community cats that come into our care and ensuring there are caretakers in their respective areas.
Our Process:
- Identification: When community cats come into our facility, we identify them as such and assess whether they are suitable candidates for our program.
- Vaccination and Alteration: We provide necessary vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, ear tipping the cat to ensure the cats are healthy and cannot reproduce.
- Return to Home: Once the cats have been vaccinated and altered, we return them to their outdoor homes where they are cared for by community cat caretakers.
Ear Tipping
One common practice in community cat management is ear tipping. Ear tipping involves surgically removing the tip of one ear while the cat is under anesthesia. This procedure is a universally recognized symbol indicating that a cat has been vaccinated, altered (spayed or neutered), and returned to its outdoor home. Ear tipping helps caretakers and animal control officers easily identify cats that have been through a community cat program.
Community Cat Caretakers
Community cat caretakers are individuals or groups who take on the responsibility of caring for community cats. They provide food, water, and shelter to ensure the well-being of these cats. Caretakers often monitor the cats' health and provide veterinary care when needed.
Omaha/Bellevue Colony Caretaker Permit Application
Benefits of Altering Community Cats:
- Population Control: By spaying and neutering community cats, we prevent them from reproducing, helping to stabilize and reduce their population over time.
- Territorial Behavior: Altered cats are less likely to engage in aggressive behaviors such as fighting with other cats, yowling or spraying to mark their territory.
- Preventing Repopulation: Having altered cats in the area prevents unaltered cats from moving in and potentially repopulating the area.
- Deterring Community Cats: Keeping Your Space Cat-Free
- Community Cat Caretaker Resources
- Volunteer with Our Community Cat Program
