Trap, Neuter and Return | Hamilton / Burlington SPCA

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA's Trap, Neuter & Return program helps control the overpopulation of feral cats in downtown Hamilton. Our goal is to sterilize and vaccinate at least 600 feral cats each year.

A feral cat is any cat that is not owned. These cats have little or no interaction with humans.

Benefits of the Program

Euthanasia due to homelessness is the number one cause of death for cats. If proactive steps aren’t taken to control feral cat populations, the crisis will continue to escalate—kittens as young as three months can become pregnant and a female cat will have an average of 15 kittens each year.

But the benefits of the Trap, Neuter and Return program go beyond helping to control the feral cat population. Because these cats are vaccinated, we’re helping to safeguard their health. Altered male cats are less aggressive and less likely to spray, which will reduce injuries to cats from fighting and decrease the number of complaints related to cat fights, noise and odor.

Most importantly, the program will reduce the number of cats picked up and euthanized by Hamilton Animal Services.

In the program, the cats are humanely trapped by one of our volunteer colony caregivers. They are then transported to the shelter or one of our partner vet clinics where they are rabies vaccinated, micro-chipped, ear-tipped and spayed or neutered. The cats are then returned to the colony they came from. Ear-tipping is the universal way to identify a sterilized, vaccinated feral cat.

How can I help?

For more information on volunteering with the HBSPCA visit our “Become a Volunteer” page.

For more information on the HBSPCA Trap, Neuter and Return program,
please Download the TNR Caregiver Information Sheet

If you would like to apply to be a TNR Caregiver,
please Download the TNR Application Form

Thanks to our participating Veterinary Clinics