Community Cat Program
What is a Community Cat?
Community Cats” are free-roaming, outdoor cats with no verifiable signs of ownership or sometimes referred to as Feral. These cats are found all over the world. Community Cats can be feral or friendly, young, or old. Here in the Hamilton and Burlington area, they live in our urban areas, rural farms, parks, backyards, forested and industrial areas. It’s likely that they reside in your neighbourhood, and you may not even know it.
Hamilton is home to an estimated 30,000-45,000 free-roaming, unowned “Community Cats." These cats are sometimes cared for by Colony Caregivers who provide food, shelter, and support.
Caring for Community Cats, while working to stabilize and ultimately reduce their numbers, is one of the most complex issues facing animal shelters today. Leading animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and researchers have developed progressive solutions to address the growing population of Community Cats.
Our Solution
Trap
The Community Cats are trapped in a humane live trap with the instruction of the HBSPCA and hard work of the Colony Caregiver.
Neuter/Spay
Once brought into the HBSPCA, the cats are then put through the surgery process to get them properly fixed.
Vaccinate
During their time at the HBSPCA, they are also given their routine vaccines to keep them healthy.
Return
After a day of recovery at in the HBSPCA recovery centre, the cats are then picked up by their Colony Caregivers and returned to the exact location they were trapped.
Become a Registered Colony Caregiver
By registering, you're not only aiding us in the effective management and support of community cat colonies but also playing a pivotal role in reducing the Community Cat population. Registration enables us to meticulously track the movements of Community Cats, optimizing our trapping efforts and ensuring that each cat receives adequate care and support.
Moreover, your pro-active registration aligns with the local city bylaws of the City of Hamilton, safeguarding you against any potential fines for unlawfully feeding community cats. It’s a step towards responsible and lawful caretaking, allowing you to continue your compassionate efforts.
Become an official registered HBSPCA Colony Caregiver. Help us create a supportive environment for these Community Cats. Register now and receive valuable guidance and resources that help us ensure the well-being of the community cats.
What’s Next?
After you have successfully completed the Colony Caregiver Registration Form, your contract will be formally registered with the HBSPCA. This process can take anywhere between 5-10 business days.
Once this process is completed, you will receive an email from the Community Cat Program team welcoming you to the program! From there, you will have email interaction with the team directly and will be sent all the required information to get your Community Cats through the program.
How Does the HBSPCA Make This Possible?
To make an impact within the Community Cat population, the HBSPCA’s Companion Animal Hospital covers and performs all TNVR Program surgical procedures ranging anywhere from $750 - $1000+ per cat. The program itself is managed by our dedicated team and funded by our generous donors.
