Community Cats

Community cats (also known as feral, free-roaming, or unowned cats) are the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats that are not spayed or neutered.  Female cats can have two or three litters a year, with 3-5 kittens in a litter, and their kittens will become feral without very early contact with people. Cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months of age, and the number of cats rapidly increases without TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). 

Feral cats may live alone but are usually found in groups called feral colonies.  The colony occupies and defends a specific territory where food (a restaurant, apartment or trailer park dumpster, a person who feeds them) and shelter (beneath a porch, in an abandoned building) are available.  Since feral cats typically fear strangers, it is likely that people may not realize that feral cats are living nearby because the cats are rarely seen. They are elusive and do not trust humans. 

WCFA supports Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR).  It is the most humane and cost-effective way to manage feral cats. The traditional method used by many animal control agencies has been trap and kill.  Studies have shown that trap and kill do not work and is an enormous waste of taxpayers dollars.  Two excellent resources on feral cats are Alley Cat Allies and Neighborhood Cats.  

WCFA will work with feral cat caregivers in the Arizona Strip communities of Scenic, Beaver Dam, Littlefield and Desert Springs.  Please note that Mesquite Animal Control now does TNR of community cats in Mesquite so please contact them if you live in Mesquite. For caregivers in the AZ Strip, we can provide TNR advice and traps and help with part of the spay and neuter cost of feral cats.  However, the Humane Society of Utah Spay-Neuter Clinic in St. George, UT will spay/neuter, vaccinate and ear tip a feral cat for $25. We suggest contacting the Humane Society of Utah Spay/Neuter clinic in St. George, UT for further information at 435-216-7960. They are open from Tuesdays through Fridays.

A caretaker (the person who is already feeding the cats) makes sure that there are clean water, food and waterproof shelter for the cats.  The caretaker also monitors the colony for health problems and keeps an eye out for the occasional new member, making sure it is trapped and spayed or neutered.