The Animal Foundation Urges the Public to Help With Care of Community Cats
Las Vegas – With the arrival of cooler fall temperatures, The Animal Foundation is asking Las Vegas Valley residents who might have an issue with the number of free-roaming/outdoor cats, to consider participating in the shelter’s free Trap Neuter Return (TNR) services. Through TNR, free-roaming cats and the neighborhoods in which they live can both benefit when cats are humanely trapped, brought in to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated, ear-tipped, and returned to their communities. The many well-documented benefits of TNR include helping to stabilize cat colony populations by keeping new cats from moving in, as well as eliminating undesired cat behavior and supporting public health by reducing the threat of rabies.
Community cats live in groups called colonies and choose their territories because they have a food source and shelter there. They repay the favor of this beneficial set-up by keeping additional cats from moving into the neighborhood as well as controlling rodent populations for their human neighbors. These cats do not have to be brought into the shelter to be rehomed as they are perfectly happy living in their colonies and neighborhoods. If a cat is healthy and has found food and shelter, it will be able to continue to thrive on its own. Plus, although some community cats may tolerate human contact, most would not be happy in a traditional home setting.
According to Alyssa Dazza, Feline Programs Manager at The Animal Foundation, “Fall is the perfect time to humanely trap community cats since there’s less stress from the hot sun and cats are no longer in heat. For those caring for outdoor cats, performing TNR this fall will ensure that those cats won’t have litters next spring.” Dazza added that the shelter can provide traps for neighborhoods with community cats or the shelter can arrange trappings for neighborhoods with colonies of 20 cats or more. Once they are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped (to indicate sterilization), they are then returned to their respective outdoor homes.
The Animal Foundation is one of the highest volume single-site animal shelters and pet adoption centers in the nation and provides refuge for thousands of homeless animals throughout the Las Vegas Valley. To inquire about TNR services, please visit our website at animalfoundation.com/communitycats.