“Community Cats” is a term used to describe outdoor, un-owned, free-roaming cats. These are cats who were abandoned, who got lost and ended up living on their own, or who were born on the streets. Getting close to one of them is not an easy task. They live in groups known as colonies.

When a community cat has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated they are given an ear tip.  Ear tips are readily visible from a distance, making it easy for caretakers, trappers and animal control personnel to immediately identify a cat as spayed or neutered. This procedure is not done on house pets; even if they are considered indoor/outdoor.

Ear-tipped cats have already been spayed/neutered; will never produce more kittens, and their nuisance behaviors (such as fighting and spraying) will diminish.

People often think that just because a cat has an ear tip it must have a caretaker in that neighborhood. This is NOT TRUE! Many cats are ear-tipped and returned to the streets without ever having a caretaker. There are others whose caretakers moved, died or don’t bother to feed anymore. If you see an ear-tipped cat and they are hungry feed them, thirsty give them water, cold provide them shelter. It is hard out there for them and there are too few caretakers. Maybe consider becoming a colony caretaker!

If you see an injured or sick cat reach out to your local shelter, rescue groups or social media for help.

Just do something!

They deserve the same help and respect as any other cat.