FERAL/NEIGHBOURHOOD CATS & COLONIES

Rescue Hamilton Cats (RHC) hears often from people concerned about cats fending for themselves outside. The questions are usually about how to find them homes, get them “fixed” or what to do with pregnant cats, kittens and colony cats whose caregiver is no longer able to feed them.

You’ll find, in Section 1 below, quick answers to these questions and, in Section 2, information about local services and Hamilton groups to turn to for additional assistance/support/advice.

Section 1:Quick Answers to Some Key Questions

Cats (and kittens) outside who keep their distance, run away, avoid being touched, and can’t be picked up may just be scarred but often they turn out to be feral or semi-feral. While it’s natural for a cat lover to want to find them all good homes, not all are able to adjust to an indoor lifesyle. Anyone wanting to find a rescue group able to help a cat who will need to be trapped should be aware that trapping is only a first step and that very few rescue groups are able to provide the types of long-term, foster home care these cats often require to (maybe) become adoptable. For some information on what's involved in taming/socializing outdoor kittens/cats and why it's not always a good idea, click here. What's best for the cat (especially for the adult cats and older kittens) may be to get them spayed/neutered through one of the HBSPCA programs described in Section 2 and care for them outdoors in the environment they're comfortable (and maybe happiest) in.
   
Pregnant cats are a special worry. One option is to look into is spay/abort through one of the HBSPCA services described in Section 2. It’s can be a sensible way to deal with the immediate problem, will prevent future unwanted litters and will make the future easier/better for the “mom”. (Please not that, only if the mom is tame and will be able to adjust to living indoor,will it likely to be possible to find a rescue group able to arrange for foster home placement If that's the case, A list of groups to consider contacting, can be found at the bottom of this page.

Regarding kittens, it's important to be aware that::  

• Young kittens need their mother and may do better being raised outdoors by her than taken inside. So, resist the urge to move them immediately, keep your distance, give her some time to return and, then, assess the situation and figure out what's best for the kittens. For some general advices on what to do if she does, or does not, return can be found here.

• Tiny kittens who are still nursing, and not yet able to eat wet food, will need help right away and have to be kept warm and bottle fed (with kitten formula and NOT milk.) For quick advice, click here. And right away seek advice/help from a rescue group that has volunteers experienced in bottle feeding and may have space in a foster home. A few local groups to try contacting are Pantry Four Paws , NCWL, and Abandoned Cats Rescue.

• If the kittens are old enough to eat on their own and young enough to be tamed caring for them inside is an option. At 8-10 weeks kittens are generally considered to become adoptable. For help caring for the kittens and finding them good homes, check with rescue groups listed at the bottom of this page.

• Finding the mother is always important. That’s because she may need help too and because she’ll need to get spayed to prevent more litters.  

Cats living outside are territorial. Moving feral & semi-feral cats is a last resort option; to find out why and to get an idea of what's involved, click here. If a relative or friend who has been feeding cats outside dies, goes into a nursing home or becomes suddenly no longer able to care for them, what to do with the cats becomes an issue. The first step is to try to find someone in the area who may be willing/able to help. Going door to door is a good place to start and it’s worth asking the HBSPCA and other groups listed in Section2 if they know of any registered caregivers (or people feeding cats outside) in the area.  

Taking cats in traps to the local shelter/pound operated by Hamilton Animal Services (HAS) is not a good idea. Feral/semi-feral cats are likely to be terrified (and may become aggressive) in the shelter situation and there will be little chance that they will be identified as adoptable. HAS may refuse to take them in and, if they do, the sad reality is that the outcome isn't likely to be good.

Section 2: Services in Hamilton and Local Groups to Contact for Help

HBSPCA operates two services through which to access (at low cost) a vet exam, spay/neuter, rabies shot, vaccines, flea treatment, & microchip. Assistance with trapping and transport can be requested when applying to either program. And cats brought in to HBSPCA in traps are ear-tipped to identify them as belonging to colonies – being cared for outside. A brief description of each program, along with a link to information on how the program works and how to apply, is provided below. If after reading the information online, you have questions about specific cats (who might have health issues, be still nursing or maybe pregnant) or concerns about how to get it all to work, don’t hesitate to ask Michelle MacNab who runs these programs; Michelle’s direct contact info is:  
email mmacnab@hbspca.com    
phone (905) 574-7722 ext.303
 
The Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate & Return (TNVR) Program is available to anyone willing to register as a Caregiver for 3 or more outdoor cats. The cost for this program is $45 per cat. For information about the program, what it means to be a Caregiver and how to apply, click here.

The Community Assistance Program (CAP) is available to anyone willing to be identified as the owner of the cat and willing/able to care for the cat as an indoor, indoor/outdoor or outdoor pet. The cost for this program is $95 per cat. For information about the program and how to apply, click here.

Local groups to contact for further information, advice, support and assistance are:

Hamilton Community Cats Network (HCCN) was established with the aim of getting TNVR to work in Hamilton. They offer workshops, provide ways for caregivers to learn from, support, and lend a hand to, each other and can be approached for advice and help with issues ranging from trapping to taming. For announcements of upcoming workshops, to learn about HCCN and to connect with the group through Facebook, click here.

Hamilton Street Cats (HSC) is a volunteer group that is focused on assisting colony caregivers and owners to access affordable spay/neuter. They work co-operatively with HBSPCA and rescue groups to address issues - from getting TNVR applications in and supplementing costs for spay/neuter to dealing with specific situations that arise with street cats, i.e. illness and injuries. For announcements of HBSPCA registration sessions for $20 spay/neuters, stories about cats HSC volunteers are involved in helping and to connect with HSC through Facebook, click here.