Feral Cats

We support feral cat caretakers in a number of ways, including providing free spay/neuter services.

Home | Helpful Resources | Feral Cats

Taking care of community cats

Feral cats received little to no socialization as kittens and thus do not feel comfortable around humans. Therefore, they do not have the demeanor to be house cats. They live outdoors, frequently in colonies with other feral cats, often in outbuildings, barns or small shelters provided by property owners. Feral cats are also referred to as “community cats.”

Many feral cats rely on the kindness of human caretakers and community members to provide regular access to fresh food and water. One of the best ways a caretaker can support a feral cat is through trap-neuter-return (TNR). With TNR, the cat is safely and humanely trapped so that it can be altered and vaccinated before being returned to its colony. This reduces the number of offspring in the colony and makes the colony and its individual cats healthier and safer.

Spay/Neuter Surgery

At the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic, the following services are administered at no cost for feral and free roaming cats trapped in Maine:

Mandatory Services

  • Sterilization surgery (including a small tattoo applied near the incision)
  • Ear tip of the left ear – ear tipping is mandatory for cats receiving free services through this program. It is a universal symbol that indicates the cat has been spayed/neutered.
  • Rabies vaccination and distemper vaccination
  • Single dose of Revolution (for fleas, hookworm, roundworm, ear mites)

Optional Services

  • Microchip: $25
  • FeLV/FIV Combo Test: $45

Because we require all cats going through this program to receive a rabies vaccination, cats must be at least 12 weeks of age.

If you have cat(s) on your property and would like to participate in TNR at no cost, please note the following:

  • Cats are required to come in a feral trap NOT a carrier.
  • No appointment needed; however, if you have more than 2 cats to bring in, please contact us at (207) 292-2424 in advance to coordinate.
  • Early morning drop off is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 8:30am and 9am.
  • Cats are ready to be picked up between 4-4:30pm the day they receive surgery.
  • They must recover for 24 hours with their caretaker before being released back to their colony.

Humane Trapping

Feral Kitten Socialization & Adoption

In the case of feral kittens, if young enough, a litter may be able to be socialized in foster care, giving them the confidence and demeanor needed to become house cats. In these cases, kittens go up for adoption, rather than be returned to their mother’s colony. Call our Adoption Center at (207) 985-3244 to learn more.

Cat Shelter Plans

Feral cat shelters can provide a safe place for a cat or colony to take refuge. They can be a straw-lined sizable rubbermaid container with several portal to serve as doors, or they can be more elaborate, made of wood with multiple places for cats to rest and get warm. If you’d like to build a feral cat shelter of your own, we have detailed plans and diagrams, step-by-step instructions and materials lists for you.

Follow Us!

@aws.maine

𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗳𝗳, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗺!

💻 He's a great work from home buddy. He enjoys snacks when I do, we share big yawns and stretches to keep our bodies moving.

📺 To change up his scenery, he enjoys spending time in his living room quarters where he chews on his hay and enjoys a bunny program or a binge worthy Netflix show with us on the TV. 

🛎 When Fluffy hears my voice and needs my attention he loudly throws his bell ball around and when i go to say hello he always runs up and greets me. 

🥗 Fluffy really likes different foods but some are better than other. He’s love his greens and on occasion blueberries and apples are his favorite. 

🚽 Fluffy is 100% potty trained (litterbox) so it makes clean up easy. 

🎉 Rabbits are mostly nocturnal so if you hear something in the night, he’s just partying! 

🐇 Fluffy eats right out of my hand! And never runs away when i pet him. He loves his cheeks scratched. 

📱Call AWS at (207) 985-3244 to arrange a time to meet and adopt this great bunny!
The weather might be cold and dreary but that doesn't stop happy-go-lucky Rip. He's always ready for an outdoor adventure, rain or shine! How is your pet spending this rainy day?