Feral Cats

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

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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

If needed, we can loan you a trap and provide guidance on humane feral cat trapping techniques. Please give us a call at (207) 985-3244 ext. 101 to request a trap.

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.

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And the winner is... 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 #𝗔𝗪𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗧! Our feline friends are celebrating with catnip as we speak and of course, they've received bragging rights over the dogs. Maybe next year Team #awsdog can win back the crown but for now, all hail the cats! 

We want to thank our community for their incredible support this Giving Tuesday. Yesterday's friendly competition between dog lovers and cat lovers has brought in an incredible $𝟏𝟏,𝟕𝟐𝟖 in funds to support the health and wellbeing of the pets in our care. We have been blown away by the kindness and generosity of our community of supporters this year and every year. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮!!!
Sheena was expecting another victory for the dogs today, but so far Team #awscat has remained ahead of the game this Giving Tuesday! However, the night’s not over yet! If you think canines are more cuddly than cats (just look at how cozy Sheena is!), donate to Team #awsdog now and help your favorite species win the crown! 👑 #givingtuesday #dogsrule