< Resources: Outdoor Cats

5 Questions about Helping Community Cats

1.
First things first – what’s a community cat and why do they need help?

Community cats are unowned cats that live outdoors – they can be feral (unsocialized or unfriendly to humans) or abandoned tame cats that have grown wary of humans after their time on the streets. They are the direct result of people not sterilizing their cats and letting them roam, or abandoning them on the streets. It is a community-based problem, therefore our community needs to do their part to help.

2.
What’s are the most important things to know about helping outdoor cats?

Like our indoor pet cats, community cats need the basics — food, water and shelter — so making sure they’ve got those is the top priority.

The second priority is spaying and neutering to ensure these cats do not contribute to the overpopulation crisis in Regina.

3.
What’s the best shelter for our harsh climate?

There are many types of shelters that work well here – we like small Styrofoam coolers — but the most important thing is to ensure that the shelters aren’t too big. That’s because a cat heats up the space with its body heat, so if the space is too big, the cat will waste valuable energy trying to stay warm. And be sure to use straw (not hay) as insulation!

4.
How can you make sure the cats are getting enough food and water?

In Saskatchewan, where temperatures drop below -40C in the winter, it can be a challenge. The best way to make sure food and water aren’t frozen solid is to use heated bowls. You can use them for water and soft food too. If you can't use a heated water dish, deep water bowls made of thick plastic are better than wide or metal ones. Community cats are often very active and need extra calories especially in the winter so be generous with feeding!

5.
How do I trap, neuter and return (TNR)?

We practice and strongly support TNR as the only humane and effective approach to community cats. Trapping requires constant monitoring and can never be done in winter. Any food left out for community cats should be removed 24 hours before setting the trap. Set the trap in the area where the cats typically eat and bait them with strong-smelling food such as wet cat food, tuna, or sardines. Stay out of sight, but in a place where the trap can be observed. Once a cat is trapped, cover the trap with a blanket and move it to a safe place. Immediately take the cat to a veterinary clinic. Once the spay/neuter procedure is complete, the cat should stay in its trap for 24 hours before being released.