Fix-A-Feral

Feral cats have reached epidemic numbers on Long Island.  In 2003, Last hope initiated its Fix-A-Feral program as an incentive to get you, the public, to trap, spay/neuter, and return (TNR) the feral cats that you are feeding.

If you are committed to feeding these cats and their living environment is relatively safe, they can be trapped, neutered and returned to the environment which they know. If time, finances, and space permit, you may want to set up some outdoor shelter for these animals in the winter. Check out Alley Cat Allies – www.alleycat.org for help with care of feral cats.”


Before you begin:
Attached is a list of our participating vets and the mandatory agreement that must be filled in and returned to us.  We will mail the vouchers to you AFTER we receive the completed agreement. We cannot fax or email the vouchers.  Do not trap any cats until you receive the vouchers from us.

Materials required for trapping feral cats:
1. A trap (TOMAHAWK or HAVE-A-HEART).  Tomahawks may be purchased via Tomahawk Live Trap Company, P.O. Box 323, Tomahawk, Wisconsin 54487.  Phone: (800) 272-8727 or www.livetrap.com. They cost about $65.00.  You should order trap #606NC  (cat transfer trap with sliding door).  Have-A–Heart traps without a sliding door are available at Agway and Home Depot.
2. Bait (tuna in oil, sardines or mackerel, the smellier the better)
3. Towel or sheet – to cover the trap after a cat is captured

Procedure
1. Prior to trapping, notify your neighbors of your intentions.  Ask them to tag their household cats or keep them indoors.
2. Establish a feeding pattern – feed at the same time, and the same place every day. This will ensure that the cats will be where you want them, when you want them.
3. It is important to make arrangements first. Have your vouchers in hand and make an appointment if required. Do not trap a cat and then start looking for someplace to bring it or someone to take it!
4. Do not feed the cats for a day, and then set the trap.  If they are extra hungry, you have a greater chance of getting them to go into the trap.  Set the trap with tuna, sardines or mackerel – something very smelly.  Having a trap with a sliding back door is especially helpful in releasing an animal that you did not want to trap.   DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TOUCH A FERAL CAT.
5. When you have trapped the animal, cover the trap with a towel or sheet to calm them.  Even tame cats panic when trapped.  However, they quiet down when covered. Trapped cats can be left in the trap overnight as long as they are covered and in a safe secure place, i.e. garage, shed, basement, etc., protected from dogs and other wildlife.
6. Cats can be transported to the veterinarian or animal shelter in the trap.  Put a piece of plastic (a garbage bag works well) under the trap as some cats may urinate out of fear and stress.
7. Our participating vets will notch the cat’s left ear (ear tipping) when the cat is under anesthesia. This alerts others that this cat has been spayed or neutered already.
8. Often males can be released within 12 hours after surgery, ask the veterinarian about this.  Females should be held at least 48 hours after surgery. Have a cage available for this purpose; cats cannot be left in the trap for any length of time.  Please remember, these cats do not understand what you are trying to do, they just feel trapped and threatened and they may become hostile, so exercise caution at all times.  You will need a litter box and dishes for water and food. Put a small cat carrier in the cage…most cats will hide in it, making releasing the cat easier.
9. After the appropriate recovery time, transport the cat back to the site.  Open the door of the carrier, step back, and they will just run out.  They probably won’t even stop to thank you.

Once we have received your completed agreement, we will mail the vouchers to you. Please allow 7 -10 days for processing. No more than five (5) vouchers will be issued per household. They must be used by the expiration date printed on the voucher. Expired vouchers will not be replaced. The vets will check that the name on the voucher matches your photo ID.  Faxed or photo copies will not be accepted by any of the vets.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PAPERWORK OR TRAPPING, PLEASE CONTACT US AT FERALCATS@LastHopeanimalrescue.org.  A VOLUNTEER WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.