Programs to help feral cats & their caregivers

Programs to help feral cats and their caregivers

Did you know Oct. 16 is National Feral Cat Day?

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society cares about all animals, including community cats! This is why we have programs to assist feral cats, also referred to as community cats.

Shelters to keep cats warm and protected

To assist feral cat caretakers in managing feral cat colonies, the Ontario SPCA offers feral cat shelters. A limited number of shelters are made each year by volunteers (or you can make your own by following the instructions below). The shelters allow caretakers to provide a safe, warm place for community cats during our cold, harsh winters.

How to build a feral cat shelter

If you’re interested in making your own shelter, visit our blog How to Build a Feral Cat Shelter 101.

The working cat program

The Ontario SPCA also has a working cat program in which community cats that end up in our centres and cannot be returned to their original colony site are given “jobs” as working cats.

As former street cats who are used to outdoor life, working cats are not typical indoor pets and have no desire to be lap cats. However, what they lack in social skills they make up for when it comes to keeping vermin problems under control.

These cats are healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, ear tipped and in need of a new, non-traditional home environment. Some examples of these new homes could include barns, stables, auto repair shops, woodworking shops, wineries, breweries, greenhouses/nurseries/garden centres, churches, storage facilities/warehouses.

To learn more about the working cat program, visit ontariospca.ca/adopt/working-cat-program

Learn more about supporting community cats by visiting ontariospca.ca/communitycats