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How is this program supported?
- SNN is a 501c3 non-profit supported solely through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Please consider making a donation today. We receive no public funding to support our organization’s mission.
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Do you ever need volunteers?
- Yes! SNN is always seeking volunteers for a variety of roles within our organization. Please click HERE for more information on volunteering with us.
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Do you provide trapping for individuals?
- In most cases, no. Traps are available to be loaned out to individuals to trap. We work with other groups who are better equipped to handle this type of request.
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What is an ear tip?
- All feral and stray cats who go through SNN have the tip of their right ear removed. The procedure removes just the tip of the cat’s right ear and is performed by veterinary professionals while the cat is anesthetized for spay or neuter surgery. Often cats in a colony are related and look very similar. Imagine you are feeding a colony of four or more black cats. It would be very difficult to look at each one and know for sure which one has been spayed/neutered. It is even more challenging when the cats are feral and you can see them only from a distance. An effective visual identification is necessary. For this reason, “tipping” an ear is the international symbol of a spayed/neutered and vaccinated community cat. If you see a cat with a tipped ear, you can rest assured that he or she is not adding to cat overpopulation. Someone has taken the time to look after the kitty and improved his or her life – and that is a really good thing.
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I’m feeding a stray, feral or community cat – how can I get him or her sterilized?
- Please visit one of the clinics found HERE or call us at 972-472-3500 for more information.
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What is a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program?
- TNR is a humane approach to ending feral and community cat overpopulation. Caregivers who are feeding feral cats, trap them in humane live traps, take them to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and after they are recovered return the cats to the location they were trapped at.
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Who is a caregiver?
- A caregiver is a person who has taken responsibility for a feral cat or colony of cats. The caregiver is committed to feeding the cats on a permanent basis, ensure they are spayed/neutered and may provide shelter or ongoing healthcare as necessary.
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What is the earliest age you will spay or neuter a kitten?
- SNN will sterilize a kitten as young as three months’ old as long as they weigh a minimum of 2lbs.
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One of the cats I’m feeding may be pregnant – can you still spay her?
- Yes, we will still spay a pregnant cat.
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If I trap a lactating cat, what should I do?
- If a lactating cat is trapped, there are two choices: release the cat and try to re-trap her in 4-6 weeks, or have her spayed and then returned the same day if possible. Although a nursing female cat can be spayed and will continue to feed her kittens after surgery, it is a good idea to have kitten replacement milk on hand and be ready to bottle-feed the kittens for a couple of days. This way you can also feed the kittens while the mom cat is away the day of surgery if needed. Wait until the kittens are at least 4 weeks old before taking mom in to be spayed. At 4 weeks, the kittens can probably survive 12-15 hours without her. It is very important to get the mother cat back to her kittens as quickly as you can.
