Coming Soon! Affordable Spay & Neuter Programs

 Population Control: 

•Sterilization prevents unwanted litters, directly reducing the number of homeless animals.  

Reduced Nuisance Behavior: 

•Spayed and neutered animals are less likely to roam, fight, or engage in marking behaviors, which reduces conflicts between pets and people.  

Public Health: 

•By lowering the population of stray animals, spay/neuter programs help reduce the risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases from animals to humans.  

Aesthetic & Environmental Improvements: 

•Controlling community cat populations through programs like Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) prevents the "vacuum effect" where empty territories are quickly filled, leading to a more stable and manageable environment.  

Economic Relief: 

•Programs that offer low-cost or free spay/neuter services alleviate the financial burden on pet owners, helping them to keep their pets and reducing the need for surrenders to shelters.  

Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: feral vs. stray

What's the difference between a feral cat and a stray cat?

A FERAL cat is an outdoor cat that is not socialized with people.  These cats are fearful and want nothing to do with humans. They are not suited to be indoor pets and are considered unadoptable.  There are varying degrees of feral, so "once a feral, always a feral" is not the rule.  Some ferals can be socialized over time; it depends on the cat and the person working with the animal. 

A STRAY cat is a cat that lives outdoors and has been socialized to some degree with humans.  This cat may have once had an indoor home but now finds itself outside, perhaps abandoned or lost. Or, it could be a cat born outside with a feeder whom it trusts.  Strays are  more open to relationships with humans whereas ferals are not.  When one describes a cat as a stray, it is implied that the cat is friendly to some degree. 

"Community cat" is an all-encompassing term to include all unowned outdoor cats, regardless of whether they are stray or feral.

Knowing whether a cat is feral or stray is important as the answer will determine your course of action.  All cats should be spayed or neutered.  A feral cat should go through the TNR process whereas a stray cat might go into foster care after vetting in search of an indoor forever home. Generally, strays are candidates for adoption; ferals are generally not.

How can you tell if a cat is feral or stray?

A feral cat won't come close. A stray will come close and might let you pet it.

A feral will assume a crouched, tense body position and not make eye contact. A stray will act more like a house cat: standing, tail up, making eye contact.

A feral will not make a sound. A stray might purr or meow.

Ferals are more active at night. Strays are active during the day.  

Ferals tend to be well-groomed; strays might be disheveled.

When trapped, ferals move to the back of the trap. Strays come to the front.

A scared feral will lash out; a scared stray may simply hiss.

A feral won't recognize or play with a toy. A stray probably will.

Original content provided by Stray Cat Project