Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA to Host Spay/Neuter Day for Feral Cats

On October 15 and 16, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA (PHS) will hold a no-cost spay and neuter clinic for feral cats residing in the shelter’s nine service cities. This event is being held in honor of National Feral Cat Day, which is October 16.

Feral cats are free-roaming cats that are not socialized to people. They are the same species as pet cats, but often live in outdoor cat colonies with limited human interaction. If left unaltered, these cats produce large numbers of kittens each spring and summer, inundating local animal shelters.

The sterilization process for feral cats is commonly referred to as trap-neuter-return (TNR). Members of the community humanely trap feral cats, have them sterilized at a spay/neuter clinic, and then return the cats to their original location. While under anesthesia feral cats are also vaccinated and ear-tipped (a small part of the cat’s left ear is removed to indicate sterilization).

“Female cats can have as many as three litters a year, and kittens can breed as young as four months old,” says Steve McNall, president/CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. “Most people don’t want to see the cats they’re feeding get pregnant over and over again, so our National Feral Cat Day ‘TNR-a-thon’ will serve as a gentle reminder to caretakers of free-roaming cat colonies to catch and sterilize their cats.”

The PHS low-cost public spay and neuter clinic (SNiP) will dedicate October 15 and 16 exclusively to the spay and neuter of feral cats. The clinic expects to book 20 feral cat surgeries each day. A limited number of TNR appointments are also available weekly, Tuesday through Friday.

TNR appointments at the SNiP Clinic include free spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations (FVRCP and rabies) and ear-tipping for feral cats throughout our service cities only: Arcadia, Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino and Sierra Madre. Additional services such as FeLV/FIV testing, flea treatment and microchipping are available upon request for an additional cost. A small inventory of humane traps are also available to rent for a deposit of $55, which is fully refunded upon return of the traps.

TNR is by appointment only. To make an appointment, email snip@pasadenahumane.org or call (626) 792-7151 ext. 166.

About the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is an open door, community-funded center, which provides all animals a place where they receive a safe haven, care and respect. The agency provides essential animal welfare and control services for the cities of Arcadia, Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena. For more information, visit www.pasadenahumane.org.