Feral Cat Program

The Humane Society of Ventura County is happy to provide TNR (Trap, Neuter Release) and trap loaner services to local residents. Loaner traps are available for a 2-week period with a $75 deposit and can be picked up at the Main Office during normal business hours.

Our Clinic accepts feral cats for TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Release) surgeries on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 7:00 am to 8:00 am. If you know you will be trapping a cat(s), please call the shelter ahead of time at 805-646-6505 to make an appointment to ensure a spot on our schedule. Feral cats arriving without an appointment may be turned away if the clinic is at capacity. The Clinic schedule is subject to change, so we recommend calling in the morning before arrival.  

Surgery and treatment costs are generously subsidized through SPAN. This includes sterilization, FVRCP vaccination, Rabies vaccination (if 12-weeks of age or older), and Ear Tipping (not optional). If you do NOT wish for your cat to be ear-tipped, costs and treatments will be the financial responsibility of the trapper.

 Other resources for TNR surgery in Ventura County include:

Additional traps can also be loaned from: 

 

Pre-Surgical Instructions: 

Trapping and Holding Cats

  • Traps only. Each cat must arrive in a humane live trap (covered with a towel to calm the cat). Pet carriers are NOT permitted (cardboard, plastic, cloth, etc). ONE CAT PER TRAP.
  • Choose a holding area. Choose a place where the cat will be safe in its trap overnight. This should be a warm, dry, well-ventilated area.
  • Safety first. Always follow humane trapping guidelines. Never attempt to handle a feral cat, and keep children and pets away from traps. 
  • Keep the cat calm and covered. Covering the trap with a towel will allow the cat to remain quiet and comfortable
  • Food and water. Water should be made available at all times while cats are contained. Kittens younger than 4-months of age may be fed one teaspoon of wet food at 6:00 am on the morning of surgery. Cats older than 4-months of age should have fasted for four hours before surgery. 
  • Monitor. Check on the cats throughout the night and in the morning. 

Surgery Day

  • Transport safely. Never transport cats in an open truck bed or a closed, unventilated car or truck.
  • Arrive on time. Be prepared to provide your full name, address and phone number, and the address where the cat was trapped. 
  • No Pets. Pets are not permitted. Cats wearing collars will not be considered Feral. 
  • Be available during the day. Answer phone calls during the day in the event of an emergency.
  • Please note. There is always a risk involved when an animal undergoes anesthesia. Caretakers are required to sign a release that holds the Humane Society of Ventura County, its staff, and its facility harmless should a cat experience complications or death due to surgery. Any cat deemed to have a serious, untreatable medical condition that would make it inhumane to release back to its colony, may be humanely euthanized at the discretion of the veterinarian on duty. All pregnancies will be terminated.

After Surgery

  • Return to the shelter between 2:30-3:30 pm to pick up. If you will be later than 4:00 pm, please call the shelter at 805-646-6505.
  • Keep cats safe and warm. Cats should be housed in a comfortable, temperature-regulated environment. Anesthesia lowers a cat’s body temperature. Make sure cats are not too hot or too cold. Elevate traps with wood blocks and place newspapers on the ground underneath to catch falling waste.
  • Monitor cats after surgery. Check on cats throughout the night and before release. Anesthesia and pain medication may make the cat disoriented or act strangely for up to 12 hours following surgery. Check the surgical site, if possible, and watch for steady breathing. In the rare occurrence of an adverse reaction, call 805-646-6505. 
  • Food and water. Wait until cats are fully awake before offering food or water. Open the trap door just enough to slide in a tuna-sized can of food and water. Wet food is preferable. 
  • Sutures do not require removal. Sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed.
  • Release cats the morning after surgery. Keeping them longer than one night can result in unnecessary stress. Lactating females should be released the night of surgery so they can return to and nurse their kittens as soon as possible. A staff member will inform you if your cat is lactating. Always release cats in the area where they were caught. Point the front of the trap away from you so that it opens to an area as free of obstructions as possible, not facing a busy street. 
  • Safety first. Be cautious when handling traps. Never attempt to handle a feral cat. Keep children and pets away from traps. If you are bitten, seek immediate medical attention and quarantine the cat.

What to Expect:

Normal Recovery:                    Abnormal Recovery:

*Lethargy                                *Vomiting    

*Unsteadiness                         *Continued bleeding/discharge from the surgery site

                                             *Shivering the next morning

 Please call the Humane Society of Ventura County at 805-646-6505 with any questions or concerns or if you need to borrow a trap. We do our best to return phone messages within 24 hours, Monday to Friday. The Clinic is not staffed on weekends.