{"id":67156,"date":"2025-05-19T14:06:03","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T18:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/services\/community-cat-program\/"},"modified":"2025-10-03T15:43:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T19:43:20","slug":"community-cat-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/services\/community-cat-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Cat Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t<h1>\n\t\t\tCommunity Cat Program\n\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t<p>Work to improve the lives of free roaming and feral cats in our community.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/Community-Cat-circle.jpg\" alt=\"Community Cat\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"1920\" width=\"1920\" title=\"Community Cat\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/GettyImages-2213773268-square.jpg\" alt=\"Four stray cats in the middle of the road in Kalambaka, Meteora, Thessaly Region, Central Greece.\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"471\" width=\"741\" title=\"Four Stray Cats In The Middle Of The Road, Kalambaka, Meteora, Greece\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t<p>Community cats, sometimes known as feral cats or outdoor cats, are cats that live and thrive in outdoor environments. These cats may be feral, meaning they have had little to no human contact and are wary of people, or they could be friendly and approachable. They typically form colonies in neighborhoods, parks, and other outdoor areas where they have access to food sources and shelter. Many of the cats belong to Community Cat Caretakers.<\/p>\n<strong>At the Nebraska Humane Society, we are committed to helping community cats lead healthy lives while also managing their population. Our Community Cat Program focuses on identifying community cats that come into our care and ensuring there are caretakers in their respective areas.<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\tOur Process\n\t\t\t\t\t<ol>\n<li>Identification: When community cats come into our facility, we identify them as such and assess whether they are suitable candidates for our program.<\/li>\n<li>Vaccination and Alteration: We provide necessary vaccinations, spay\/neuter surgeries, ear tipping the cat to ensure the cats are healthy and cannot reproduce.\n<ul>\n<li>One common practice in community cat management is ear tipping. Ear tipping involves surgically removing the tip of one ear while the cat is under anesthesia. This procedure is a universally recognized symbol indicating that a cat has been vaccinated, altered (spayed or neutered), and returned to its outdoor home. Ear tipping helps caretakers and animal control officers easily identify cats that have been through a community cat program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Return to Home: Once the cats have been vaccinated and altered, we return them to their outdoor homes where they are cared for by community cat caretakers.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t\tBenefits of Altering Community Cats:\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><strong>Population Control<\/strong>: By spaying and neutering community cats, we prevent them from reproducing, helping to stabilize and reduce their population over time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Territorial Behavior<\/strong>: Altered cats are less likely to engage in aggressive behaviors such as fighting with other cats, yowling or spraying to mark their territory.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Preventing Repopulation<\/strong>: Having altered cats in the area prevents unaltered cats from moving in and potentially repopulating the area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\tDeterring Community Cats: Keeping Your Space Cat-Free\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Community cats can sometimes cause disruptions in outdoor spaces, but there are humane and effective ways to deter them from unwanted areas. Here are some popular deterrents:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Spray &amp; Sprinkle Repellents: These products emit scents or tastes that cats find unpleasant, encouraging them to avoid treated areas. They are safe for both cats and the environment.<\/li>\n<li>Cat Scat Mats: These mats feature plastic spikes or textures that are uncomfortable for cats to walk on. Placing them in garden beds or other areas can discourage cats from loitering.<\/li>\n<li>Motion Detection Sprinklers: Equipped with motion sensors, these sprinklers activate when they detect movement, startling cats with a sudden burst of water. They&#8217;re a great option for keeping cats out of gardens or off lawns.<\/li>\n<li>Solar Animal Repeller: These devices use ultrasonic sounds or flashing lights to deter cats and other animals from entering a designated area. They&#8217;re solar-powered and easy to install, providing a low-maintenance solution.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>By implementing these deterrents, you can create a cat-free zone while still respecting the well-being of community cats. Remember to always choose humane methods and avoid harm to both animals and the environment.<\/p>\n\t\t<h2>\n\t\t\tHelp Community Cats\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Donate Food<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>Lots of community cats means lots of mouths to feed! We happily accept donations of cat food, whether it&#8217;s an opened bag or brand new. Consider grabbing a bag of cat food on your next grocery trip or bringing in the food that your picky feline decided to stop eating. Any brand\/flavor will do!<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Volunteer<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>Are you passionate about helping community cats thrive in their outdoor environments? Join our team of dedicated volunteers and make a difference in the lives of cats in need! CCP volunteers assist in transportation and return of community cats and provide support for community cat caretakers as well as educating the public about the program.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nehumanesociety.org\/get-involved\/volunteer\/\" role=\"button\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more and apply\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Become a Community Cat Caretaker<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<p>Community cat caretakers are individuals or groups who take on the responsibility of caring for community cats. They provide food, water, and shelter to ensure the well-being of these cats. Caretakers often monitor the cats&#8217; health and provide veterinary care when needed.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/support.nehumanesociety.org\/site\/Survey?SURVEY_ID=10047&#038;ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS\" role=\"button\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCaretaker Permit Application\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<h2>\n\t\t\tCommunity Cat Caretaker Resources\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<p>Are you a caretaker for community cats and are in need of support? Here are some resources available to you:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Food Pantry for Those in Need:<\/strong> If you require assistance with providing food for the community cats you care for, our food pantry program can help. Contact us to inquire about access to free or low-cost cat food supplies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Supplies for Winter Community Cat Houses:<\/strong> Keeping community cats warm and safe during the winter months is essential. We offer supplies such as insulated coolers shelters, and straw to help you create comfortable shelters for outdoor cats in your area.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Altering Community Cats:<\/strong> Spaying and neutering community cats is crucial for population control and their overall well-being. If you need assistance with altering community cats, please reach out to us at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:CCP@nehumanesociety.org\">CCP@nehumanesociety.org<\/a>\u00a0for information on our Community Cat Program and how we can help.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>At the Nebraska Humane Society, we&#8217;re dedicated to supporting caretakers like you who work tirelessly to care for community cats. Don&#8217;t hesitate to contact us for assistance or more information on our resources and programs. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of community cats in our community.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Community Cat Program Work to improve the lives of free roaming and feral cats in our community. Community cats, sometimes known as feral cats or outdoor cats, are cats that&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"parent":67144,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-67156","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67156"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69032,"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67156\/revisions\/69032"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nehumanesociety.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}