A feral cat is one that lives outdoors and is not socialized to humans. They form colonies and live in areas where they find food and shelter and these places or territories become their home. They are not homeless; they live with their families within their colonies. They just live outdoors, in parking lots, behind restaurants, or perhaps your backyard.
Unless properly managed, a colony can become a problem, with rampant breeding and the onset of nuisance mating behaviors (fighting, yowling, roaming, etc.). However, feral cats should not be taken to animal shelters, as they are not adoptable. Catching and killing the cats does not work: when cats are removed from an area, survivors breed to capacity or new cats move in (well documented as the ‘vacuum effect’).
Trap, neuter, return (TNR) is widely recognized as the most humane and effective strategy for reducing and managing feral cat populations. TNR is exactly that: TRAP the cat, NEUTER (or spay) him, and RETURN him to his colony where he will live out his natural life.
We offer a discounted spay/neuter package for feral cats: $45 per cat (regardless of sex) which includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, FVRCP vaccine, basic dewormer, earmite treatment and eartip (to indicate the cat has been fixed).
The FVRCP vaccine is given at no extra charge to the
caregiver thanks to our partnership with the Petco
Love Foundation.
We have traps available for you to
borrow for a fully refundable fee of $100 for
standard traps and $185 for drop traps. We will teach you how to use
them and give advice on trapping. You can pick up traps at our center
between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or by
appointment. Please call in advance to check availability.
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ATTENTION: Holders of the Old Bissell Pet Foundation and St. Landry Parish spay/neuter vouchers.
Effective May 1, 2025, Bissell Pet Foundation spay/neuter/vaccine vouchers will expire at the $50 face value.
Bissell Pet Foundation has graciously given SpayNation permission to continue accepting their old vouchers but at the NEW VOUCHER face values:
- DOGS: $60 off a spay or neuter
- CATS: $30 off a spay or neuter
- VACCINES: Not covered
ONE VOUCHER PER PET PLEASE
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- To receive the special $45 feral cat pack, cats MUST come to the center in a humane trap, NOT in a kennel, not in a carrier. No exceptions.
- We accept feral and community cats between 8:30 am-9:00 am Monday-Thursday. Due to the precarious nature of the number of trapped cats that may arrive, there is always the possibility that you may be turned away. Always check our Facebook post by 5:30 pm to ensure we are accepting cats the following morning.. Thank you for understanding and thank you for caring for community and feral cats.
- Pick up times are the following: Cats brought in Monday-Wednesday will stay overnight and should be picked up the following morning, at 7:30 am. Cats brought in on Thursdays should be picked the same days at 4:30 pm.
- Cats who are receiving the $45 feral cat pack will not receive a physical examination to determine their fitness for anesthesia prior to receiving it.
- Always check our Facebook post by 5:30pm to ensure we are accepting feral and community cats the following morning. Due to the precarious nature of the number of trapped cats that may arrive, there is always the possibility that you may be turned away.
- DO NOT ARRIVE EARLIER THAN 8:30 AM
- Vehicles arriving with feral cats are required to park in the rear parking lot. No exceptions.
- You may be asked to move your vehicle to a different parking spot. Please cooperate!
- You are asked to wait until all pet appointments are checked-in.
- Please stay in your vehicle until approached by staff member.
- Do NOT remove traps from vehicles until notified by staff member.
- NON-COMPLIANCE MAY RESULT IN DENIAL OF SERVICES.
Visit Wild Cat Foundation to learn about feral cats in general, more about TNR, how to live happily alongside a feral colony, advice on trapping, why managing feral colonies is so important, and more.
