Community (Feral) Cat Program

Through our Community (Feral) Cat Program, UAF works with ‘Colony Caretakers’ who manage and care for the local feral cat population. 

• UAF provides spay/neuter certificates for feral cats through our Spay/Neuter Certificate Program. Colony Caretakers humanely trap feral cats and bring them to the UAF Snip n’ Go™ Clinic for alteration and ear-tipping, which identifies the cat as having been altered.

• The Colony Caretakers return the altered feral cats to their colonies and continue to monitor the colony for any new cats that need to be altered.

• UAF does not remove cats from feral colonies. Research has shown that Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) is the most humane and effective manner to care for feral cat colonies.

UAF will alter ferals for free if it truly is a wild (will bite you) type of cat.

• You must first get a certificate from UAF. Click here to apply for a certificate.
• Once you have a certificate, click here to make your appointment.
• When making the appointment, please name the cat “Feral” and guess the sex (we will check before we do the surgery). 
• Cats must be in a live trap. 
• We will loan live traps for free, but you must make an appointment first at our clinic: https://unitedanimalfriends.org/spay-and-neuter-clinic/

Trapping:

• Call 928-350-5430 or email [email protected] to make arrangements to pick up a trap 2-4 days BEFORE your appointment.
• Let the cat get used to seeing, smelling and EATING in the trap: 
  • Set the trap with the door propped open so they can go in and out.
  • Cover it with a dark cloth.  Cats like dark places.
  • Feed enticing food–chicken, fish, sardines, etc. 
• The night before your appointment, set the trap. 
• If you wish, you can bring the cat in the trap and bring an empty cat carrier.  We will put the cat in your carrier and you can leave the trap with us. 
• IF YOU CAN’T CATCH THE CAT–let us know. We will keep moving the appointment until you catch it. 
• ALL feral cats are EAR TIPPED and GIVEN A RABIES vaccine. 
• Donations are appreciated. We are able to provide this service through donations and the efforts of our volunteers.  We rely on the local public to keep this program going. 

The UAF Spay/Neuter Certificate Program is partially funded by the Arizona Companion Animals Spay and Neuter Committee.  Funding is raised through the sale of Pet-Friendly License Plates and donations through Arizona Resident Personal Income Tax Return Form 140. For information on how you can obtain a Pet-Friendly License Plate or donate through your tax return, visit their website at www.azpetplates.org.