Feral & Community Cat Services

Cahaba Spay & Neuter is proud to support individuals, caregivers, rescues, and community organizations working to reduce the population of free-roaming and community cats through humane Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

We understand that caring for community cats comes with unique challenges—especially when the cats don't necessarily cooperate with your schedule! Our feral cat program is designed to make affordable spay/neuter services as accessible and flexible as possible.

$100 Feral Cat Package

Our $100 feral/community cat package includes:

  • Spay or neuter surgery

  • Rabies vaccination

  • Ear tip

  • Injectable NSAID pain medication

Female cats also receive a local anesthetic block at the incision site, providing additional pain control for up to 8 hours following surgery.

Additional services may be added if desired, including:

  • FVRCP vaccination

  • FIV/FeLV testing

No Appointment? We Understand.

You can't exactly tell a feral cat that they have an appointment tomorrow morning.

Because trapping can be unpredictable, feral and community cats do not need a traditional scheduled appointment. If you successfully trap a cat, bring them to Cahaba Spay & Neuter before 10:00 AM on any day that we are performing surgery, and we will work them into our surgical schedule.

This policy is designed to make TNR easier and prevent caregivers from having to hold a frightened community cat for days while waiting for an appointment.

Feral Cat Requirements

To qualify for our $100 feral cat package:

  • Cats must arrive in an appropriately sized humane cat trap. Cats arriving in carriers will be treated and charged as owned cats. Feral cats not in an appropriate trap will not be accepted for surgery.

  • Ear tipping is required for the feral cat package. If you do not want the cat to receive an ear tip, that's completely fine; however, the cat will be considered an owned cat and regular owned-cat surgery pricing will apply.

  • Traps must be appropriately sized for an adult cat. Small traps designed for squirrels or other small wildlife are not acceptable.

  • For the safety of both the cat and our team, please do not transfer a feral cat from a trap into a carrier before arrival.

  • We currently do not rent or loan feral cat traps.

Why Is an Ear Tip Required?

Ear tipping is the universally recognized visual indicator that a free-roaming community cat has already been sterilized. While the cat is under anesthesia, a small portion of the tip of the ear is surgically removed.

This allows animal control officers, shelters, veterinarians, and community caregivers to recognize a sterilized cat from a distance—helping prevent the cat from being unnecessarily trapped and anesthetized again.

Pain Management for Community Cats

Being feral doesn't mean receiving less medical care.

Every feral and community cat receives an injectable NSAID for postoperative pain control. Female cats also receive a local anesthetic block that numbs the surgical incision for up to 8 hours after surgery.

These medications are administered while the cat is in our care, so caregivers don't have to attempt to give oral pain medications to a feral cat after release.

After Surgery & Release

Most community cats can be released the morning after surgery, once they are alert and appropriately recovered.

However, confinement can be extremely stressful for some feral cats. If a cat is particularly distressed by remaining in the trap, release on the evening of surgery may be appropriate once the cat has adequately recovered from anesthesia. Our team can provide guidance based on the individual cat's recovery.

Helping Our Community, One Cat at a Time

Trap-Neuter-Return is an important tool for humanely managing community cat populations. Sterilization prevents future litters, while vaccination provides an additional public and animal health benefit.

Whether you're caring for one neighborhood cat or managing an established colony, we're happy to be a resource for your TNR efforts.

Successfully trapped a community cat? Bring them to us before 10:00 AM on a surgery day, and we'll work them in.

A tabby cat with brown and black fur sitting on a brick pathway in a garden, surrounded by green plants and leaves with a stone wall and wooden fence in the background.
A cat inside a wire cage under a white cloth on a stone patio, next to a stack of firewood and gardening tools, with an outdoor landscape in the background.