

Community cats may have one or more compassionate caregivers who help provide food and shelter, and, as a result, they often have more than one name. They share our neighborhoods and find shelter in yards, alleys, parking lots, and porches.

Ĭommunity cats, sometimes called feral, stray, or outdoor cats, can be friendly or unsocial, but they aren’t lost: they are free-roaming cats who live-at least part of the time-outside. For more information on additional community resources for spaying and neutering, see Contra Costa County Spay/Neuter Resources for Cats (PDF). Kittens must be at least 12 weeks old and at least 3lbs in weight.ĭownload info on the CCAS Community Cat Program Information (PDF). Only 2 cats per person/address per day will be accepted. We are able to take 8 cats total per day from the community. (** Cats in carriers WILL NOT be accepted. Pickup is the same day beginning at 3:30-4:00p.m.Īll cats, friendly or feral/unsocial, brought in for participation in the CCAS Community Cat Program must be in a trap, one cat per trap. Please visit our Spay/Neuter Clinic page before bringing a cat to ensure that our clinic is open on that day.Ĭommunity cat spay/neuter surgeries are performed Tuesday-Friday by appointment.ĭrop off is between 9-9:30am Tuesday-Friday only. If you wish to bring in community cats for spay/neuter surgery, please note the following:
Stray cats free#
We also provide humane traps to help community members trap feral cats and kittens.ĬCAS offers FREE spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations and microchips to local trappers and citizens who trap feral cats or find friendly, healthy free-roaming cats that will later be returned to their community. Thanks for taking the time to make a difference in your community-CCAS is here to help you!ĬCAS’ Community Cat Program empowers residents to help stabilize the free-roaming cat population in their neighborhoods, while also ensuring the public health and safety of the people and animals in their community. Left in their outdoor homes, cats also provide beneficial natural rodent control.Ĭontra Costa County residents who would like to help stabilize the community cat population and help healthy cats/kittens over 12 weeks of age can make an appointment for no-cost community cat medical service, which includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccination, and microchip through the CCAS Community Cat Program. Community Cat Programs involving spay/neuter and returning the cat to its outdoor home, on the other hand, end the breeding cycle and stabilize free-roaming cat populations, while also eliminating or reducing nuisance behaviors such as roaming, fighting/yowling, and spraying/marking by male cats. By focusing on admitting only sick and injured cats, we are able to provide the care they need and reduce euthanasia of animals at the shelter.īecause of the powerful “vacuum effect,” removing a cat from its environment without also removing the food source has been linked to an increase in cat populations by as much as 200%. Even where cats have strayed from home, a cat’s best chance of being reunited with his family is to remain where he is instead of coming in to a shelter. Many cats found out and about are simply pet cats allowed outdoors, which is legal in our community. Following the recommendations of leading national organizations such as the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP), National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA), ASPCA, American Association of Feline Practitioners, and Million Cat Challenge, we do not admit healthy free-roaming cats. Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) prioritizes public safety and humane care for cats while providing services for cats in the community through our Community Cat Program.
