Feral Cat Awareness Day! - Highlights (2010.10.16)

Feral Cat Awareness Day (FCAD) was held on Saturday, October 16, 2010, and hosted at the Toronto Humane Society, on 11 River Street.

Participants helped build overwintering shelters for homeless cats - and a number of experts were on hand to answer questions about feral cats and the importance of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

In Toronto, it's estimated that there are up to 100,000 homeless cats - and approximatly 400 kittens are born each and every day during the spring and summer period.

The TNR movement in Toronto:

Toronto Animal Services (TAS)

In the spring of 2010, Toronto Animal Services (TAS) announced the opening of a new spay/neuter clinich where feral cats could be brought in (by colony caretakers and authorized trappers) and these cats would be sterilized for free, and this clinic would be open on six selected days each and very month.

Note:

Colonies must be registered at www.feraltoronto.com (and the caretaker must attend one of their workshops) in order to bring in feral cats and kittens in to be spayed/neutered at the Toronto Animal Services.

Toronto Humane Society (THS)

On September 26, 2010, The Toronto Humane Society also opened a spay/neuter clinic where colony caretakers could bring in feral cats. The staff that operates this clinic is comprised of volunteers that include licensed veterinarians. The services of this spay/neuter clinic is open to colony caretakers once a month and this is being reviewed on a continual basis.

Toronto Feral Cat Coalition (TFCC)

This is a newly formed group of local cat rescues, volunteers, and the Toronto Animal Services working together to control the overpopulation of homeless cats and improve their lives using the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) technique.

Members of this coalition include:

The Toronto Humane Society
Toronto Animal Services
Annex Cat Rescue
Toronto Cat Rescue, and,
The Toronto Feral Cat Project (www.feraltoronto.com)

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane and effective way of reducing the overpopulation of homeless cats. TNR involves the trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, ear-tipping, and returning these cats back to their colonies where they are taken care of by a designiated colony caretaker. Ideally, kittens and cats that may be socialzed will be placed for adoption.
Those who cannot be socialized are returned to their colony where they are fed and monitored by a designated caretaker.

TNR is supported by:

The American Animal Hospital Association,
The American Association of Feline Practioners,
The Humane Society of The United States,
The American Veterinary Medical Association,
The Associatione of Shelter Veterinarians, and,
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

TNR is also supported by all of the major animal welfare organizations and local resuce groups in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)..

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Feral
• cat
• kitten
• spay
• neuter
• sterilize

[fluffypolarcat]

Keep up the good work!

[fatcatgnat2]

Unbearable music for a good cause.

[KittycatWrangler]

Thanks for the great work you're doing. Unfortunately, your work will never be done. Sad, really.

[minnieclips]

I am in this video, I am happy I was able to attend and learn about the problem with cats in my city

[AdoptMeCanada]

Excellent video.....I'm a part of this as well lol I've cross posted the video....

Tks for all the hard work in making this, much appreciated.

I'm sure the new program we should see a difference within a 1 yr or so.