Community Cats Program

Our Community Cats Program aims to keep community cats in Washoe County and Carson City safe and healthy while also assisting the current overpopulation crisis. Community cats are free-roaming felines who live outdoors in every community. You'll find them in almost every corner of the globe where people reside, enjoying the great outdoors wild and free!

Learn More

Trap-Neuter-Release Program

Join us in making a difference for community cats! Our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program helps reduce the population of community cats, while keeping them healthy. Services for our TNR program include trap rental, trapping guidance, vaccinations, pet food support, and low-cost spay/neuter services for community members and colony caretakers.

TNR Guidelines

What Are Community Cats?

Community cats are free-roaming felines who live outdoors in every community. You'll find them in almost every corner of the globe where people reside. These cats are part of the same domestic cat species as your indoor kitties, known scientifically as Felis Catus.

Yet, there’s a twist! Unlike the cuddly cats curled up on your couch, community cats—sometimes called feral or outdoor cats—aren’t used to human interaction, and they prefer the great outdoors. They thrive living their best lives in their cozy colonies with their fellow feline friends. Despite not being house cats, these adventurous furballs enjoy happy and healthy lives in the wild.

Services & Resources for Community Cats

We work with rural organizations, volunteers, and community cat caretakers to provide these important services for community cats in Washoe County and Carson City. Let's work together to support our feline friends! Here is a list of important information regarding community cats:

Get Involved

Contact Info: Our Community Cats Program team can be reached at 775-856-2000 ext. 337, or via email at communitycats@nevadahumanesociety.org

Veterinary Services for TNR: Appointments for spay/neuter and vaccines for TNR community cats are available on Tuesdays in Carson City (schedule at 775-887-2171) and on Wednesdays in Reno (schedule at 775-856-2000 ext. 312). Please do NOT trap a community cat without a spay/neuter appointment already scheduled.

Pet Pantry for Colony Caretakers: If you are currently caring for a community cat colony and need assistance with cat food, please contact us at 775-856-2000 ext. 337. You can also download our Colony Caretaker Application HERE, or apply at our Reno location during regular business hours.

Ear-Tipped Community Cats: Please do NOT trap a healthy, ear tipped- cat. An ear-tipped cat indicates it has already been through a TNR program.

Working Cats Program

Got mice? We have a solution! Through our Working Cats Program, you can adopt an outdoor cat who is already accustomed to living in the great outdoors. Our Working Cats are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and their adoption fee is waived. The only thing they need is food, water, shelter, and a place to do what they do best: catch mice and live their best life freely outdoors!

Working Cat Adoption Application

Ear-Tipped Cats: Leave Them Where It's At

Ear-tipping is the universal sign that a cat has been through the TNR process. It helps caregivers and animal control officers identify that the cat has been sterilized and vaccinated, making it unnecessary to trap and process the cat again.

Learn More

Community Cats FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are community cats?

Despite not being house cats, these adventurous furballs enjoy happy and healthy lives in the wild.

Should I trap a community cat?

Because community cats are unsocialized, they can't live indoors with people. The most humane and kindest solution is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). In a TNR program, cats are humanely trapped, taken to a clinic to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped (the universal sign they've been through TNR), and then returned to their outdoor homes. So, if you see a cat with a tipped ear, don't trap it – it's already been spayed or neutered. TNR improves their lives and offers a humane, effective, and cooperative way for communities to live alongside cats.

I am feeding one or more community cats. Can I get help with food?

As a Colony Caretaker of Community Cats, you can register your colony with NHS and apply for the Colony Caretaker Pet Pantry. Please see our section above for more information about food assistance for Colony Caretakers. This program lets you pick up food for your colony once a month during normal business hours at our Reno or Carson City Campuses. Thanks to our generous donors, this program helps supplement your colony’s monthly food supply. Just bring your ID when you come to pick up the food each month.

Why do I need to register my colony?

Registering your colony address allows us to monitor the cats within a zip code boundary. We document their health, whether they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and have already gone through the TNR program. We partner with the caretaker to have their colony cats S/N. The result is that the cats are healthier, better behaved, and the number of kittens being born decreases.

How do I transport a community cat once trapped?

Community cats need to be in a humane trap covered with a sheet or towel (sorry, no cat carriers, boxes, or bins). When you drop them off, bring an empty, clean, medium-sized plastic carrier with a towel inside for their recovery after surgery. If you need a humane trap, you can rent one from the Client Services Desk at either Campus desk during normal business hours. Just remember, the trap rental program is only for transporting feral cats to appointments—not for catching cats to surrender to Washoe County Regional Animal Services or similar agencies.

I found a litter of kittens without a mother cat. What should I do?

When you find kittens outdoors, it’s tempting to bring them indoors or to a shelter. However, it is important to know that this is almost never in a kitten’s best interest. The best thing to do if you find a kitten or litter of kittens is to leave them be. Even if you think they are alone, it is more than likely their mother is nearby. Unless the kitten(s) is sick, it is best to leave them where they are.

Are there other resources available in Northern Nevada?