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Habitat for Cats Clinic Rules: “CLINIC CAT RULES”

Part I: What Fits Our Program

CATS THAT FIT OUR PROGRAM INCLUDE:

  1. Feral, unsocialized cats living on city streets, near dumpsters, behind restaurants, on campuses, behind businesses, in trailer parks, etc.
  2. Stray cats living outside, socialized or not socialized.
  3. Barn cats, socialized or not socialized. 

CATS THAT DO NOT FIT OUR PROGRAM INCLUDE:

  1. Cats living inside peoples homes.
  2. Stray cats that are able to be handled that someone is going to adopt out, or keep for themselves.

Cats that do NOT fit our program should be sterilized at a veterinarian’s office, or if financial assistance is required at LISN (Low Income Spay/Neuter), a service provided by Rochester Animal Services. For the LISN program, call 585-428-SPAY, or visit Rochester Animal Services. LISN serves only city residents.

Part II: Spay/Neuter Clinic Admission Rules

Habitat for Cats spay/neuter clinic runs on Wednesdays and is for feral and homeless cats ONLY! The clinic is currently located in Penfield, NY. If you need assistance for a pet cat or a stray cat that you have taken in and given a home, please contact either the LISN program listed above, Lollypop Farm, your local animal agency, or veterinarian for help. For trapping information and to book appointments call 585-234-2894.

All cats admitted to our clinic must have a scheduled appointment. The following rules MUST be followed to admit cats into our clinic, to ensure human safety for our clinic staff, and humane handling of the cats:

  1. All cats must arrive in a humane trap or hard-sided carrier (no soft bag type carriers). If using a carrier, medium or large carriers are best for safest recovery. DO NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to transfer a cat from a trap to a carrier. The safest way for feral cats to be transported to the clinic is in a humane trap.
  2. ONE CAT PER CONTAINER ONLY. Two or more cats in one trap or carrier makes transfer of cats very difficult for clinic staff, can lead to escape of cats, and serious injury to staff. (If two cats go into a trap, you may still bring them, but please do not purposely put two cats in one container.)
  3. No towels or litter boxes in the trap/carrier. You can line container with newspaper or a rubber mat, but towels and litter boxes complicate cat transfer.
  4. Payment of $50 per cat in CASH is required at the time the cats are dropped off. Please be prepared to pay this amount when you drop the cats off, NOT when they are picked up. (Each cat costs us much more than the payment. Therefore additional donations will help keep our clinic running.)
  5. If you have internet access you will be directed to read these rules before coming to the clinic.

IF THE ABOVE RULES ARE NOT FOLLOWED, YOUR CAT(S) WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO OUR CLINIC.

ALL cats run through our clinic will receive the following procedures:

  • Spay / Neuter (dissolvable sutures)   
  • Distemper & rabies vaccinations    
  • A pain relief injection
  • Revolution application (treats fleas, ear mites, and some internal parasites)
  • Left ear tipping - Left ear tipping is a universal symbol among feral cats to indicate that particular cat has been spayed/neutered. A small section is cropped off the left ear in a straight line using a surgical electrocautery device.  At pick-up, you may notice that some cat’s left ear appears bloody. This is because the ear has a very extensive supply of small blood vessels. Although it may look “unsightly”, they will clot and heal up well. ALL cats run through our clinic will be ear tipped, with NO EXCEPTIONS.

Cats may be dropped off between 8:00 and 9:30AM. If you arrive prior to that time, unless you have made special arrangements with someone beforehand, you need to wait until a volunteer arrives to check you in. Cats must be picked up the same day at 2:00pm unless you are given different instructions when you drop them off in the morning.

Part III: Clinic Discharge Instructions

Cats DO NOT STAY OVERNIGHT AT OUR CLINIC. They must be picked up the same day. Cats should be released from their traps or carriers two hours after pick-up, unless we instruct you otherwise. Cats should NOT be kept confined longer than that unless you see that they are very unsteady on their feet. Our clinic uses only isoflorane gas anesthesia which does not remain in the cats system for very long after the procedure. Therefore, the cats should look normal for release by three hours after pick-up. Keeping a feral/stray cat confined overnight after surgery is likely more stressful than their release to familiar surroundings. Release instructions are printed on the back of the paperwork received back with the cat.

Exact address and directions to the clinic will be given to you at the time you are scheduled for an appointment.

Part IV: Trapping/Transporting Instructions

A feeding pattern/station familiar to the cats will assist in trapping.

  1. Remove cover from trap, unlatch back door, lift open, line with newspaper or rubber mat (not towels).
  2. Place tuna, sardines, or other fishey food in a small, flat dish and position it at the back of the trap so that it does not interfere with the trip plate.
  3. ATTACH THE BACK DOOR AND MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THE SECURITY LATCH IS PROPERLY LATCHED. Cats CAN and WILL lift a trap door to escape if not latched.
  4. Place trap on a flat, sturdy surface. Cats won't go into a wobbly trap.
  5. Set trap and monitor from out of sight for cat to go in.
  6. Once trapped, approach slowly, cover trap with cover or sheet. Some cats will be frantic, but just cover them and let them calm down. Some may bleed at nose or paws from activity to escape. Again, just cover them and proceed. Do NOT open trap or try to touch them.
  7. Cats should be transported in trap or large carrier under climate-controlled conditions, with sufficient air circulation and protection from excessive heat, cold and exposure to the elements. Transporting cats in the back of open pickup trucks or in trunks of cars is dangerous and inhumane. If this is your only option for transporting cats, you will need to make other arrangements.
  8. If cats are trapped the night before clinic, keep the trapped cat covered but with one end cover-free for air in a sheltered place such as a basement or garage. Do not keep up on a table, etc, because they may tip the trap over, fall off the table, and become injured. Keep it on the floor, on a blanket. Be aware of too hot a place, or too cold, depending on the season.

TRAPPING DO'S AND DON'TS:

  1. Never leave a trap unattended.
  2. NEVER, EVER leave a trapped cat out in the elements. They CAN suffer and die from heat OR cold.
  3. Don't ever open the trap. Not for any reason. Feral cats are FAST, and escape extremely quickly.
  4. If trapping a mom, do not leave kittens behind, as they may be prey for wildlife.

Donations may be sent to: Habitat for Cats, P.O. Box 25637, Rochester, NY 14625 | www.HabitatForCats.com