Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate & Return Program
What’s new for street cats in Hamilton and the HBSPCA?
Working with colony caregivers, other volunteers and street cat champions, the HBSPCA will help coordinate access to spay/neuter services for street cats and resources to support colony caregivers in Hamilton. The HBSPCA will continue to provide access to affordable spay/neuter services for colony cats at participating veterinary clinics or on site at the shelter.
Other changes afoot include:
- Working with registered colony caregivers who are committed to supporting colony cats
- Ensuring an approach to spay/neutering street cats colony by colony so that a real difference can be made for the health of street cats and managing population
- Tracking registered colonies to measure change over time and how altering street cats is making a difference.
TNVR-What you need to know
There are many colony cats or street cats in our community. These community street cats or stray cats live outside, most often with the assistance of neighbourhood caregivers. The caregivers ensure fresh water, food and reasonable outdoor shelter are available to the cats.
For information about TNVR, please download What is TNVR.
What cats are eligible for TNVR?
- Cats which are un-owned or stray and living outside
- Cats in a colony of 3 cats or more
- Cats must have a caregiver committed to caregiver guidelines
What does it mean to be a colony caregiver?
Colony caregivers provide regular care to un-owned or stray cats living outside.
Regular care requirements include:
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- Adequate shelter is available for the cats
- Food and fresh water are provided to the cats on a daily schedule and the feeding area is kept clean
- Food dishes are removed within 30 minutes of feeding to ensure wildlife (i.e. skunks) are not encouraged to enter the location, putting the animals at risk
- Cats are protected from harm. No cat is removed from the colony or given to someone who may cause harm, injury, or death to the cat
- An alternate caregiver is appointed in the caregiver’s absence
- Caregivers consent to twice yearly/periodic site checks by HBSPCA staff to ensure all guidelines are being met
For more information about TNVR services, please download Trapping Colony Cats-what caregivers and volunteers need to know
So you’re ready to be a Colony Caregiver. Here’s what’s next:
- Complete and send in a caregiver application by clicking the button below
- Applications will be reviewed by the HBSPCA
- Successful applicants will then be contacted for a brief consultation and site check
- Once the application process is completed and the applicant is successful surgery dates will be given
Every TNR surgery includes:
Spay/Neuter, fluids during surgery, Rabies vaccine, Revolution, FVRCP vaccine, Left Ear tipped and a Microchip (registered to the colony caregiver)
The full cost of a TNR surgery is $110.00.
As a registered colony caregiver you pay just $25.00 per cat.
With thanks to very generous donors the HBSPCA covers the additional $85.00.
Please Note:
This is a high in demand program. The HBSPCA has many active colonies currently being supported by our TNVR Program. New applicants will be reviewed and approved as we continue to support our active caregiver needs. We appreciate your patience with this process.
If you have less than 3 cats, we invite you to consider theLow Cost Spay/Neuter Program (CAP) and whether it meets your needs.
Already a registered caregiver? Please enjoy the self-serve resources below
PROUD MEMBER OF THE HAMILTON COMMUNITY CAT NETWORK
The Hamilton Community Cat Network (HCCN) is a collaborative of stakeholders committed to healthy, safe and wanted cats, working to improve the lives of our community cats for a healthier Hamilton.
