What is a feral cat?? Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats and are the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, leading to uncontrolled breeding. Feral cat 'colonies' can be found in urban, rural and even areas quite remote from human dwellings. They are elusive and do not trust humans. Around 10 years ago, a program was started called TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return). This program in essense traps the feral cats, neuters or spays them, adopts out the tame ones and kittens and returns the ones deemed too feral back to their colony. These colonies are then watched by a caretaker who notes any changes to the colony (any additions, any injuries etc.). Under the caretakers care, these cats will continue to live out their lives without being able to add to the feral cat numbers. TNR can only work if there are volunteers, vets and vet techs who are willing to donate their time to help fix these cats. There is definately a need and if you would like to help, please contact one of the groups listed below.

Here are the spay/neuter numbers for the Centreville Clinic sponsored by Alley Cat Allies: June-03: 61 July-03: 85 Aug-03: 42 Sept-03: 48 Oct-03: 87 Nov-03: 113 Dec-03: 88 Jan-04: 66 Feb-04: 69 Mar-04: 82 April-04: 86 May-04: 51 June-04: 112 July-04: 109 Aug-04: 43 Sept-04: 77 Oct-04: 126 Nov-04: 93 Dec-04: 100 Jan-05: 88 Feb-05: 87 Mar-05: 122 April-05: 75 May-05: 61 June-05: 62 July-05: 113 Aug-05: 53 Sept-05: 51 Oct-05: 75 Nov-05: 68 Dec-05-no clinic Jan-6: 87 Feb-06: 67 Mar-06: 51 April-06: 52 May-06: 50 June-06: 32 July-6: 31 Aug-06: 65 Sept-06: 54 Oct-06: 73 Nov-06: 54 Dec-06: 74 Jan-07: 101 Feb-07: 30 Mar-07: 61 Apr-07: 81 May-07: 51 June-07: 79 July-07: 53

Would you like to volunteer at the clinic in Centreville?? Here is information on the clinic

Alley Cat Allies Clinic-Centreville

August 19th
September 16th
October 21st

Concerned About Outdoor Cats? Do you see outdoor cats where you live or work and wonder how you can help them? Alley Cat Allies offers this training session for people interested in learning more about humane trapping and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs in the area. If you are interested in learning how YOU can help your neighborhood cats, please join us! If you are interested in learning about trapping, this seminar will teach you the basics. If you are ALREADY trapping, we encourage you to attend to meet other trappers in the area and to hear about how you can more effectively trap, promote and implement TNR in the area.
Alley Cat Allies is a national non-profit organization based in Bethesda, MD that is dedicated to the humane and non-lethal control of feral and stray cat populations.
To register for the event, please email alleycat@alleycat.org.
Although there is no fee to attend this seminar, ACA relies on contributions to continue their important work of saving and providing education about feral cat populations. Donations can be made at the event or on-line at ACA's local website www.mcatdc.org.
Seminars are held at: 822 N. Kenmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201,from 7-8 pm.

Alley Cat Allies needs help identifying cats-in-need. We know that there are too many cats and not enough resources. You can help by being on the lookout for colonies in need of TNR. Live in a gated community or other multi-family environment? Talk to the resident manager about whether there are complaints about outdoor cats. Always refer people with outdoor cat concerns to Alley Cat Allies. 240-482-1980 x 330 or alleycat@alleycat.org You all can help us help the cats, by identifying where the areas of need are.

Alley Cat Allies-Washington DC
Metro Ferals-Arlington
Holly Help Memorial Spay Fund-Bristol
The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project-Charlottesville
Cat Rescue, Inc.-Chesapeake
DC Cat-DC
Cats Rule-Fairfax
Whiskers n Wags Rescue Team -Fredericksburg
Meower Power Feral Cat Coalition-Hampton
The Cat's Cradle-Harrisonburg
Cats Unlimited-Lexington
FERAL Feline Rescue Alliance, Inc. -Lexington (PetFinder Link)
Town Cats Inc.-Springfield (PetFinder Link)
Shadow Cat Advocates-Stafford
Calico Cat Care Company-Warrenton (PetFinder Link)
If you cannot find a resource near you, you can contact the Best Friends Network: Best Friends Network
Contact the Best Friends Network: at (435) 644-2001 ext 123, or e-mail them at bfnetwork@bestfriends.org
(please specify where you live)
To Join the Network:
The Best Friends Network

Washington Animal Rescue League-FREE spay/neuter regardless of income, must live within the capital beltway
Low Cost Certificates
Spay USA-apply for low cost certificate
Listing of Low Cost Clinics in Virginia
Listing of Low Cost Clinics in Maryland
Listing of Low Cost Clinics in DC
Operation Catnip-Richmond(Conducts a no-cost spay/neuter clinic on the third Sunday of each month for feral and stray cats)
Petfix-Richmond(Conducts a no-cost spay/neuter clinic on the first Wednesday of each month for feral and stray cats and dogs at the Richmond SPCA)
Richmond SPCA-Richmond(Conducts a no-cost spay/neuter clinic the first two Wednesdays a month for feral and stray cats and dogs. The third and fourth two Wednesdays they spay/neuter pets at no-cost)

Do you have questions about feral cats or are you a caretaker?? Join the cat site to share information and get answers to your questions
The Cat Site Forums-Caring for Strays and Ferals

Join the Feral Cats Yahoo Group:
Feral Cat Yahoo Group
Join the feral cat yahoo group for DC:
Catnipp

Animal Kind Inc.-How to build an inexpensive shelter for feral cats
Coming in From The Cold-With a few odds and ends and a trip to the hardware store you can help feral cats find a safe place to survive the worst that winter can offer.
Neighborhood Cats-Feral Cat Winter Shelter

How to catch "hard to catch cats"-Suggestions of ways that you can trap that trap savvy cat
Why Feral Eradication Won't Work-Why trapping and euthanizing ferals will not work
Trap/Neuter/Return: The Best Choice for Feral Cat
FIV: Catching a Bad Case of Rumors
Helping people help feral cats
The Forgotten Ferals-Answers questions about predation, sterilization, etc.

Raising Kittens?? Here are a couple of great websites to answer any questions you may have:
Kitten Rescue
Kitten Rescue-different site, same name
Safe Haven For Cats-Go to the Caring for Newborns page

Best Friends Listing of Successful TNR programs
Alley Cat Allies Listing of Successful TNR programs

Developing a Successful Community Program for Feral Cats

Feral cats: how can you get the word out and people on board?

Feral cats: What do you say when they just want the cats gone?

Feral cats: Working with and caring for feral cats

Ferals, ferals everywhere, and not sure what to do?