1. by Judy Cook

2. Cats make their homes in some unlikely places.

3. They wait and hope for a kind person to offer a little food or clean water to drink.

4. They have their friends and family for company.

5. But if allowed to reproduce, they can quickly overwhelm even the best intentioned of caretakers.

6. Caretakers often call Fix Our Ferals for help when this happens.

7. Fix Our Ferals provides equipment, advice, and referral for free spay-neuter.

8. Caretakers call Fix Our Ferals when a cat is found injured. Our volunteers reach out to find community resources to help.

9. We do all we can to ensure the best possible outcome.

10. Our volunteers sometimes collaborate with other organizations to find permanent indoor homes for kitties that can no longer live on their own.

11. We sometimes find small, sick kittens when trapping a colony.

12. Kittens too small or sick for neuter and return are nursed back to health and placed in adoptive homes by our volunteers, often in collaboration with other community groups.

13. We love happy endings as much as anyone!

14. Despite our best efforts at trapping and neutering…

15. …underage kittens sometimes appear in a colony.

16. Cats need to learn from their colony how to live outdoors; these little ones are missing their lessons.

17. When big enough, they will be neutered and placed for adoption.

18. Though we will always need to help injured, sick, and underage cats— that will not solve the problem  Taming and placing kittens and cats from colonies requires tremendous effort, is extremely time-consuming, and is not always successful.

19. The only permanent solution is Trap Neuter Return  TNR breaks the cycle of endless and frequent reproduction, allowing cats to live healthier and happier lives.

20. What is Trap Neuter Return ? TNR is a process whereby:  Cats 3 months and older are trapped.  The cats are surgically sterilized and vaccinated for rabies.  They are cared for during their recovery.  They are returned to their colony.  The caretaker feeds, waters and monitors the health of the colony, and ensures any new cats undergo TNR.

21. Fix Our Ferals funds are used exclusively to support Trap Neuter Return—Why?  TNR is the only effective, humane, and proactive means of addressing the root cause of cat overpopulation.  Numerous other local groups and organizations provide services to foster cats; we’d rather collaborate than duplicate!

22. How are Fix Our Ferals funds used?  We operate a free spay-neuter clinic for feral cats 6 times per year — each clinic can handle up to 200 cats.  We provide referrals to the public for free spay- neuters with our participating veterinarians.  We buy traps and loan them to the public at no cost.  A regional telephone hotline is maintained to take calls from people who need help.  Our web site provides an instant reference for people who just need a little advice.

23. Scenes from a recent Fix Our Ferals clinic

24. One mom cat waiting for her spay.

25. More than 150 kitties waiting for surgery.

26. FoF Volunteer Coordinator Heather Lee with Nicole. Kitties are check weighed after anesthesia.

27. Tummies are shaved in preparation for surgery.

28. Waiting for their turn at the neuter table or operating room.

29. The Ears and Vaccines team is ready for action.

30. After the spay or neuter is done  Other medical needs are tended to when possible— dental extractions, fight wounds, etc.  The ear is notched—if kitty is trapped again, it is apparent the kitty is neutered and can be released immediately.  Vaccines are administered.  Kitty is treated for fleas and combed for comfort.  After kitty wakes up, she goes home the same day with the caretaker for 2-5 days of recovery.  If follow-up medication is needed, it is dispensed.

31. Finally—the big day arrives The caretaker RETURNS the kitty to her colony and releases her to enjoy a happier, healthier life.

32. Some kitties enjoy the freedom of open space— here’s one at the creek.

33. Many are returned to their neighborhood colony.

34. Feral kitties may be very friendly towards their caretakers.

35. Next time you see a kitty peeking at you, ready to run— look a little closer. That notch on her ear means somebody cares about her. She has her friends and she has her own kind of home—just not one inside a house.

36. Please Support Fix Our Ferals by donating today Cats and caretakers need your help now Visit our web site: www.fixourferals.org Call Our Hotline: 510-433-9446 Fix Our Ferals is a 501(c)3 charitable organization