Animal Alliance of Canada is a member of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, a coalition of municipal animal control and animal welfare groups, humane organizations, rescue groups and concerned individuals, working collectively to address and improve the lives of homeless and feral cats.
FREE Toronto Feral Cat Brochure
FREE Report on Lessons Learned from TNR in Toronto
2017/2018 Toronto Feral Cat Coalition Annual Report
What is a feral cat?
A feral cat is just like a house cat but it has been born outside and has had little to no human contact. Our Coalition also addresses homeless cats or street cats – these are cats that may have once lived in a home but are now lost or abandoned to live on the streets.
What is TNR (Trap/ Neuter/ Return)?
TNR is the only humane and effective way to reduce the homeless cat population. TNR involves trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, and returning cats to their colony where a caretaker feeds and monitors the colony daily. For these cats, a small part of the left ear is removed (known as “ear tipping”), which is the international symbol for a feral cat who has been spayed / neutered.
TNR is supported by almost all major animal welfare organizations. Toronto animal rescue groups finally have the necessary support enabling us to work together to improve the lives of these lost, abandoned and discarded animals.
Why is TNR so important?
Euthanasia due to homelessness is the largest cause of death in cats. There are an estimated 100,000 homeless cats in Toronto and approximately 400 kittens are born on our streets everyday during the spring and summer.
Cats are very efficient reproducers. Kittens as young as 5 months old can become pregnant. Cats can have multiple litters each year. Females can become pregnant again almost immediately after giving birth.
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are resources available to help Toronto residents have cats spayed or neutered. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the groups in the Coalition if you know of cats who need help.
Our Coalition model can be replicated in your municipality. Animal Alliance and other Coalition member groups have helped rescue groups and concerned citizens in a number of other municipalities across Canada. While we are not able to provide volunteers for TNR, if you’re having trouble with your municipality and how they treat feral cats, we will help in any way we can. Contact us for more information.
Becoming Lost
A common misconception is that domestic cats – like their wild big cat cousins – need to roam freely in the outdoors. In truth, unlike lions or leopards, domestic cats are poorly equipped to navigate the minefield of outdoor risks that exist.
Cats may not always be able to find their way home, or they may be mistaken for stray cats and end up at a pound or animal shelter. Lost and “stray” cats risk being euthanized by animal shelters struggling with limited resources to care for the continuous flood of animals arriving at their doors. Far too often a cat simply doesn’t return home one day, and the owner never finds out what really happened.
How You Can Help
In early December 2012, the Recovery Centre opened in a City of Toronto complex in central Scarborough, close to the Feral Spay Neuter Clinic at Toronto Animal Services East Shelter. Here, volunteers from Toronto Cat Rescue provide a safe and healthy space for feral/stray cats to recover from their spay/neuter surgery, prior to being returned to their colonies. Click here to learn more and submit a volunteer application form!
Helping Feral Cats in other municipalities
Animal Alliance has helped rescue groups and concerned citizens in a number of other municipalities. While we are not able to provide volunteers for TNR, if you’re having trouble with your municipality and how they treat feral cats, we will help in any way we can. Contact us for more information.
Coalitions in other Canadian Communities
Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force
Lakes Animal Friendship Society