Community cats—also known as stray, feral, or outdoor cats—live at least part of their lives outside and often have caregivers in the neighborhood. Most are not lost and do well in their outdoor homes.

In line with national best practices, we no longer admit healthy free-roaming cats during times of limited capacity. Many are owned pets allowed outdoors or well-supported by the community. Removing them can separate cats from the people who care for them and reduces their chances of returning home.

We focus our shelter space on sick, injured, or truly vulnerable cats who need help, so we can provide the best care to those who need it most.

It’s easy to assume that a friendly, free-roaming cat is lost or abandoned when, in fact, the cat knows exactly where it is! A cat that looks healthy has good body condition, and has a coat is very rarely lost. If the cat looks healthy, please put it back where you found it/leave it where it is. Cats are 10–50 times more likely to be reunited with their owners if they stay in the neighborhood where they are found (instead of being removed from the area and taken to an animal shelter).

You might also ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone recognizes the cat or use this paper collar template to help.

Good question! Removing one cat means that more will eventually come if we can’t get to the root cause of the situation. If you do not want cats in your yard, make sure there is no source of food or shelter for the cat. Spaying and neutering eliminate many nuisance issues, including spraying, fighting, yowling, and unwanted kittens. Talk to neighbors to see if anyone is feeding and work with them to get cats trapped and spayed/neutered. If a neighbor feeds excessively and the cats are not spayed/neutered, the problem will significantly increase. We recommend responsible feeding practices that give cats enough food, but not more than they'll consume within about half an hour. Leftover food may draw pests and complaints, so clean up whatever the cats don't eat.

For more tips on reducing nuisance issues and humanely deterring cats from your yard, visit How to Live with Cats in Your Neighborhood.

Community cats—also known as stray, feral, or outdoor cats—spend part or all of their lives outside and often have one or more neighbors who care for them. Most are not lost and are thriving in the areas they know best.

To support the well-being of all cats in our community, we ask that healthy outdoor cats not be brought to the shelter. Leaving them where they are found increases the chance they’ll return to their home or caregiver, and allows us to focus on helping cats who are sick, injured, or truly in need. This approach also supports long-term solutions like expanded spay/neuter efforts for free-roaming cats.

If you find a healthy cat and think it may be lost, here are a few ways you can help:

• Ask around – Indoor-outdoor cats often have a routine. Check with neighbors to see if someone recognizes the cat.

• Check for ID – Look for a collar or tag, or bring the cat to a nearby vet clinic or shelter to check for a microchip.

• Try a paper collar – Write a quick message and your phone number on a paper collar to see if someone reaches out. It’s a simple way to connect with the owner.

Together, we can keep more cats safe, supported, and close to the people who care for them.