‘Community cat” is a term that describes any unowned cat that is outdoor and free-roaming. These cats may be routinely fed by one or more community members or they are surviving on their own, and may be social or unsocialized.

As of 2018, WVHS no longer participates in the “catch and remove” method of controlling cat colony populations. TNR is a method of humanely trapping community cats, having them brought to the shelter to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and returned to their outdoor homes. 

A community cat is an unowned, free-roaming cat that lives outdoors. To effectively manage the behaviors of free-roaming cats in our community, such as breeding, spraying, and fighting,

Wenatchee Valley Humane Society takes a two-pronged approach:

1. Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) is a comprehensive effort within specific communities to humanely trap, sterilize, vaccinate, and return these free-roaming cats to the community, significantly reducing the number of kittens born in these areas.

2. The Return to Home (RTH) program is for free-roaming cats brought to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. If they are determined to qualify for a return to their outdoor homes, the cats are then sterilized and returned to the neighborhood in which they were found.

To identify community cats that have been part of these processes so that they are not readmitted, the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society uses the industry-standard practice of ear-tipping.

With effective community cat programs, cats are returned to their original outdoor homes after they’ve been spayed or neutered and vaccinated. This prevents new cats from moving into the area. Altered cats will not continue the cycle because they cannot have kittens resulting in a reduction in population size over time. This is the only humane and effective way to manage populations of community cats.

Return-to-Home (RTH) is the same as TNR, but it has one small difference. The TNR program relies on members of the public to trap community cats and bring them to the clinic. The RTH program has been implemented for community cats brought to the shelter and the WVHS team releases the cats after TNR. When cats are brought in, our team of animal welfare professionals will examine the cat and determine if they are a candidate for release back to their community home.

Community cats populate an area when there’s food and shelter to support them. If the cats are removed, other cats will find the vacant space and move in for the same reason as the original cats- there’s food and shelter. This is called the vacuum affect. The new cats will have more kittens, and repeat the cycle. With TNR/RTH, the original cats are returned to the territory after they’ve been spay/neutered, so that new cats will not move into that area. These cats, who’ve received spay/neuter, will not continue the process because they cannot have kittens.

We focus on Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR) and Return to Home (RTH) for healthy outdoor cats. These approaches reduce litters and nuisance behaviors and keep shelter space available for animals in crisis.

Why not bring every outdoor cat to the shelter?
Shelter kennels are best used for sick/injured animals, unsafe situations, and young kittens. Healthy outdoor cats typically have what they need where they live; sterilizing and returning them prevents more kittens and cuts behaviors like yowling and spraying.

Do cats really do okay outdoors?
Many community cats are in good body condition and supported by neighbors (food/shelter). After TNR, they’re fixed, vaccinated, and ear-tipped, which stabilizes the local population and improves welfare.

Is RTH/TNR a “do nothing” approach?
No—it's targeted care. We assess, scan, sterilize when appropriate, vaccinate, and return cats to the exact found location. That’s how we reduce intake pressure and focus resources on animals that truly need treatment or placement.

When should I bring a cat to the shelter?

• Sick, injured, or unsafe location

• Kittens too young to fend for themselves

• Clear signs of ownership and can’t remain where found
  Not sure? Call us—we’ll help decide the best path.

Ear-tipping is a way of signaling that a community cat has been spayed or neutered. This procedure is done by a licensed veterinarian during the spay/neuter process, and it involves removing a small portion of the cat’s ear. It is a humane and safe procedure that prevents unnecessary trapping of a cat who has already been spayed/neutered. 

If a cat keeps visiting, it’s because there’s a resource nearby—usually food, water, or shelter. Remove the draw, and most cats move on.

Remove the food draw

• Pick up pet food and scraps; secure compost and trash with tight-lidded bins.

• Clean up fallen fruit and excess bird seed; scrape BBQ grates.

Limit water access

• Fence off ponds/pools if possible; fix drips and standing water.

Block shelter spots

• Close off spaces under decks, sheds, and porches with ¼–⅓" galvanized hardware cloth.

• Bury the bottom ~6" and flare outward 12" in an L-shape to deter digging.

• Trim tree branches 5' away from roofs; thin shrubs to create ~18" of open space at ground level.

Make areas less comfy

• Under mulch, lay chicken wire or plastic carpet runner (spikes up) so digging isn’t pleasant (humane, doesn’t harm).

• Use citrus peels/coffee grounds or a citrus garden spray as a mild scent deterrent.

Use motion-activated sprinklers

• A motion sprinkler gives a quick burst of water when a cat enters—effective and safe for wildlife (also works on raccoons, opossums, etc.).

NACA Position Statement on Community Cats

National Feline Research Council

Community Cats Scientific Studies & Data