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Cat fatalities in government-run city shelters:
 If you are feeding outdoor cats, IndyFeral strongly urges you to spay and neuter the stray and feral cats in your neighborhood in an effort to reduce the cat overpopulation crisis in our city. Stray and feral cats are the greatest source of cat overpopulation. They produce 80% of the kittens that flood the shelters every Spring and Summer.
As it is now, Indianapolis Animal Care and Control (IACC) can't save and support the overwhelming number of accidental litters, stray and family cats brought to the shelter doors everyday. Nearly 72% of the cats that enter government-run city shelters are killed due to lack of resources. For feral (unsocialized) cats/kittens brought in traps the kill rate rises to virtually 100% since they are not adoption candidates.
Last year 3500 cats /kittens were killed at IACC due to lack of homes or not enough space at the shelter.
If you are feeding outdoor cats learn how TNR can offer a non-lethal solution to help the cats in your neighborhood.
Understanding the Problem: Introduction to the Stray & Feral Cat Overpopulation Crisis
About Our TNR Program
IndyFeral offers Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) training and education for caretakers of stray and feral cats. These services are provided to ensure the safe trapping, transport, and management of the cats in an effort to stop their uncontrolled population growth, improve the lives of the cats, minimize nuisance behavior and ensure ordinance compliance.
Trap-Neuter-Return(TNR) - In preparation for TNR, caretakers will be instructed how to safely trap and transport the stray and feral cats they have been caring for to our clinic for spay or neuter. The cats will then be examined, vaccinated, eartipped and sterilized by the veterinarian. Caretakers then return the cats to their outdoor home.
Cat Colony Management - Caretakers will be provided colony management guidelines and resources to assist them with the long term care of their colony cats. This includes food, shelter, on-going health monitoring and adoption resources for friendly colony cats. Over time, properly managed cat colonies should diminish in size through natural attrition and/or adoption.
Field Assistance - Trapping and transportation assistance is available as volunteer resources allow. This assistance is reserved for qualified "special needs" caretakers, large scale mass trappings or special projects.
IndyFeral's spay/neuter & vaccination package: $20
Every stray & feral cat treated by IndyFeral receives a standard package of treatment which includes:
- Spay or Neuter by a licensed veterinarian (including antibiotic and pain control medication applied at the time of surgery)
- 3-year rabies vaccination
- 3-in-1 feline vaccination (FVRCP) including "distemper" (cats under 6 months)
- Treatment for fleas, worms, earmites and other parasites
- Wellness check, including ear and eye cleaning
- Treatment for injuries and illnesses as needed
- Post-operative recovery provided at our clinic
- Eartip: a permanent visual identification in the form of a cropped, left eartip
- Free surgeries are available to those who qualify as resources allow
How to Request Assistance
We assist residents of Marion County, but can provide a referral source for TNR if you live outside our service area. Please read-up on TNR here on our web site. To begin TNR, register your colony, or for any questions, call our "Feral Line" at 317-596-2300.
As IndyFeral is the only organization in central Indiana solely dedicated to TNR, the demand for our services is very high. There is a waiting list for spay/neuter surgeries, so please be patient.
In addition to our program, the following partner clinics are able to assist with TNR.
Partner Clinics:
The FACE Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic and the Hamilton County Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic support spay/neuter for stray and feral cats, and are stepping up to help central Indiana colony caretakers by providing a low cost spay/neuter package.
Do you know someone who is feeding stray cats? Give them our informational flyer
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