Caregiver Responsibilities

PLEASE AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING

ON-GOING MONITORING/TNR

All the cats in the colony, even those that visit sporadically, must be sterilized, ear-tipped for identification, vaccinated, and returned to their familiar habitat. Make certain any new cats observed in your colony are promptly sterilized.
When cats are not sterilized they will display offensive mating behaviors which can quickly become a nuisance. They include: spraying, yowling, fighting, running in streets, unwanted litters of kittens, and adult cats roaming the neighborhood. Your neighborhoods CAN AND WILL COMPLAIN TO THE CITY IF FEED AND DO NOT FIX. FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CATS YOU ARE CARING FOR, TNR ASAP. CATS CAN GET PREGNANT AT 4 MONTHS OLD BY THEIR SIBLINGS OR PARENTS.

FOOD AND WATER

Cats must be provided with adequate food and water on a daily basis year round.

Why? When cats do not have adequate food and water, they will seek it in areas where they are not welcome in an effort to avoid starving, for example, in your neighbor’s trash or a dumpster.

FOOD MUST BE PICKED UP WHEN CATS ARE DONE EATING OR RODENTS AND WILDLIFE WILL BE ATTRACTED  

WHAT TO DO:

• Cats should be fed in a designated, inconspicuous area on your property, away from people or high traffic areas where they may create a nuisance or be injured.
• 
  Feeding areas should be kept clean always. Cats should be fed on a consistent feeding schedule (once in AM, once in PM, same times every day) Uneaten food need to be picked up within 30 mins. Discarded food will attract rodents, bugs, or wildlife. (Rodents may carry poison, ticks/fleas, etc) Food that has gotten wet or spoiled should also be discarded as to not cause illness.
• 
  Create a small, partially enclosed feeding site to make food/water bowls and the cats less visible and protected, and prevent food from getting wet and spoiled during rain or snow. Elevating the bowls off the ground is suggested. 
• To avoid attracting wildlife, feed cats in the morning or daylight hours ONLY. Remove leftover food. Do NOT leave food out overnight. 
• 
  If the area where the cats are fed is objectionable for one of your neighbors/property owners, gradually move the station to a less objectionable area a few yards away. This can be done in increments and completely in 1-2 weeks. The cats will follow the food.
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  If you are leaving for a time, or cannot feed the cats, arrange to have someone else provide them with food and water on approximately the same schedule.