Our Mission:
IndyFeral seeks to reduce the stray and feral cat overpopulation through the non-lethal method of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), not trap and kill.
Veterinary Guidelines: Working with Feral Cats
 

cat in surgery at a spay day clinic

"Veterinarians play a critical role in the humane care of feral cats. By performing the medical portion of Trap-Neuter-Return, you help to improve the cats’ lives. Although feral cats are the same species as the cats who regularly come into your practice, feral cats require a special veterinary approach that takes into account their unique needs and the fact that they are unsocialized to humans. For Trap-Neuter-Return to be successful, veterinarians must be educated about, and comfortable with, the specific methods and procedures necessary to provide appropriate care for feral cats."
~ Alley Cat Allies

National Resources

Below are resources which will help veterinary professionals learn more about protocols designed specifically for treating feral cats.

Alley Cat Allies has a comprehensive guide to feral cat veterinary care, which contains complete and detailed protocols for veterinary care of feral cats intended for veterinary care professionals.

Alley Cat Allies' Feral Friends network: Locate a veterinarian or clinic in your area experienced with handling and treating feral cats.

Feral Cat Spay Neuter Project - (A Petsmart Charities national mentoring organization), offers resources for operating a feral cat clinic and specific veterinary protocals for treating feral cats.

Indiana Resources

For veterinarians/techs seeking assistance with clinic training/protocols/education specific to feral cats please visit FaceSpayNeuter.org/training

Related Articles

  • Caring for Feral Cats in the Clinic by Nancy Peterson for Veterinary Technicians Journal, August 2006

    This article by Nancy Peterson, the Cats Program Manager for the Humane Society of the United States, provides a detailed overview of how to properly handle and provide care for feral cats in a clinic environment.

  • Eartipping Instructions Quick Guide.

    Eartipping provides a critical visual indication that a cat has already been spayed/neutered. As these instructions show, it is a simple procedure done while the cat is anesthetized for spay/neuter.

  • Feral Cat management by Dr. Julie Levy

    An overview of the feral cat population, TNR, and feral cat protocols.