Feline Friends - About

What is Feline Friends?

The mission of Feline Friends, a Humane Society of Yuma membership committee, is to humanely reduce the feral cat population within Yuma County by practicing T.N.R.

ALL CATS ALTERED THROUGH OUR FERAL TNR PROGRAM WILL HAVE ITS EAR NOTCHED TO SHOW ANIMAL HAS BEEN ALTERED.  THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS WHEN USING THIS PROGRAM. 

ALL CATS MUST BE IN A HUMANE CAT TRAP. 

        *CARDBOARD BOXES, CAT CARRIERS OR CAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED.

What are feral cats?

Feral cats are the wild offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. Feral cat colonies can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.

What is T.N.R.?

Trap - Neuter - Release, or TNR, is a method of managing feral cat colonies humanely and effectively. Feral cats are trapped in humane cages using food as bait. They are then spayed or neutered and released where they were originally trapped. We are able to continue to track these colonies because a cat that has gone through the TNR process will have the tip of his/her ear "tipped" off. That way if a cat is ever re-caught for TNR, he/she can be re-released and will in-turn save precious resources. These cats will also be vaccinated for many feline diseases including rabies.

Living with feral cats in Yuma

What should I do if a cat starts hanging around my house?

If the cat is tame, you should take steps to find the cat's owner. If unsuccessful, the person should take steps to find a permanent home for the cat. If the cat is feral, unapproachable and wary aer several days of feeding, please contact Feline Friends (see contact information on back of brochure). We will let you know if the colony is currently being managed. If you see a cat with a notch on it's ear, it has already been trapped, neutered and returned.

Why should I support TNR?

When feral cats are trapped, neutered and returned to their territory, they no longer reproduce 

The cessation of sexual activity eliminates the noise associated with mating behavior and dramatically reduces fighting and the noise it causes

Neutered feral cats also roam much less and become less visible and less prone to injury from cars

Foul odors are greatly reduced as well because neutered male cats no longer produce testosterone which, when they are unaltered, mixes with their urine and causes the strong, pungent smell of their spraying

When the colony is then monitored by a caretaker who removes and/or TNRs any newly arrived cats, the population stabilizes and gradually declines over time.

You can help feral cats in Yuma

The mission of Feline Friends, a Humane Society of Yuma membership committee, is to humanely reduce the feral cat population within Yuma County.

Goals

• To educate the public and all local governments about all issues related to Yuma's feral cat population.
• To examine, research and identify what other localities, cities and agencies are doing in order to humanely address the issue of feral cat overpopulation.
• To seek funding in order to train and educate the public and to implement humane TNR (trap neuter release) programs throughout Yuma.
• To explore the procedures needed to create and implement laws that address any crimes related to the dumping of animals in the desert, rural or urban locations.

For more information, call (928) 782-1621 ext. 355.

What to do if you have a feral colony- Click Here

Register Your Feral Colony

*Once you sign up and register your colony with the link above, you will be placed on the waiting list. A Humane Society of Yuma staff member will then contact you, via email, WHEN a surgery spot is available.