When Cats Belong in Their Community

A concerned or frustrated community member arrives at the shelter with a lost cat they found hanging around the neighborhood. Traditionally shelters have accepted that cat into their care and, when possible, put it on the path to adoption. That may well be the response the community expects. But what if that’s not actually in the best interest of the cat, lost or not?

On a recent episode of the Humane Network’s Shelter Success Simplified podcast, KSMP director Dr. Kate Hurley explains why returning a cat to home often means returning a cat to its community.

• Cats are 10 to 50 times more likely to be reunited with their families if they are in the area of their original home rather than at a shelter.
  
  
• Many times some quick research reveals the cat is already being loved and cared for by someone in the community. Scan the cat for a microchip. Encourage the finder to talk with neighbors, post about the cat on Nextdoor or look for lost-pet posts on Facebook.
  
  
• Recognize that cats are disproportionately brought to the shelter from underserved communities. Look for opportunities to build community trust and provide pet caregivers with support and resources, such as pet food, vaccinations or spay/neuter.

For more tips on adapting your shelter’s approach to healthy, free-roaming cats, listen to the full conversation below and explore the library of other Shelter Success Simplified episodes at Humane Network.