Community/Feral Cats
Unfortunately, Toronto Cat Rescue can NOT help with trapping feral cats and/or provide foster homes for community cats, as we do not have enough volunteer resources.
What is a Feral Cat?
Feral cats may have once been domestic and turned wild to survive outdoors, or cats that were actually born wild. They are definitely not your typical friendly kitty cat! However, they do multiply at an alarming rate (3 litters per year!) and can lead miserable lives that end with slow starvation, sickness, or freezing to death. Toronto has an extensive network of colony caretakers that manage these small communities of feral cats by ensuring all are spayed and neutered and providing shelter, food and water. Without the dedication of these individuals, life for these cats would be horrific.
Trap-Neuter-Return (Manage) is a proven effective program that tackles overpopulation at its core. Feral cats cannot be socialized as adults and become domestic indoor cats. Handling them is equivalent to dealing with a wild animal. We can’t stress enough how many people make the mistake of underestimating what a feral cat can do. Despite their nature, these cats deserve to live their lives and to euthanize them is not only inhumane, but it is also an ineffective way of ending the long-term problem. Spaying/neutering and returning these cats to their stomping grounds allows them to enjoy their lives in peace while ensuring no more kittens are born into this hard existence.
TNR Courses & Free Spay/Neuter Services
Community Cats Toronto hosts monthly TNR courses for Toronto and southern Ontario residents on how to humanely trap, spay-neuter, and return feral cats to their colonies and control their population size. Toronto caretakers who attend these courses will be eligible to access the Toronto Animal Services (TAS), Toronto Street Cats (TSC) & Toronto Humane Society (THS) free spay/neuter clinics for ferals. If you live outside of Toronto, services at Toronto Street Cats Spay Neuter Clinic and Toronto Humane Society are still available.
Feral Cat Post-Surgical Recovery
Feral cats need to be kept in a warm, safe, dry and quiet space when recovering from surgery for approximately 24-48hrs. People are encouraged to consider using their basements or heated garages to recover their cats. However this may not be an option for everyone.
Qualified caretakers (those who have taken the TNR course) who are not in a position to recover feral cats at home can make a reservation at the Feral Cat Recovery Centre in Scarborough. Non-qualified caretakers and caretakers from outside of Toronto may also use the Recovery Centre for a nominal fee of $10 per cat.
For more information about how you can help the feral cats in your area, fill out this online form. Please note that due to the high volume of inquiries, phone messages will not be returned.
Overwintering Shelters
Help keep a cat alive during the winter! Feral cat winter shelters are available through the following organizations:
Toronto Street Cats has shelters available for a nominal donation of $15. Pickup is at the Toronto Humane Society. Visit their website for more information. The Feral Cat Recovery Centre also has shelters available for a nominal donation of $15. Pickup is at the Feral Cat Recovery Centre (Progress/McCowan). More information can be found here.
Humane Trap Rental & Purchase
Toronto Humane Society
The THS will loan traps, for a deposit (that is fully refundable), to individuals who have completed the TNR workshop. Full details on how to borrow a trap from them can be found on their website.
Feral Cat Recovery Centre
Individuals who have completed the TNR workshop are eligible to rent a trap at no cost through the Recovery Centre (located on Progress Road, in Scarborough). Trap rental is available to non-qualified caretakers for $3/day.
