Community cats are generally not socialized to people, and therefore are most comfortable living outdoors in the only home that they have known.
While the population of community cats in our area is decreasing, there is still a large population of free-roaming cats in our community. To help make their lives a little bit easier this winter, the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society and the Windsor Essex Community Foundation have teamed up to make low cost shelters available to caregivers of community cats.
The simple shelters will provide a community cat with a warm place to spend time during the winter months, and avoid the dangers of alternate locations like car engines. With the support of the WECF, we are able to keep the cost of the shelters down to only $5.
The Humane Society also encourages caregivers to have the community cats they care for spayed or neutered. A spay or neuter at the WECHS Veterinary Clinic is only $50, and for community cats that includes a free ear tip, microchip, and FVRCP vaccine.
No appointment is required for community cats being brought for surgery in a live trap. Once they are spayed or neutered, they are healthier and less likely to engage in nuisance behaviours that make them problems for neighbours. And of course, they will not be contributing to the population of community cats, which over time helps to reduce the free-roaming cat population.
The Humane Society’s spay/neuter clinic was built to increase access to spay/neuter in our community, and is open to anyone. Since opening late in 2011, more than 18,500 dogs, cats, and rabbits have been spayed or neutered.
