Feral Cat Spay/Neuter/Vaccinate Program

PLEASE NOTE: We are currently booking feral cat appointments in February. Download our community resource guide for a list of alternate clinics if you have an immediate need.

LOW-COST SERVICES FOR FERAL CATS

The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter/Vaccinate Program provides affordable spay/neuter services and vaccinations for feral cat caretakers, in support of TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return). Services are performed at Lollypop Farm by appointment only. Our team of veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and assistants provide the highest level of care in our state-of-the-art Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic on the main campus in Fairport.

General Information

Services are provided for feral (un-owned non-domesticated cats) only.
Cats must be 2 months of age or older.
Services are provided on Fridays by appointment only at Lollypop Farm’s Klingenstein Veterinary Clinic in Fairport.
Cats must arrive in a humane trap (also known as Havahart traps).
Same day service: Cats are dropped off at 8:00 a.m. and pick up at 3:00 p.m.

Qualifications

Individuals must agree to be a feral cat caretaker. Responsibilities include:

Providing adequate food, water, and shelter.
Seeking medical attention to the best of your ability.
Monitoring the feral cat colony or individuals and providing TNVR services for new additions.

Cat must:

Be feral (un-owned non-domesticated cats) only.
Be 2 months of age or older.
Arrive in a humane trap (also known as Havahart traps).

What Is Included?

All feral cats receive:

Spay or neuter surgery with anesthesia and pain medicine
Rabies and distemper vaccinations
Ear tip (Required. This is the universal sign that a cat has been sterilized.)
Optional: flea treatment and deworming medication, and/or FeLV/FIV testing

Cost Of Services

Surgery & Vaccination Package Cost	Flea & Deworming Treatment	FeLV/FIV Test
$40	$20	$15
$40	Optional Package Cost: $30

Schedule a Feral Cat Appointment

To schedule an appointment, contact us at (585) 223-1330 x190.

NOTE: All cats MUST arrive in a humane trap on the day of their surgery. If you do not have a humane trap, Lollypop Farm does have a limited supply available for rent through our Admissions Department, or they can often be purchased at your local lawn and garden center or online.

Trap rental at Lollypop Farm is $10 for a two week rental period. You will be charged the full price of a trap ($80 dollars) if they are not returned at the end of the two week rental period. Please note that Lollypop Farm will not send staff or volunteers to trap cats on your property.

You can help feral cats in the community through our Feral Cat Program.

Schedule A Feral Cat Appointment

For more information, download our Feral Cat Program document. To schedule an appointment, contact us at (585) 223-1330 x190.

PLEASE NOTE: We are currently booking feral cat appointments in February. Download our community resource guide for a list of alternate clinics if you have an immediate need.

Feral Cat Resources

Humane Trap vs a Carrier

Post-Surgical Recovery

Maintaining a Feral Cat Colony

eRubbermaid.com’s “Roughneck Homes” Program

FAQs

Q. What is a feral cat?

A. Feral cats are “wild cats” that are the same species as the domestic cat that people have in their homes. Feral cats are not friendly. They are very afraid of humans and will avoid contact with people. When cornered, they can be aggressive. Feral cat populations usually begin when a non-spayed/neutered domesticated cat is abandoned by its owner. Cats can begin to have litters at 4 months old. When the cats reproduce and have little to no interaction with humans, the offspring are “feral”.

Q. What is a feral cat colony?

A. When several feral cats group together in a specific space they become a colony. Colonies are all over the Greater Rochester area and can be in backyards, behind restaurants, on college campuses, and in neighborhoods. Feral cats gather where there is a food source and some kind of shelter. Feral cats in a colony will continue to breed with one another and the population will continue to grow.

Q. Are feral cats dangerous to humans?

A. Feral cats are usually very afraid of people and will not come close or harm you. You can tell that a cat is feral by that very characteristic. Feral cats will not come up to you seeking attention. If they have no escape route and are cornered, they can be aggressive.

Q. What about stray cats?

A. A stray or “unowned” cat may end up living among a feral colony. A stray cat is one that has had the opportunity to interact with humans regularly but is now no longer owned and cared for.

Q. What is Lollypop Farm doing?

A. Lollypop Farm has a goal that all cats in our community have homes. One step in achieving this goal is working on behalf of feral and unowned cats living in our community. Lollypop Farm is assisting in the control of feral cat populations by endorsing trapping of feral cats and, when possible, the use of a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program as our most viable present options.

Q. What is TNVR?

A. TNVR is a program where feral cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and then returned to their “home.” Research proves that cat populations will reduce and stabilize over time by ending the cycle of reproduction. In our program, the cats are returned when there is a “colony caretaker” who has agreed to provide the cats with food, water, shelter and health care. They are brought to Lollypop Farm, spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies, tested for feline leukemia and ear-tipped (a small piece from the tip of their ear is removed during surgery) to signal that they have been sterilized. The cats are then returned to their colony.

Q. Why is it so important to spay/neuter cats?

A. There are many benefits to spay and neuter. First and foremost, we need to combat the influx of homeless cats into the shelter. Spay/neuter will also decrease mating behavior like yowling, roaming, and spraying!

Q. Do you ever euthanize the cats?

A. Every cat and situation is considered on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, feral cats are very ill and we believe that it is better for them to be humanely euthanized than to continue to suffer.

Q. Why can't Lollypop Farm just take the cats in and put them up for adoption?

A. In some cases, we can tell if a cat has had a significant amount of interaction with humans or if they are young enough to be socialized, the cats may be suitable to be considered for adoption. However, most feral cats have not had the socialization they need to interact with humans safely. They can be dangerous and it is very, very difficult to socialize them to people, not to mention very stressful for the cats. In these cases, the most humane approach is to support feral cats in their current living area.