A tabby cat rests its head against the arm of a dark-skinned woman sitting outside.

Community
Cats and Kittens

Be a kitten hero

Cats are neighbors too.

We prioritize public safety and humane care for cats while providing services for cats who live in the community through our Community Cat Program.

Graphic of a cat that reads, 'You don't need to automatically take a friendly, healthy cat to the shelter.'

Community cats, sometimes called feral, stray, or outdoor cats, can be friendly or unsocial, but they aren’t lost: they are free-roaming cats who live—at least part of the time—outside. They share our neighborhoods and find shelter in yards, alleys, parking lots, and porches. Community cats may have one or more compassionate caregivers who help provide food and shelter, and, as a result, they often have more than one name.

Following the recommendations of leading national organizations such as the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP), National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA), ASPCA, American Association of Feline Practitioners, and Million Cat Challenge, we do not admit healthy free-roaming cats. Many cats found out and about are simply pet cats allowed outdoors, which is legal in our community, and bringing them to the shelter separates cats from the people who already care for them. Even where cats have strayed from home, a cat’s best chance of being reunited with their family is to remain where they’re at—in the typical shelter, fewer than 1 in 20 cats make it back home. By focusing on admitting only sick and injured cats who are not thriving in their outdoor homes, we are able to provide the care they need and reduce euthanasia of animals at the shelter.  

Community cat programs stabilize cat numbers and improve their health.

Because of the powerful “vacuum effect,” removing a cat from its environment without also removing the food source has been linked to an increase in cat populations—by as much as 200% according to a 2014 study. Community cat programs involving spay/neuter and returning the cat to its outdoor home, on the other hand, end the breeding cycle and stabilize free-roaming cat populations, while also eliminating or reducing nuisance behaviors such as roaming, fighting/yowling, and spraying/marking by male cats. Left in their outdoor homes, cats also provide beneficial natural rodent control.

The Human Animal Support Services (HASS) x HeARTs Speak Cats and Kittens Communications Kit includes customizable graphics like the one above, plus talking points, a training guide on how to talk to the community about free-roaming cats, and other resources to help you spread the word about programs that support cats, kittens, and cat caretakers.

Have you spotted cats in your neighborhood?

Facebook posts celebrating sightings of beloved community cats

How do I know if a cat visiting my yard is lost or a community cat?

It’s easy to assume that a friendly free-roaming cat is lost or abandoned, when in fact the cat knows exactly where it is! A cat who looks healthy with good body condition and coat is very rarely lost. If the cat looks healthy, please put it back where you found it/leave it where it is. Cats are 10–50 times more likely to be reunited with their owners if they stay in the neighborhood where they are found (instead of being removed from the area and taken to an animal shelter).

You might also ask around your neighborhood to see if anyone recognizes the cat, or use this paper collar template to help determine if the cat is owned. Refer to this I Found a Cat flowchart for more guidance.

How can I discourage community cats from entering my yard?

Good question! Removing one cat simply means that more will eventually come if we can’t get to the root cause of the situation. If you do not want cats in your yard, make sure there is not a source of food or shelter for the cat. Spay and neuter eliminates many nuisance issues including spraying, fighting, yowling and unwanted kittens. Talk to neighbors to see if anyone is feeding and work with them to get cats trapped and spayed/neutered. If a neighbor is feeding excessively and the cats are not spayed/neutered or there is a health code issue, please contact us at xxx-xxx-xxxx. 

For more tips on reducing nuisance issues and humanely deterring cats from your yard, visit How to Live with Cats in Your Neighborhood.

Find additional FAQs and other resources in the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) x HeARTs Speak Cats and Kittens Communications Kit.

Fun fact: The concept of an “indoor-only cat” is uniquely American and relatively new. Cats didn’t live inside homes until 1947 when kitty litter was invented! Learn more about your feline neighbors—and share this video from Best Friends Animal Society with your human neighbors.

How can I help kittens?

Customize this HeARTs Speak/Dallas Animal Services kitten flowchart template with Canva and replace the link with your version. Need help creating a customized flowchart for your shelter? Email us!

Thanks for looking out for the most vulnerable animals in our community! In most cases, kittens don’t actually need to be rescued—a kitten’s best chance of survival is with her mother. If you’ve found a kitten or kittens, this flowchart will help you make decisions that increase kittens’ chances of thriving. To determine the age of a kitten, visit Alley Cat Allies kitten progression page.

Next, assess the kittens to confirm mom is providing care:

Two plump kittens with full bellies and light pink coloring sleep on a towel.

These kittens are clean, quiet, and dry. They are plump and have full bellies with light pink coloring, showing that they are warm.

Light-skinned person holds a crying kitten. Two skinny kittens eat food. Damp kitten with eyes closed on blanket.

Kittens who need help may be noisy, dirty, thin, wet, and cold. You may see nasal discharge and crusted-shut eyes. For more help identifying sick kittens, download this poster from Operation Catnip.

(Images via Operation Catnip)

  • Mom is doing her job and likely just out getting dinner. It’s safe to leave her kittens in their nest.

    Shelters, depending on your capacity, you can also provide links and information for one of the following options:

    1. When kittens are 6–8 weeks old, they can be spayed/neutered through our Community Cat Program.

    2. When kittens are 6–8 weeks old, work with a local spay/neuter group to fix Mom, Dad, and kittens.

    3. If kittens are 6–8 weeks old, contact us at xxx-xxx-xxxx to make a plan.

  • Mom might not be around. Time to help her out and intervene. Before bringing kittens inside, review this Kitten Lady page.

    You’re a new foster parent! Don’t worry—we’re here to help. Visit https://www.kittenlady.org/kitten-care and Maddie's Fund for resources and guidance on raising kittens.

    If kittens appear sick or injured and you’re unable to get them care through a local veterinary clinic, call us at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Review this infographic for signs of a sick or injured kitten. [Customize this HeARTs Speak/Dallas Animal Services infographic with Canva and replace this link with your version.]

    Can’t care for the kittens? Be a hero and keep kittens safe in a home by finding someone who can foster until they are old enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted.

Watch this video for more on what to do if you find kittens.

Medium-skinned man with blue glasses holds a tiny ginger kitten in his lap.

😻 Join our kitten foster team.

Want to help kittens who are waiting for homes? We’re always looking for volunteers who can foster kittens until they are adopted. Fill out an interest form, and we’ll contact you when we need a kitten-cuddle specialist!

Learn more