Free & Low-Cost Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Programs - New York City Feral Cat Initiative

New York City Feral Cat Initiative - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

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Free & Low-Cost Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Programs

The ASPCA, Humane Society of New York, and some other local organizations are are strong supporters of our efforts to bring the feral cat population under control. These organizations offer free or low-cost spay/neuter services (and related treatment) for feral cats. Which organization you should work with will depend on the scope of your project and how many cats you can handle at one time.

ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics

The ASPCA operates Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics where colony caretakers can have their feral cats spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, and eartipped for free. Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic appointments are available on regular private TNR/Rescue Days in various locations in all five borroughs.

Feral cats are accepted on an appointment basis only and will not be treated on regular public clinic days.

Schedule an Appointment

Call (877) SPAY-NYC (877-772-9692) (option 6 for TNR) to schedule an appointment for your ferals on the TNR/Rescue Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics. The SPAY-NYC call center is open Monday–Friday from 3:00–8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Saturday.

What are the requirements for using the TNR/Rescue ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic?

1)	Complete a TNR Caretaker Training Workshop in New York City or online.
2)	Provide a secure, warm, and dry indoor recovery space. Cats must be trapped 2 days before the surgery appointment and held in traps at this space. They must also be held there for at least 2–3 days after surgery.
3)	Download, sign, and return the Terms of Use Agreement. Return a signed copy by mail to: MSNC Client Services 1717 South Philo Road, Suite 36 Urbana, IL 61802 or by fax to: (217) 337-9810 or by e-mail to clientservices@aspca.org
4)	There is no minimum number of cats required to participate in a Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic. You must drop off and pick up all of your cats yourself; you may not dole out slots to others. All cats must present as healthy, and all ferals must be in clean, covered traps.

Can the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic come to my colony?

1)	Yes, if you meet all the above requirements, and
2)	You are able to trap 15 or more cats, and
3)	You can arrange parking for the clinic van, which is 40 feet long. Parking can usually be arranged through parking permits obtained at your local police precinct or by reserving at least 5 car-length parking spots on a street. Please also ensure that the street is wide enough to accommodate the clinic for turning and parking purposes. The clinic arrives at 8:00 a.m. and all cats should be on-site and ready by then.

I don't have time to take a workshop. Can the TNR Caretaker Training Workshop requirement be waived?

We require the TNR Caretaker Training Workshop to ensure that the cats are handled in a manner that is safe for them and for you. Unless you have extensive prior experience with trapping, you must take the TNR Caretaker Training Workshop in order to borrow traps and use the mobile clinic or Mass Spay Days.

In the TNR Caretaker Training Workshop, you'll learn how to care for feral colonies in your neighborhood, including the resources available to assist you in your TNR project. It covers all steps in setting up a managed colony, including community relations, food and shelter arrangements, securing a recovery space, safely handling feral cats, and trapping (with an emphasis on conducting a mass-trapping).

What services are available for ferals at the clinics?

The ASPCA will spay/neuter, rabies vaccinate, and left eartip each feral at no cost. If there are any friendly adoptable cats in the colony and they already have homes, you may purchase additional services at a nominal cost. These services and costs are detailed in the rescue agreement.

We do not recommend the FeLV/FIV test or the FVRCP vaccine for ferals who are being returned to their outdoor colony. For an extensive discussion on the subject, please read "To Test or Not To Test: Is Testing for FeLV and FIV in Feral Cats Always Necessary?", an article from Alley Cat Allies.

Humane Society of New York Clinic

The Humane Society of New York (HSNY) operates a feral cat clinic that offers free spay/neuter, left eartip, rabies vaccination, and flea and ear mite medication. Further services, such as testing, are available at regular fees. If a cat is sick or injured, free or discounted treatment may be available at the discretion of the HSNY.

What is the procedure for using the HSNY clinic?

1)	Before you start trapping, call the Appointment Desk at (212) 752-4840 to schedule a date. Please provide as accurate an estimate as possible of the number of cats you want to trap and bring in.
2)	Drop off the cats between 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the morning of your spay/neuter date. Humane Society of New York 306 East 59th Street New York, New York 10022 Very Important: Each cat must be brought in a separate trap, covered completely with a sheet — no exceptions. This is for the protection of the staff. Carriers or other containers are not acceptable.
3)	Pick up cats between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., unless you're told otherwise.
4)	Bring the cats to your own pre-arranged recovery space. The HSNY does not provide post-surgery boarding.

The Toby Project

The Toby Project offers free spay/neuter at a mobile clinic in all five boroughs for both owned and feral cats. Feral cat days are on Thursdays, and TNR caretakers can schedule the van to come to their area. The mobile clinic can hold 13–15 cats in traps, but can handle more animals if there is recovery space available. To book the mobile clinic, contact Robert Schmidt at (917) 882-6785.

MAMA Coupon (Muffin's Pet Connection/Mayor's Alliance)

The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals has teamed up with Muffin's Pet Connection to create the MAMA Coupon for low-cost feral cat spay/neuter. Included in the coupon price ($58 for females; $45 for males) are spay/neuter, rabies vaccination, and left eartip. Any other services or costs are strictly optional. View a list of participating vets and order coupons.

Helping PAW

Helping PAW offers low-cost spay/neuter services on Long Island on a fully equipped mobile clinic. $57 spay/neuter for feral cats, also includes a physical exam, rabies vaccine and tag, feline distemper (3 in 1 vaccine – FVRCP), pain management, and eartip. No additional charge for pregnancy or heat. Visit the Helping PAW website or call (888) 738-3497 for more information, to view the clinic location calendar, and to make an appointment.

North Shore Animal League America Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics for Feral Cats

To support TNR efforts in NYC, North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) is offering a feral cat clinic package of spay or neuter, rabies vaccination, FVRCP, penicillin injection, and mandatory eartipping for $40 per cat. Optional services include FeLV/FIV test combo ($30) and Advantage flea prevention ($10).

Schedule an Appointment

One Saturday each month, NSALA can take in 30-40 feral cats to be altered. All surgeries are performed by appointment only: (516) 883-7900 x268.

What is the procedure for using the NSALA clinic?

Cats can be dropped off the morning of the procedures from 7:30–8:30 a.m., or the night before from 7:30–8:30 p.m. Pick-up is anytime from 4:00–8:00 p.m. the day of the surgery.

North Shore Animal League America

The Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center

16 Lewyt Street. Port Washington, NY

One cat per trap or carrier, please. Carriers must be of a hard casing (no fabric carriers or milk crates).

C.L.I.F.F.S Clinic (Creating Long Island's Feral Feline Solution)

The C.L.I.F.F.S Clinic offers spay/neuter and vaccination services for feral cats. The $65 fee includes rabies and distemper vaccines. The clinic is open 4 days a week, including Saturdays. Call for an appointment: (631) 473-6333 x204.

Photos courtesy of Meredith Weiss and NeighborhoodCats, unless otherwise noted

NYC Feral Cat Initiative • c/o Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals • 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R290 • New York, NY 10001 • (212) 330-0033 • info@NYCFeralCat.org