A community cat is a cat that lives outdoors and does not have a particular home or owner. They may be friendly, or in some cases, feral (not socialized with people). These cats typically depend on humans for their food whether it is a neighborhood caretaker, dumpster, or other source. Learn more from this Alley Cat Allies’ resource

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/why-trap-neuter-return-feral-cats-the-case-for-tnr/

The kitten lady has excellent information about what to do if you find kittens.

http://www.kittenlady.org/casa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V47Ej3X6e7Y

Another resource from Alley Cat Allies for kittens with or without a mom cat - 

https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/kitten-and-mom-scenarios/

In Mecklenburg County, refer to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control - Community Cats.  Kittens may be able to be fostered through CMACC (refer to ‘Found baby kittens’ and ‘Cats who can come to the shelter’).   The parents should be TNRV’d. If you need to borrow traps to catch the kittens, or need help with TNVR, please refer to our Home page for information on how Friends of Feral Felines can help.

Outside of Mecklenburg County, refer to the resources listed on our Community Cat Resources by County page.

https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-cat-outdoors/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMywPSBD7CQ

• Friends of Feral Felines does not recommend that community cats be relocated unless they are in a truly dangerous situation.  Typically trap, neuter, vaccinate, & return (TNVR) is the best option for community cats so they don't keep reproducing.

• Relocating community cats should only be done as an absolute last resort if the cats are in danger.  Even if done with proper protocol, relocation can be ineffective and even dangerous. Community cats bond to their outdoor homes and, if relocated, may try to find their way back and put themselves in harm's way in the process if not acclimated properly.

• Learn steps you can take to avoid relocating cats and how to safely relocate if you have no choice:  https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/relocation-the-last-resort/ 

• IF a cat truly needs to be relocated these steps MUST be followed – Acclimation Process for Successful Relocation - https://ocgainesville.org/acclimation-working-cats OR https://shadowcatstnr.org/barn-cat-acclimation-process 

Alley Cat Allies - Help Desk

If you've found a friendly cat or kitten and are looking for foster or rescue support, we recommend using Petfinder to locate a rescue near you. Please understand that rescue resources are often limited due to the overwhelming number of community cats — which is why our work focuses on prevention through TNVR.