As a devoted colony caretaker, I see every day the struggles faced by community cats that aren't as lucky as the ones in my care. Dozens of cats depend on me for their health and livelihood, and I make sure they are spayed, fed, and rehomed when possible to ensure population control. However, many cats that lack caretakers suffer from sickness and despair. This is why we urge Hickory, NC Animal Control to adhere to the Catawba County guidelines for community cats.

These guidelines allow rescues and individuals to actively care for, feed, and help these animals on public property, without any hindrance. With the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method, as recommended in these guidelines, we can control the population of these free-roaming cats in a humanely and effectively way. As per studies, TNR can reduce the number of community cats by 32% over a decade (Alley Cat Allies, 2014) and significantly improves their health.

Adherence to these guidelines will not only provide a safer environment for these community cats but also allows devoted caretakers to serve them better. It is a call for compassion and responsible management towards these vulnerable creatures who share our environment. Let's fight for their well-being and make our community a healthier place for all its inhabitants. Please sign the petition to make this much-needed change happen.

County ordinances As listed on Website: 

Community cat means a cat that is abandoned, stray, lost, or feral and cared for by a community cat caregiver pursuant to this chapter.

Community cat caregiver means a person who, in accordance with the trap-neuter-return program defined in this chapter:
(1)
Provides care, including food, shelter, or medical care to a community cat; or
(2)
Has temporary custody over a community cat.

Sec. 6-104. - Community cats.

The county hereby adopts this community cat initiative subchapter.
(Ord. No. 2023-02, 3-6-2023)

Sec. 6-105. - Trap-neuter-return programs.

(a)
Organizations or individuals that engage in trap-neuter-return are encouraged to register through a sponsoring organization. Organizations performing or supporting trap-neuter-return in the county shall identify and nominate a community cat sponsoring organization, which shall be recognized by the county director of emergency services or his designee.
(b)
The community cat sponsoring organization shall make available to the public information about trap-neuter-return and feral cats, shall attempt to notify the appropriate community cat caregiver when notified by the animal services division about an impounded ear tipped cat, and shall provide a single point of contact to the animal services division for the coordination of trap-neuter-return, calls about at large cats, and calls about complaints related to community cats.
(c)
Responsibilities of the community cat caregiver:
(1)
Cats must be trapped using humane trapping techniques;
(2)
Cats must be assessed by a veterinarian and deemed healthy at the time of spay/neuter surgery;
(3)
Cats must be spayed or neutered;
(4)
Cats must be vaccinated for rabies and FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia);
(5)
Cats must be ear tipped;
(6)
Cat bites must be reported to county animal services.
(d)
Responsibilities of county animal services division.
(1)
Persons that contact animal services about stray or community cats shall be provided information about trap-neuter-return and referred to the community cat sponsoring organization.
(2)
When a person contacts animal services with a complaint about an ear tipped community cat, county staff will contact the community cat sponsoring organization for assistance in resolving the complaint.
(Ord. No. 2023-02, 3-6-2023)