Our Community Cats
Topeka Community Cat Fix (TCCF) provides TNVR services in the city of Topeka and surrounding Shawnee County, Kansas. The process begins when a kind-hearted colony caretaker calls our hotline for assistance.
Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate
TCCF assists caretakers in trapping the cats. Then the cats are neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas, and ear-tipped, receiving a lot of TLC as they go through the process.
Release!
Cats are returned to their colony to live out their lives, free from the stress of reproduction. Nuisance behavior is minimized. It’s a win-win situation for the cats and their community!
Our Mission
Mission: To reduce and stabilize the over population of community cats living in Shawnee County through Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return(TNVR).
What is a Community Cat?
Community cats are free-roaming cats who make their homes outdoor. These cats may be feral (unsocialized to humans), abandoned, lost, or simply choose to live outdoors.
Why We Do It
Why we do it? Nationwide, an average of 5500 animals are killed in America's shelters every day, simply because they don't have a safe place to call home. By sterilizing community cats, we can significantly reduce the numbers of homeless kittens living and dying on the streets or in our overcrowded shelters. By supporting their caregivers, we can help to ensure a good quality of life for these cats, reduce or eliminate nuisance behaviors related to breeding activities, and allow them to live out their natural lives free of the burdens of constant reproduction.
What is TNVR
What is TNVR? Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (or TNVR) is the most humane and effective method known for managing community cats. The cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites, provided basic grooming care, eartipped, and then returned to their outdoor homes. Caretakers provide ongoing food and shelter.
What is Eartipping?
eartipped cat on windshieldWhat is eartipping? Eartipping is the universal sign for a cat which has been TNVR'd. It is a painless procedure done while the cat is under anesthesia for sterilization and involves making a cut about 1/4" off of the left ear. The cats experience no pain and no after effects. This allows Animal Control officers to immediately identify "fixed" cats, which are protected under Topeka ordinance. It also allows caregivers and trappers to monitor colonies effectively.
Ways to Volunteer
Our greatest need is for trappers and trapping assistants.
We also need volunteers to:
- Transport cats to and from their colonies.
- Help prepare cats for surgery.
- Feed and clean in the evenings for cats awaiting surgery and release.
- Prepare meals for KState and TCCF volunteers on surgery days.
- Clean the staging area after the TNR is over.
- Power-wash traps after the TNR.
- Sew trap covers.
- Build shelters.
- Help to organize special events.
- Help to canvass neighborhoods.
- Help with community presentations.
- Maintain the web site.
- Answer the hotline and speak with caregivers.
- Fund-raise
