Sterilization Nation

Sterilization Nation Our goal is to help control the cat population in St Clair County thru TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) Ways to help!

Relocating Ferals: A Last ResortWe frequently have people reach out and ask us to come get the feral cats from their nei...
01/12/2025

Relocating Ferals: A Last Resort

We frequently have people reach out and ask us to come get the feral cats from their neighborhood and take them somewhere else. Sometimes it is because they feel bad for the cats and think that we can find somewhere better for them. More often it is because they don't want the cats around. Regardless of the reason, our answer is going to be the same 99.9% of the time. DO NOT RELOCATE FERAL CATS.

A feral cat colony is not the same as the friendly domestic cats in your house. Feral cats are skilled survivalists. Part of what is crucial to their survival is the relationships they have with the other cats in their colony and their familiarity with their environment. Each colony has adapted to the threats specific to their location. Urban cats are better at avoiding cars. Rural cats are better at avoiding predators. Each colony is unique and the cats in that colony are important to its survival.

Relocating cats is almost always a death sentence. Full stop. Dropping a cat into a location it isn't familiar with is not going to end well. The cats don't know what threats are in this new location. They don't know where the food sources are. Once released, most cats will run blindly as far as they can, trying to find their way back home. During that panicked run they will most likely be killed by a car, predator, the elements, or starvation.

If you have to relocate feral cats, they need a very careful acclimation process. They need to be contained in a large kennel, tack room, chicken coop, etc for AT LEAST 6 weeks, during which they must be provided with food, water, and litter. After the acclimation period, you will open the door to their enclosure so they can leave, but continue to provide food and water so they recognize that as their home base. Even with a proper acclimation process, there is a high risk of the cats not accepting a new location and still trying to find their way back home.

If you think you have a situation where cats needs to be relocated, reach out and we will be happy to discuss and talk through the best options for the cats. We know that community cat politics can be tricky and are experienced at finding solutions.

Why Microchip Feral Cats?Did you know that every cat that goes through our TNR process gets a microchip? But why microch...
01/07/2025

Why Microchip Feral Cats?

Did you know that every cat that goes through our TNR process gets a microchip? But why microchip a cat that doesn't belong to anyone?

Sometimes outdoor community cats end up misplaced. If someone finds and brings a feral cat to animal control or a vet clinic, the best thing for that cat is to be returned to where it came from. Each community cat has a colony where it is familiar with it's environment, knows where the food sources are, it has relationships with the other cats in it's colony, and it has learned how to survive the threats that are specific to it's location. It is only possible to know where the cat should be returned to if the cat is microchipped.

If a feral cat isn't microchipped, then the only options are 1) euthanasia or 2) relocating to a barn. PSA - relocating cats to barns should always be a last resort, it has to be done very carefully, and even when done correctly, it most often ends up poorly for the cats. Stay tuned for more information on relocating ferals in a future post.

One of our volunteer trappers took this photo this morning! With the cold temps forecasted this week, outdoor cats are l...
01/04/2025

One of our volunteer trappers took this photo this morning!

With the cold temps forecasted this week, outdoor cats are likely to look for warmth wherever they can, including a car engine. Banging on your hood before starting your car can help to scare the cats out, but if possible, we recommend actually taking a look under the hood as well.

This big tomcat had wedged himself so tightly and had no intention of leaving the engine after a couple of loud bangs, it wasn't until he felt the cool draft on his back that he decided to go find another cozy spot.

Meowy Christmas! We're excited to share that we've added new merch for this holiday season to our collection!Not into ho...
12/07/2024

Meowy Christmas! We're excited to share that we've added new merch for this holiday season to our collection!

Not into holiday designs? We have other great options to spread the TNR love!

Check out our designs here! >>> https://www.bonfire.com/store/sterilization-nation-store/

Cold Weather Reminder - NO BLANKETS IN CAT SHELTERS. STRAW ONLY. No towels. No hay. No "self warming" blankets. No cedar...
12/03/2024

Cold Weather Reminder - NO BLANKETS IN CAT SHELTERS. STRAW ONLY.

No towels. No hay. No "self warming" blankets. No cedar chips. No exceptions.

Straw is the ONLY acceptable bedding for an outdoor cat shelter during the winter. If you need straw for an outdoor shelter, we can help you find resources.

Shelter friends - comment below if you have straw available for colony caretakers!

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