Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“This is just a crucial stage when the cat is first brought in and it’s really important to train your staff to be able to gather as much information as possible because that’s the moment, you may never see the finder again.”

Listen to Episode #553 Now

This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and The United Spay Alliance.

Ever wondered how a stray feline’s journey through a Return to Field (RTF) program can lead it back home? This week, we continue our deep dive into the world of community cats, focusing on the pivotal steps from shelter intake to safe return, and the intricate assessments that ensure these whiskered wanderers thrive. Join in as we examine the critical information that shelters must gather and the art of interpreting feline behavior – a true detective story of piecing together each cat’s past. 

Explore how shelters can best communicate with those who find stray cats and the creative solutions that can address community concerns, from sprinkler systems to cat-proof fencing. Deciding which cats qualify for RTF involves a blend of factors like health and temperament, and we debate whether it’s a job for one or a task for a team. 

This segment offers a playbook for harmonizing the needs of community cats with those of their human neighbors. We also cover effective strategies for managing RTF and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, including a study that illustrates the significant impact these programs have on reducing shelter intake and euthanasia rates. 

In this episode, you will hear:

• Return to field programs in shelters
• Evaluating cat health and safety
• Individual assessment in field programs
• Caring for cats in traps and cat release location considerations
• Community cat population trends over time
• FVRCP and microchipping in community cats

Resources from this Episode

• Neighborhood Cats Website – https://www.neighborhoodcats.org
• Neighborhood Cats Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodcats/
• Neighborhood Cats Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nbrhoodcats/
• The Everything TNR Playlist – https://communitycatspodcast.com/everythingtnr
• Visit TNR Workshops and Community Cat Care Training for more webinars like this – https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/community-cat-care-training-education/
• And if you’re excited to start a return-to-field program and would like to connect with other Community Cats Podcast listeners to get more tips and tricks, to ask about issues you might run into, and of course to post pictures of your successful trapping, you can join our Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/communitycatspodcast/ 

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