UPDATE: EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026 WE WILL NO LONGER BE OFFERING CLINICS FOR THE PUBLIC. THE SHELBY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY HAS AGREED TO INCORPORATE TNR INTO THEIR SERVICES OFFERED. ALL SCHEDULING WILL GO THROUGH THEM. PLEASE CALL THEM AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2025 AT 502-633-4033.
WE ARE NOT SCHEDULING ANYMORE CLIENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WE ARE NOT SCHEDULING ANYMORE CLIENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
Mission Statement
Operation CatSnip is a not-for-profit organization which provides funding when available for free spay and neuter and vaccines for community cats in Shelby County, Kentucky.
The secondary purpose is, through education and outreach, to inform the public of the benefits of managing colonies, as opposed to ineffective removal and euthanasia.
Operation CatSnip is a not-for-profit organization which provides funding when available for free spay and neuter and vaccines for community cats in Shelby County, Kentucky.
The secondary purpose is, through education and outreach, to inform the public of the benefits of managing colonies, as opposed to ineffective removal and euthanasia.
FERALS NEED LOVE, TOO
While the preferred lifestyle for felines is as an indoor-only housecat, we recognize that the best place for community cats (those that have lived their whole lives outside and who are not socialized to accept direct human interaction) is outside under the watchful eye of a colony caretaker. Almost 100% of unsocialized cats brought to animal controls are euthanized. By trapping, sterilizing & returning these cats to their communities, outdoor populations are controlled as they will prevent new cats from taking over territories while simultaneously be unable to have new litters.
While the preferred lifestyle for felines is as an indoor-only housecat, we recognize that the best place for community cats (those that have lived their whole lives outside and who are not socialized to accept direct human interaction) is outside under the watchful eye of a colony caretaker. Almost 100% of unsocialized cats brought to animal controls are euthanized. By trapping, sterilizing & returning these cats to their communities, outdoor populations are controlled as they will prevent new cats from taking over territories while simultaneously be unable to have new litters.
ATTN: KROGER SHOPPERS
If you would like to support us and you are a Kroger shopper like us, at no cost to you, go to: https://www.kroger.com/account/communityrewards/
Select: Organization Name: Operation Catsnip of KY, Inc. Organization Number: 30791/RD218
Operation CatSnip of Kentucky, Inc. offers advice and assistance to individuals and other groups with respect to non-lethal community cat management.
What is a Free Roaming/Community/Feral Cat?
These cats are the “wild” offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners’ abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. They can also be a stray cat that was lost or abandoned and has lived away from the human bond long enough to revert to a wild state. They are born outdoors and usually are hidden by their mothers; they have little or no human contact in the formative months. Not socialized to humans, they view people as a danger. As they are often nocturnal, you may not be aware of their presence or total colony size.
When these cats live together, the group is called a “colony”. These colonies can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.
Their kittens can often be adopted into homes, but they must be socialized at an early age. There is a critical window, and if they are not handled in time, they will remain unsocialized and, therefore, unadoptable.
Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) is the process of humanely trapping, spaying/neutering, and vaccinating community cats and returning the cats to the same location they were trapped. The population will stabilize over time as no more kittens are born. Neutered males are also less likely to spray and fight.
Colony caretakers continue to trap and spay/neuter any “new” cats while providing food and shelter.
TNRM is the only effective, humane, and long-term solution in controlling community cat populations.
“Catch and Kill” Does Not Work – Neither Does Complacency
Removal attempts may temporarily reduce the number of community cats in a given area; however, two things happen: first, the un sterilized survivors continue to breed and, second, other cats move into the now available territory (known as the “vacuum effect”).
Stopping feeding will not make the cats go away. Cats bond to their territory and can survive on garbage, if necessary. Stopping feeding will only make the cats suffer as they search for new sources of food.
In communities not practicing TNRM, several decades of “catch and kill” has done nothing to reduce the community cat population – there are more cats than ever. TNRM is the only program that works to combat and end community cat overpopulation.
TNRM Works
TNRM is the only successful long-term strategy for humanely controlling the population of community cats. A sterilized colony of community cats will stabilize, and eventually decline in numbers through illness, accidents, and old age. A sterilized colony often acts to keep new, un sterilized cats away from their colony.
Studies have shown that TNRM is the single most successful method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy community cat colonies with the least possible cost to local government and residents, while providing the best life for the community cats.
TNRM also helps reduce the number of cats euthanized at shelters. When fewer kittens are born to community cats, fewer cats and kittens enter shelters – which means fewer are killed because of lack of homes.
What YOU Can Do To Help Community Cats in Your Area
What is a Free Roaming/Community/Feral Cat?
These cats are the “wild” offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners’ abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. They can also be a stray cat that was lost or abandoned and has lived away from the human bond long enough to revert to a wild state. They are born outdoors and usually are hidden by their mothers; they have little or no human contact in the formative months. Not socialized to humans, they view people as a danger. As they are often nocturnal, you may not be aware of their presence or total colony size.
When these cats live together, the group is called a “colony”. These colonies can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.
Their kittens can often be adopted into homes, but they must be socialized at an early age. There is a critical window, and if they are not handled in time, they will remain unsocialized and, therefore, unadoptable.
Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) is the process of humanely trapping, spaying/neutering, and vaccinating community cats and returning the cats to the same location they were trapped. The population will stabilize over time as no more kittens are born. Neutered males are also less likely to spray and fight.
Colony caretakers continue to trap and spay/neuter any “new” cats while providing food and shelter.
TNRM is the only effective, humane, and long-term solution in controlling community cat populations.
“Catch and Kill” Does Not Work – Neither Does Complacency
Removal attempts may temporarily reduce the number of community cats in a given area; however, two things happen: first, the un sterilized survivors continue to breed and, second, other cats move into the now available territory (known as the “vacuum effect”).
Stopping feeding will not make the cats go away. Cats bond to their territory and can survive on garbage, if necessary. Stopping feeding will only make the cats suffer as they search for new sources of food.
In communities not practicing TNRM, several decades of “catch and kill” has done nothing to reduce the community cat population – there are more cats than ever. TNRM is the only program that works to combat and end community cat overpopulation.
TNRM Works
TNRM is the only successful long-term strategy for humanely controlling the population of community cats. A sterilized colony of community cats will stabilize, and eventually decline in numbers through illness, accidents, and old age. A sterilized colony often acts to keep new, un sterilized cats away from their colony.
Studies have shown that TNRM is the single most successful method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy community cat colonies with the least possible cost to local government and residents, while providing the best life for the community cats.
TNRM also helps reduce the number of cats euthanized at shelters. When fewer kittens are born to community cats, fewer cats and kittens enter shelters – which means fewer are killed because of lack of homes.
What YOU Can Do To Help Community Cats in Your Area
- Please don’t turn a blind eye to the situation
- Be responsible – spay/neuter your own pets
- Work with neighbors / local businesses to regularly put food out for community cats. It is best to put it out at a consistent time each day, preferably in daylight hours so as to not attract local wildlife (raccoons, possums, etc.). We can teach you how to manage a community cat colony.
- Assist in trapping community cats for sterilization and/or transporting to a vet or spay/neuter clinic.
The Kentucky Humane Society located in Louisville has a FREE pet helpline that may be able to point you in the right direction. Their number is (502) 509-4738. You can leave a detailed message and someone will get back to you. They can assist with advice on rehoming, behavior questions, and more.
If you have lost or found an animal or have to immediately surrender an animal please contact your county shelter/animal control. If you live in Shelby County contact the Shelby County Animal Shelter it is open Tues-Sat from 10-4 (502-633-0009) or the Shelby County Humane Society at 502-633-4033. Often they network to private rescues and adopters and save many lives.
Please spay & neuter your pets and especially before rehoming!💜
If you have lost or found an animal or have to immediately surrender an animal please contact your county shelter/animal control. If you live in Shelby County contact the Shelby County Animal Shelter it is open Tues-Sat from 10-4 (502-633-0009) or the Shelby County Humane Society at 502-633-4033. Often they network to private rescues and adopters and save many lives.
Please spay & neuter your pets and especially before rehoming!💜
