About Catawba Cats Count

Catawba Cats Count is a grant-funded Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program that helps Catawba County residents spay, neuter, and vaccinate the community (feral) cats in their neighborhoods. By reducing the number of litters born outdoors, TNR is the most humane and effective way to stabilize and gradually shrink free-roaming cat populations.

This program is separate from our walk-in feral surgery service. It is built specifically for caretakers managing outdoor colonies here in Catawba County, North Carolina.

What Each Cat Receives

• Spay or neuter surgery
• Rabies vaccine
• Ear-tip — the universal sign of an altered community cat

Cost & Limits

The program fee is $25.00 per cat, with a maximum of four cats per application. Grant funding covers the remaining cost of each cat's surgery and vaccine.

Who Qualifies

• You must be a resident of Catawba County, North Carolina.
• The cats must be community (feral) cats from a colony located within Catawba County.

Ear-Tipping Is Required

Every cat altered through Catawba Cats Count receives an ear-tip. It is how caretakers, neighbors, and our staff can tell at a glance that a community cat has already been fixed. If you decline the ear-tip, the cat is no longer eligible for program pricing and will be charged at our full individual service rates.

How It Works

• Apply online using the application below.
• Our team reviews your application and contacts you to schedule.
• Bring each cat in its own humane live trap — one cat per trap. Cats cannot be accepted in regular carriers. Humane live traps can be purchased at most farm-supply and hardware stores or from online retailers.
• After surgery and recovery, each cat is returned to you to release back to its colony.

Apply Online

Catawba Cats Count Application