How to Help Community Cats

community cat program with OHS

Community Cats Program

Trap, Neuter, Return
1925 Sandifer Blvd,
Seneca, SC 29678

Phone: (864) 882-4719
Email: tnr@oconeehumane.org

What is a Community Cat

Community cats are unowned cats that live outdoors and settle where food and shelter are available.  They are not socialized, not friendly to people and are not adoptable.

What is Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR)?

In a TNR program, community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a vet to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (signifies the cat is part of a TNR program), and then returned to their outdoor homes.

OHS offers two options to help community cats.

Option 1: You trap the feral cats:
Instructions for bringing cats you trap to the OHS Pet Care Clinic at 1925 Sandifer Blvd, Seneca, SC 29678:

  • We perform surgeries most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call 864-765-6926 prior to trapping to confirm availability. Trapped, feral cats can be dropped off at the OHS Clinic on surgery days between 8-8:30 a.m. Therefore, you should only trap on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. For example, trap on Sunday, bring the feral cat on Monday morning. Do not leave the feral cat in the trap for more than 24 hours. Please call 864-765-6926 to let the vet know how many cats you are bringing on what day.
  • Trap the feral cat in an animal trap large enough for a raccoon, not a squirrel. (Traps can be rented at Oconee County Animal Control for a refundable deposit).
  • After the feral cat is trapped, cover the trap with a towel or small blanket. This will calm the feral cat.
  • Do not feed the feral cat after 9:00pm the night before you plan to drop-off at the clinic.
  • Place a label with your name and address on the trap.
  • Bring the trapped feral cat to the clinic (building closest to entry gate).
  • Pick up the feral cat between 3:00-4:00pm (same day you dropped off the cat). The feral cat will be spayed/neutered, given rabies and FVCRP vaccines and ear-tipped (no exceptions).
Option 2: Our TNR team will trap the cats
To request help from the TNR program, please CLICK HERE and submit the TNR request form
or email the information below to: TNR@oconeehumane.org:

  • your address to trap them at and a contact phone number
  • number of cats
  • the time of day you feed them or they hang out (if the cats show up sporadically, it will be impossible to trap them)

Once they have the information from you, they will contact you to schedule a trap date and time. The feral cat will be spayed/neutered, given rabies and FVCRP vaccines and ear-tipped (no exceptions) and returned to the area.

To request help from the TNR program, please email the information to: TNR@oconeehumane.org

What is Managed Intake?

In order to avoid overcrowding at the shelter, Oconee County Animal Control is instituting a procedure where a person must first complete an animal intake sheet and be given an appointment date to surrender the animal.  Animals will not be taken on the same day the intake sheet is completed.

What should I do if I find a stray cat that is somewhat friendly, approachable and looking for food/attention?

See if the cat belongs to a neighbor; often these cats get lost or accidentally get out of the house/yard

Take the cat to a local vet or Oconee Humane Society (OHS) to see if the cat has a microchip; if it does, then the vet/OHS can contact the owner.  Only do this if you are comfortable picking up the cat and putting it in a cat carrier.

If the cat/kitten is hurt/sick, bring it to Animal Control for euthanasia unless you want to take responsibility for vet bills.

If the cat has been dumped in your area, been abandoned or no neighbor can claim it, then contact Animal Control at 864-888-0221.  You will need to fill out an animal intake sheet (you must be an Oconee County resident) and be given an appointment date to surrender the cat.

If you do not want to wait for Animal Control to intake the cat and you are an Oconee County resident, you can pay for a spay/neuter certificate from OHS, take the cat to the participating vet listed on the certificate, get it fixed and release the cat back to its area.  Click Here for information about spay/neuter programs. 

What should I do if I find kittens?

If they are small kittens (less than 2 pounds) that look abandoned, leave them alone.  The momma cat is out looking for food for them and will return to the nest.  Even if you know the kittens have been abandoned, they will become your responsibility to care for them until you fill out an animal intake sheet (you must be an Oconee County resident) and be given an appointment date to surrender the kittens.

What should I do if I find a feral cat or kitten? 

If they are feral kittens (less than 2 lbs and unfriendly), leave them alone.  They cannot be TNR’d until they are 3 months old and weigh more than 2 pounds.  The TNR program does not foster feral cats & kittens.  If they are old enough, contact Chris at tnr@oconeehumane.org

Do not trap the cat or kitten before contacting Chris; if you do, you are fully responsible for the cat.  Cats should not be in traps for more than 48 hours from the time they are trapped until they are released after spay/neuter surgery.

There are limited funds for the TNR program so all feral cats and kittens are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Oconee County Animal Control no longer intakes or traps semi-feral or feral cats and kittens.