How to Help Community Cats

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.

Do your neighbors love cats as much as you do? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. A common complaint about free-roaming cats is that they hang out and leave messes in people’s yards. Because not everyone wants cats digging in their garden, cat-friendly solutions are a must.

Here are some humane strategies for keeping cats away from outdoor spaces:

💧 Motion-activated sprinklers. The infra-red technology detects cats and startles them with a sudden burst of water (which frightens but doesn’t strike them). They quickly learn the boundaries of the infra-red field and stay out of where they’re not welcome.

📢 Ultrasonic sound devices. These also emit an infra-red field and when a cat is detected, an alarm only cats outside can hear goes off and annoys them. Since cats can be active at night, this is a great way to ward off cats without waking up any humans.

❌ Cat-proof fencing solutions. Place a cat fence around the perimeter of the yard. Originally made to contain cats, you can simply angle the fence in the opposite direction to play defense.

🙀 The Oscillot Cat Containment System. Use these smartly designed roll bars that fit on top of an existing fence. (https://neighborhoodcats.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a574d8aacf45e31ff115aee09&id=45a388e639&e=a662bf6943) Another product designed to keep cats in a yard, but it’s equally effective at keeping them out.

🍋 Safe scent repellent options. Best for protecting a smaller area, there’s a long list of scents that bother cats but not people. There are safe products and a plethora of homemade remedies available, including lemon peels.

🚫 Digging defenses and barriers. Discourage digging in soil or other cat-free areas with mats, lattices or even some well-placed rocks.

😼 Outdoor litter box alternatives. One of the best ways to ensure cats don’t do their business in your or your neighbor’s garden is to provide another place to go. A small sandbox or converted storage bin filled with cat litter will work wonders.
Your neighbors deserve effective solutions, and the cats deserve safe ones. Learn more about these techniques and browse recommended products on our website.

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