About F.O.F.

Friends of Felines is a non-profit all volunteer organization whose main goal is to reduce the overpopulation of feral cats in our community. We work with committed caretakers through a trap/spay-neuter/vaccination and return program, essentially helping these cats to live happier and healthier lives.

All cats are brought in traps by their caretakers between 8:30 and 9:00 in the morning. The traps are numbered, each trap is paired with a carrier of the same number, and caretakers check in and sign a surgical consent form. The cats are then taken into the hospital where they are given an injectable anesthetic while still inside the trap.

Once asleep, each cat is tagged (same number as the trap and carrier), weighed, vaccinated for rabies and feline distemper, spayed or neutered, their left ear is tipped " straight across, their ears are cleaned and treated for mites, and they are sprayed with Frontline and combed for fleas. The cats are then put back into his/her respective carrier to recuperate at the caretaker's home overnight. The next day they are returned to their colony.

What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are the "wild" offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners' abandonment or failure to spay/neuter their cats, allowing them to breed uncontrolled. Many of these kittens will never have contact with humans and will eventually become fearful of them. These feral cats band together to become colonies. For more information read the Stray Not the Same as Feral article from the Friends of Felines Newsletter.

What is TVAR (Trap/Vaccinate/Alter/Return Program)?

This type of program began in the late 1970's in Great Britain as a humane way of dealing with feral cats. Cats that have a caretaker looking after them are trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and returned to their colonies.

What happens at a typical clinic?

All cats are brought in traps by their caretakers between 8:30 and 9:00 in the morning. The traps are numbered, each trap is paired with a carrier of the same number, and caretakers check in and sign a surgical consent form. The cats are then taken into the hospital where they are given an injectable anesthetic while still inside the trap. Once asleep, each cat is tagged (same number as the trap and carrier), weighed, vaccinated for rabies and feline distemper, spayed or neutered, their left ear is tipped " straight across, their ears are cleaned and treated for mites, and they are sprayed with Frontline and combed for fleas. The cats are then put back into his/her respective carrier to recuperate at the caretaker's home overnight. The next morning they are returned to their colony.

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What is the cost of the program?

Although we do not charge for these services, we ask for a $15.00 donation per cat to help replenish our supplies. Donations are tax-deductible.

What are the requirements for acceptance?

Our criteria for acceptance of colonies for this program requires that they are feral, have food and water provided to them on a daily basis, and are compassionately accepted where they are.

How can you help Friend of Felines?

You can show your support by becoming a member, donating money or volunteering your time. It is $20.00 for a one-year membership, which will entitle you to receive our Newsletter that provides updates and information on our organization and feral cats. Membership fees and donations should be sent to: Friends of Felines P.O. Box 475 Castle Hayne, NC 28429 You can also show your support by volunteering your time at one of our clinics. It can be an amazing experience to care for animals that human hands never touch. Please call our message center if you are interested.

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What does Friends of Felines not do?

We do not remove cats from unwanted locations. We do not have an adoption program (as funding is not available for a shelter at this time). We do not loan traps for cats to be euthanized or taken to animal shelters (as feral cats are not adoptable). We do not relocate cats.

I am feeding a feral cat colony in New Hanover County -- How do I get help?

All requests for assistance must go though the message center number (910) 452-6721 or our email address friendsofelines@aol.com. We do not have an office. Messages are checked daily Monday-Friday by a VOLUNTEER. As we are NOT an emergency response organization, your request may not be answered the same day. Our waiting list is quite long (approximately 2-3 months), so please be patient. A volunteer will be in touch and get some basic information from you. Once your colony is accepted into our program, you will be contacted as soon as we have an appointment available. You will need to pick up your traps and carriers at either Martins Storage 5811 Market Street 28405 or Martins Storage 6020 Carolina Beach Road 28412 at a time to be determined for your scheduled clinic. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you come to these appointments when you are scheduled. At this time you will also be required to sign a trap and release form. You will need to trap your cats the night before the clinic (humane trapping instructions) and transport them there no later than 9am. We will require a signature for surgical consent and a phone number where you can be reached for the next 4 hours. Once your cats are finished we will call you to come and pick them up. They will be in a recovery carrier (which SHOULD NOT be opened under any circumstances) and you will be given instructions for post-operative care. All cats are to remain in their carriers overnight in a warm dry area and returned to their colony the following morning.

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