We're C4: the Capital's Cat Care Campaign
Getting a long-term stray cat neutered using the C4 scheme
Our scheme can be used for long-term stray cats who you yourself are caring for once you've made exhaustive attempts to ensure the cat doesn't have an owner.
C4 can also be used for 1 or 2 individual feral cats (who are not part of a larger colony) if trapped, however it's not intended for use neutering feral colonies, for which you need to contact a charity specifically operating Trap-Neuter-Return schemes for feral cats. These charities would then need to fund the neutering costs from their own resources. You can find details through search engines or on Cat Chat.
1. If you know it's someone's pet cat:
Frustrating as it can be when neighbours or other residents don't neuter their pets and allow them to roam and breed, the law is very clear. You and any veterinary staff could face action for criminal damage and vets and nurses could face further investigation from their professional regulator if a cat is neutered and you know it has an owner who hasn't agreed to this, or you've not made adequate efforts to find an owner. In this situation the best option is to work with the owner and try to persuade them to neuter their pets through the C4 scheme through the route for neutering a pet cat. Additionally, some of the cat rescue charities in London such as RSPCA local Branches, Cats Protection, Mayhew and Celia Hammond Animal Trust might be able to guide you on how to approach an owner in this scenario, or do so themselves. You can find their details via search engines or on Cat Chat.
2. If the cat is a feral cat:
Feral cats - those who are born wild and unused to humans - are generally unable to be handled. They may live singly but will often gather around a common food resource appearing to form what looks like a colony. If the cats have already been neutered, they will have had the end of the left ear flap tipped or blunted - see the illustration. This is done to prevent cats being continually caught again and again (because once the fur grows back after the operation, you can't see if the cat is already "done") and is performed at the same time as neutering while under anaesthetic. It's been used in the UK and globally for over 40 years and is painless and doesn't affect the cat's enjoyment of life or ability to get around. It's a good method as easily seen and recognised.
Healthy neutered and ear-tipped feral cats are normally best left to enjoy life. You can use the C4 scheme to neuter one or two feral cats that live isolated and you are able to get trapped using a proper cat trap, but if there is a large group then this will need to be tackled by a charity used to doing Trap-Neuter-Return. This also means that you cannot use the scheme to neuter 1 or 2 feral cats that are part of a bigger colony. Please do make sure that if you do take a feral or long term stray cat into the vet under the C4 scheme, the vet ear tips it (it tells them what to do on the neutering voucher they use).
3. If the cat is a lost cat who's just showed up:
It's possible that the cat is looking for his way home (or equally he may just be a "Six Dinners Sid" who is grifting food and snacks off everyone in the neighbourhood). Please follow the link to Cat's Protection's guide on how to use paper collars and other means of finding a cat's owner. It's also essential that the cat gets checked for a microchip, if it's friendly and doesn't run away when approached, then you can see if a charity, vet or dog warden would scan it for you. It's really important to carry out these steps first before you book the cat in for neutering.
Other steps to try include putting notices up nearby where the cat was found, dropping flyers in to nearby houses, and posting on pet and "spotted" type pages on Facebook and other social media. The Battersea Lost Dogs and Cats Line can also take and check details for you.
4. Okay - so if the cat is none of the above, and you've done the steps we recommend in number 3:
It means you're dealing with a long term stray cat. You can of course still try to find a space in a rescue centre or find a home for the cat yourself, but in the interim, you can use our C4 scheme to get the cat neutered. Once you've carried out the above steps, and have left a paper collar on for at least 48 hours and then waited a further seven days, please go ahead and book the cat in with a vet. The process is much the same as if neutering a pet cat. There are two important differences - firstly, although we encourage you to donate toward the cost of the scheme by paying the £10 fee to the vet as an owner of a pet cat would, there is provision to waive this fee but the vet will need to ask Cats Protection for authorisation to do this. Secondly, the cat won't be chipped as you're not the owner.
If the cat is likely to be living freely outside within the community after neutering, then remember to ask the vet to ear tip it. The process is the same as for feral cats and will prevent the cat being trapped again or even operated on - even if you know the cat well, you or the cat may move somewhere else and strangers will not know that it's neutered. It risks the cat being caught and operated on again if not done.
​
You'll need:
-
A secure carrier (cat basket)
-
Somewhere for the cat to recover following surgery. Check with the vet how long this needs to be. You could maybe borrow a dog crate, or use your bathroom or uncluttered spare room - you'll need a litter tray and food or water bowls (you can use takeaway or microwave meal trays for bowls). These steps only apply to friendly cats who you can easily handle - for feral cats it is recommended they are released late the same evening, or early the following morning, after the op. You should not try to move feral cats into crates or let them loose in any room.
-
You can get general advice on managing this aspect from the Cats Protection Helpline, Call 03000 121212 or visit their Help and Advice page.
So what's this paper collar stuff about then?
A paper collar is a brilliant but underused trick to use the cat itself to carry your message back to its owner. You can download and print our version but also rustle one up by cutting a narrow strip down the long edge of a piece of A4 card or thick paper and write the same information on by hand. Make sure the card is easily torn if the collar gets caught. Don't use plastic or laminated paper.