Feral Cat Coalition Clinic Procedures

Clinic Drop-off / Pick-up Instructions

Thank you for helping us control the homeless cat population! Please help us make things go smoothly by reading this thoroughly.

Golden rule: If you have any questions ahead of time, never call the clinic directly! They're graciously allowing us to use their facilities, but do not know FCC procedures and are not our answering service!!! Please contact our voice mail or your FCC point of contact for assistance.

Drop-Off

Please arrive at the clinic on time and check in with an admitting volunteer. Please review these requirements:

Cats must be in individual traps (covered with towel) or airline-type pet carrier - one cat per container!
Other carriers are not acceptable due to our anesthesia and recovery procedures for the cats' safety (i.e., no cardboard containers!).
No pets (owned cats) will be accepted (CATS WITH COLLARS = IMMEDIATE REJECTION!).
No kittens younger than 5 months will be accepted.
Cats must not have eaten on the day of surgery; under anesthesia, cats can easily choke and die if food is in their system. Because of this, any cat in a trap or carrier containing food or dishes will not be accepted.

Please be ready to provide the following information to the admitting volunteer:

Name your reservation is under.
Your name, initials, and a phone number where you can be reached that day.
Description and sex of cat(s). If unsure, please say "unknown"!
Any medical problems the veterinarian should address (very ill cats may be rejected for surgery).
FCC trap numbers, if applicable.

You will be asked to print (clearly, please!) and sign the admitting sheet. Your signature on this sheet is evidence that you have agreed to the terms listed at the top of the sheet — please read it!
Please note the post-surgical pick-up time for the cats.
Important: During the clinic, the cats are neutered and treatable medical conditions are addressed. (Please note: any cat too ill to survive will be humanely euthanized at the discretion of the veterinarian.) The cats are given an antibiotic shot, a rabies vaccine, and an injection to treat parasites. The right ear is "tipped" (small clip at top) to identify them as neutered animals. Their ears are cleaned (to treat any ear mites) and they are flea-combed and treated for burrs or matted fur (and overall cleanup!). Finally, they are carefully monitored in the recovery area as they wake up.

Pick-Up / Aftercare

Please return to the clinic on time and check in with a discharge volunteer. We must make sure each cat has been accounted for! Please understand that any cats not picked up promptly will be considered abandoned and taken to Animal Control.
The discharge volunteer will tell you the cat's status and will provide any special instructions and/or medications. Please make sure you understand any special treatment required!
Cats might still be groggy when you pick them up. Anesthesia makes them feel cool, so keep them in a warm, protected, and quiet place. If in a trap, try to elevate trap slightly with bricks or pieces of wood (so urine and feces fall through) and set on newspaper. To discourage ants, spray newspaper beforehand with cat-safe flea spray (Adams or Ovitrol).
Monitor cats periodically. Check surgical site and check for steady breathing. Because the hospital facilities are "loaned" to us, we cannot provide aftercare. In the rare occurrence of an adverse reaction, contact an emergency veterinarian in your area (see "Veterinarian Emergency Services" in the yellow pages) and please leave a message about the incident on our voice mail.
Wait until cats are completely awake before offering water, to avoid choking or drowning. Food can be offered the next morning; if the cats are too scared to eat, consider early release. Be careful when feeding, as the cat may try to escape or attack you! Open trap door just enough to slide in a tuna-sized can of water; dry kibble or moist canned food can be pushed up through bottom of trap.
If no special treatment is required, males can be released the day after surgery, females two days after surgery (stitches do not need removal). The exception is for females with nursing kittens — they should be released 10 hours after pick-up.

We neuter more than 1,500 cats per year!!! The FCC is made up entirely of volunteers, and donations are always welcome and needed for surgical supplies!

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[Page updated November 2009]