When you find a veterinarian or veterinary clinic interested in treating feral cats, establish a protocol to ensure that everyone involved understands what to expect and that you receive all of the services the cats need. Each cat will require a general health check, a spay or neuter procedure (using anesthesia that can be administered while the cat is in the trap), eartipping, parasite control and other treatments as deemed necessary, such as treating presenting illnesses.

Consider the following to help you choose your veterinarian or clinic and prepare them for the cats' neuter surgeries:

Prices

Ask for the exact charge for spaying and neutering and all other treatments. Figure out the cost of veterinary care for a male and a female cat, so that you can estimate a budget for the whole colony. A few clinics provide many services for a flat rate. Others itemise all of the services that they provide, including parasite treatments, and may charge additionally for any treatments related to surgery, such as anaesthesia and pain medication. Ask which treatments are optional and then decide which services to request. CATalyst strongly recommends that all cats being sterilised be given aftercare pain medication unless there is a medical reason not to.

Some veterinarians will offer discounts because you are providing a community service - you will need a clinic that will give you discounts and low-cost options. Always tactfully ask about these – don't expect them, and be grateful for any you get. If the cost of sterilising the colony is too great, ask for financial help from neighbours and businesses where the colony resides. They may be happy to contribute because you are taking action that will benefit everyone.

If you are under the mistaken apprehension that vets are under some kind of obligation to provide low-cost or free services to charities and grass-roots groups (they're not) read this.

Appointment Policies

Ask them how many cats they can spay/neuter in a single day. This information will guide your trapping activity. Also find out if the clinic understands the unpredictable nature of trapping cats. You may intend to trap six cats, but only end up trapping four. Conversely, you may think there are six cats to be trapped and then end up discovering a seventh. It's important that the clinic be flexible in order to accommodate a few more or less cats than you expected.

Testing Protocols

Ensure that testing for FeLV and FIV is NOT a requirement. CATalyst only recommends testing as part of well-designed TNR research projects, and protocols need to be followed for useful results. We are against routine testing for FeLV and FIV, and against euthanising cats who test positive, unless ill beyond recovery. Learn more about FeLV and FIV testing implications and protocols.

There's a lot of misinformation in Ireland (and, indeed, the world) regarding FeLV/FIV - help us get the facts out there: if your vet is unclear or misinformed on these issues, refer them to our FIV/FeLV information pages.

Vaccines

Currently in Ireland funding for TNR is minimal and we'd recommend you don't spend money on vaccines that you could be using for neutering. If that changes and funding becomes available (fingers crossed), FVRCP vaccines (also known as distemper or feline disease vaccines) are also recommended in MLV (modified live virus) form. Do keep in mind that, with limited funding, money is better spent on neutering. But find out which vaccinations your vets offer and how much they cost anyway - you may need the info further down the line. Rabies vaccines are not currently required in Ireland.

Find out more about TNR and Vaccines.

Ill or Injured Cats

Know your vet's policies concerning cats who need extra medical attention. Make sure you know how they will charge for treatments. Ask that they call you before making any decisions about procedures, or how they will treat the cats - you need to be part of the decision-making process, financially and emotionally.

Ensure that you will be given the ability to make the ultimate decision regarding humane euthanasia, if necessary. And ensure you trust your vet to advise you on euthanasia when those times come - it's nearly always difficult to make the decision and it's important to be able to rely on your vet to help you make it. If you're really not sure, get a second opinion - but please don't leave an animal suffering unnecessarily because you find the decision hard.

Kittens

Does your vet have age or weight requirements for kitten neuter? Ask for their kitten surgery protocol. Kittens can be safely spayed or neutered if they are healthy and weigh 1kg. If your vet is unaware of the benefits, or unsure of the practice, refer them to our Early-Age Spay & Neuter pages.

Consult with your veterinarian about feeding requirements for kittens prior to trapping; kittens may not need to have food withheld before surgery because their metabolism is faster than adult cats. To learn how to safely feed cats while they are in their traps, see our Post-Surgery pages.

Pregnant or In-Heat Females

Will they spay a pregnant female or a female in oestrus (in heat), and are they experienced in the procedure? Is there an extra fee for this?

Recovery

Find out when they'll discharge cats after surgery, if they have different discharge times for males, females, pregnant females, etc. Do they hold cats overnight for recovery in their office and, if so, if there is an extra charge for this service?

Eartipping

Check that the clinic understands the importance of eartipping the cats and knows how to perform the procedure. Eartipping is the removal of the tip of a cat's left ear (approximately 3/8”). It's an effective and universally accepted method to identify a neutered feral cat. Refer your vet to our Vet Pack and Eartipping Factsheet for more information.

Other Protocols

Be sure your vet knows:

• to use dissolvable stitches (you’re not going to be able to take the cats back to have stitches removed!)
• to use the flank approach for spays, not the midline approach
• to ensure the wound site is as small as possible, keyhole surgery preferable
• to eartip every cat and kitten they neuter

Also ensure that they'll remove all items they attached to the cats, such as tags, bandages, collars or other items that either may have identified them in the clinic or been part of their medical care. Make sure there is agreement ahead of time on treatment in winter months, such as shaving less fur for surgery preparation. Be sure to ask the veterinarian’s staff to replace any soiled newspaper in the bottom of the holding cage with fresh newspaper while the cats are anaesthetised. See our Surgery Recovery instructions for veterinarians.