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1. Cats - General Information

In the State of New York, cats are considered free roaming animals and, as such, are not labeled as "stray" animals. As a result, the Shelter does not pick up stray cats.

The Town does not set a limit to the number of cats a household can own. The Shelter acknowledges and supports Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) programs. Currently, there is a low cost TNR program for town residents and businesses caring for feral cats. For more information, call the Animal Shelter at (631) 643-9270.

2. What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are an international problem as well as a local problem. Understanding and solving the feral cat problem on a local level here in Babylon involves several key factors:

Cats:
Feral cats are the offspring of domestic cats that have not been socialized or domesticated. Cats in general are highly territorial and they will not roam very far from where they were born.

Community:
Feral cats are a community problem and likely occur because of neglect and miscommunication. When cats who are not spayed or neutered are allowed to be outdoors for long periods of time roaming a community, the likelihood of feral cats increases.

The Town of Babylon's Department of Animal Control provides its community with several resources to curtail the feral cat population:

• Supplies residents and caregivers state of the art traps for the TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) of the feral cats
• Supplies low cost $35 TNR vouchers so there is no cost to the residents and caregivers
• Hosts regular seminars on the TNR program

Circumstances:
Each colony of feral cats is unique, as are the dynamics and circumstances of the location. Feral cats also generally don't leave a community because of lack of food, on the contrary removing the food source will force the cats to roam further for food, cause them stress, and make them quite unhealthy.

Communication:
Civil communication between parties affected by feral cats is a key factor in resolving the inevitable differences caused by the presence of feral cats. The caregiver cannot assume that everyone has the same devotion to cats as they do. It helps in the longterm to acknowledge the caregivers right to provide proper care for the cats as well as understanding that some neighbors to not share the same devotion. If all neighbors communicate and share a common plan to solve the feral cat problem, results will be swifter and tangible.

Cooperation:
All people in a neighborhood are affected by feral cats; if the entire community works together to control the problem, results can be that much more swifter and tangible.

Time:
It takes time to control a feral cat problem in a neighborhood. Please be patient as the community and TOB representatives work together towards a common solution.