By Dr. Edward Schettino
Community cats can be found in every city and town across Massachusetts – in fact, there is an estimated 700,000 community across the Commonwealth, 70,000 in Boston alone.
What are community cats?
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These are feral, semi-feral, and outdoor cats that often live in large colonies and can reproduce with staggering frequency. While resilient, community cats face many challenges and are vulnerable to predators, illness, lack of proper and healthy food sources and, of course, the elements.
The most fragile community cats are kittens, who are born throughout the year, and it’s important to provide these animals with the help they need, when they need it most
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The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is the only large animal welfare organization in Massachusetts with a dedicated community cat program, and the organization helps more than 1,000 of these cats annually. However, there are still thousands upon thousands of community cats living outdoors in need of help and there are ways you can get involved in their care.
Contact ARL. If you are aware of community cats in your area and need assistance, you can contact ARL’s Field Services Department by calling (617) 426-9170 x563.
When you call, a team member will respond to the location to assess the colony and then form a Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) plan. TNR one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness among cats. Once the colony is assessed, the cats will be trapped and transported to an ARL Animal Care and Adoption Center. From there they will receive a veterinary exam, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and behavioral assessment to determine whether the cat would thrive in a home, or is truly feral and does not want contact with humans.
ARL’s Community Cat Program has had tremendous success in reducing the cycle of homelessness for these cats. Since the inception of the program, thousands of community cats have been placed in loving homes, including nearly 800 in 2024 alone!
Outdoor Shelters. Providing shelter gives community cats a warm and safe environment, protecting them from the elements and predators. You can make this a community effort, and shelters can be store-bought or can also be a DIY project.
Monitoring and Feeding. This involves making sure the cats are being fed, and can also provide an opportunity to monitor the colony for any cats that may be sick, injured, or pregnant.
Dr. Edward Schettino is the President and CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and has a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.