Mendocino County is not required by law to take in free roaming feral cats. The objective is for the free roaming feral cats to get them spayed or neutered, released back to where they came from or go into the Barn Cat Program.

What is a feral cat?
A feral cat or a stray cat is an unowned domestic cat that lives outdoors and avoids human contact: it does not allow itself to be handled or touched and usually remains hidden from humans.

How can I help limit the number of feral cats?
Getting your pet cats spayed or neutered and keeping them inside, rather than allowing them to roam freely help limit the growth of the feral cat population.

What do I do if there are feral cats in my neighborhood? 
If you're needing assistance with a feral cat issue, we require all requesting citizens fill out the Request Form. You will be placed on a waiting list. Citizens are contacted in chronological order when we have available kennel space.
    Animal Care Services practices scheduled admittance for feral cats. Scheduled admittance for feral cats is becoming the standard protocol in animal sheltering.
    Animal Care Services is requiring citizens to contact the Animal Shelter at 707-463-4427 prior to any trapping in an effort to schedule the Animal Shelter receiving “Feral Cats” from the public. The Animal Shelter staff will coordinate the date(s) with the requesting citizens for the capture and dropping off of “Feral Cats.”
     Please note that the request to get feral cats spayed or neutered is in the hundreds. The waiting list is long, and it will take most likely 3 to 6 months for us to be able to assist you.

How do I catch a feral cat?
     Feral cats brought to the Ukiah Animal Shelter must come into the shelter in an approved cat trap, like the one shown. This policy is for the safety of shelter staff who must transfer the feral cat into a cat cage.
     The shelter offers free spay & neuter for feral cats who will be returned to their area. Please call the Clinic at 707-463-4782 to find our surgery dates.

By the Animal Shelter scheduling feral cats coming into the shelter for spay or neuter surgeries, this greatly assist in keeping valuable kennel space open for domesticated cats, reduces the transmission of potential diseases coming into the shelter, saves the shelter money due to food & care not having to be rendered to house feral cats prior to surgeries and reduces the unnecessary possibility of euthanizing non-domesticated felines due to overcrowding at the Animal Shelter.

MIGHT YOU NEED AN UNEMPLOYED CAT? - BARN CAT PROGRAM

We have working cats that need job placements. These working cats can roam in a garden, workshop or barn where they will keep the rodent population under control. While here at the Animal Shelter they get great unemployment benefits such as food, shelter & care including being spayed or neutered along with a rabies vaccination. We really want to be productive members of society so please come to the Animal Shelter and take one of us for free.