Latest Community Cat News

2021 - A Year in Review

What a year 2021 had been and what a year 2022 will be! Check out our progress in the newsletter below!

 
 
 

It’s kitten season in the city of Hamilton

NEWS

HBSPCA says they need city support for spay/neuter program

Mark Newman

Hamilton Mountain News

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Spring has sprung and the city’s street cat population is about to get bigger.

“The cats are actively going into heat and they are wanting to breed,” said Karen Reichheld, senior manager of animal care at the Hamilton Burlington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HBSPCA).

It’s kitten season in Hamilton and for years the HBSPCA and its partners have been working to reduce the street cat population, which has been estimated by some cat rescue groups at as many as 100,000.

Read more: Full article from Hamilton News

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Ontario Community Cat Documentary

Community cat overpopulation is not just a problem in Hamilton. Check out the documentary that aired November 24, 2020 on TVO about the community cats of Cornwall.

Hamilton Burlington SPCA and Hamilton cat boosters not deterred by COVID-19 pandemic

Cat rescue and feral spay/neuter programs continue

Mark Newman

Hamilton Mountain News

Thursday, February 4, 2021

When it comes to helping stray cats, it’s been pretty much business as usual for the Hamilton Burlington SPCA and other groups.

“We’re still getting phone calls for surrenders,” said Karen Reichheld senior manager/animal care at the Dartnall Road shelter. “We’re still getting calls for street cats needing assistance.”

Read more: Full Article from Hamilton News

 
Three lucky kittens who were just about to be trapped, were brought into rescue for adoption from our 2019 project in downtown Hamilton.

Three lucky kittens who were just about to be trapped, were brought into rescue for adoption from our 2019 project in downtown Hamilton.

Focused Community Cat Strategies by HCCN

As part of our mandate, HCCN strives to reduce the community cat population through TNVR. We have completed two Focused Neighbourhood Strategy Projects in Hamilton, where TNVR is completed from beginning: canvassing the neighbourhood- to end: monitoring the population once the cats have been returned. After TNVR, there are no kittens, greatly reduced cat fighting and smell from spraying and some cats have even become friendly with their caregivers! HCCN fundraises to cover the colony caregiver’s cost and can always use your help!

Donate today by calling 905-574-7722 and requesting funds are placed in the Hamilton Community Cat Network Fund held for us at HBSPCA. We cannot issue tax receipts for HCCN donations at this time.

Check out our Take Action page to learn more about how to volunteer your time to help the cats. Training is available.

 
Patches- A 2016 TNVR alumni from Upper Stoney Creek.

Patches- A 2016 TNVR alumni from Upper Stoney Creek

A New American Study Further Highlights the Effectiveness of Trap-Neuter-Return

We know TNVR works and studies continue to prove it. Here is a recent study from the United States, as highlighted by Alleycat Allies.

Full Article

Summary

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Sunny’s Happy Ending

A story of a village coming together.

Sunny was the first cat trapped by HCCN and Hamilton Street Cat volunteers from a downtown colony of 40+ cats. After going through Hamilton Burlington SPCA’s TNVR program, it was clear he was friendly . His eyes were bothering him, and after further investigation, we realized Sunny needed his eyes removed due to advanced glaucoma. We reached out to the public to cover his surgery costs. Caring community members donated along with a local rescue called Pantry 4 Paws, who pitched in $1000! Sunny left his foster home in Hamilton for Etobicoke Humane Society, who looked after his surgery, recovery and adoption to a wonderful family. Sunny’s resilience and the community coming together, makes this one of our favourite success stories of 2020!