What is a feral cat?

Feral cats are cats that are not owned by any individuals. They do not go into someones home and often unable to be handled by humans. If the cat is friendly and goes in out of homes, that cat is either owned or a stray cat. 

What can I do about feral cats in my neighborhood?

If you trap a feral cat, you can bring it in to South Bend Animal Resource Center.  The feral cat will then be ear clipped and spayed or neutered and released back into the community.  

Where are feral cats released?

Feral cats are trapped, ear tipped, and spayed/neutered and returned to the same neighborhood that they came from. 

Who traps the feral cats?

Individual residents can trap feral cats if they have traps. Live traps can be rented from SBARC for a refundable deposit of 50.00.  SBARC will not pick up cats in capture cages, cats must be brought to the South Bend Animal Resource Center during normal business hours.  Citizens must provide a valid photo ID upon surrendering.  

Why will the feral cats be returned back to the same neighborhood? 

Cat communities are kept in the same neighborhood that they came from to increase their likelihood of survival. They are spayed and neutered to maintain the cat population, instead of letting it increase.

311 Process Notes

Individual residents can trap feral cats if they have humane live traps. Live traps can be rented from SBARC for a refundable deposit of 50.00.  SBARC will not pick up cats in capture cages, cats must be brought to the South Bend Animal Resource Center during normal business hours.  Citizens must provide a valid photo ID upon surrendering.  

If a citizen wants to complain about a neighbor feeding stray or free roaming cats, 311 may dispatch an AWO to the address of the person feeding free roaming cats.