Kitten “Season” is Actually Year-Round

In 2017, ARL launched its Community Cat Program to help the estimated 700,000 unowned feral, semi-feral, and outdoor cats trying to survive the harsh New England climate. Since its inception, the program has been an incredible success, assisting well over 3,000 community kittens and cats.

Though resilient, community cats face tremendous challenges. Without proper shelter and care, these animals are vulnerable to illness, injury, or worse. And without being spayed or neutered, these felines continue to reproduce at astounding rates, leading to a continued cycle of homelessness and large colonies of unowned cats.

Unseasonable temperatures in 2021 led to new litters of kittens nearly every month. In total, 877 community cats came through ARL’s doors last year, a 175% increase over 2020, and the highest total since the beginning of the program. More than 500 of these cats were made available for adoption.

ARL is the only large animal welfare organization in Massachusetts with a dedicated agent working exclusively with community cats. Working throughout the Commonwealth, ARL’s Community Cat Rescue Agent will identify and assess a colony of cats, and formulate a trap-neuter-return (TNR) plan for each situation. Once the cats are humanely trapped, they are transported to an ARL Animal Care & Adoption Center, where they receive medical treatment, including vaccines and spay/neuter surgery. The cats are also assessed behaviorally to determine adoption potential. Since 2017, more than 60% of community cats have been adopted into loving homes.

As the program evolves, ARL continues to expand its reach to help community cats, diligently working in areas where the numbers of these animals are incredibly high.

To learn more about ARL's Community Cat Program visit, www.arlboston.org/ community-cat-services