Expansion of Toronto Feral Cat Coalition
By Kate Carveth
Expansion may be in the future for the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition (TFCC) as more animal rescue organizations are becoming active in coalition meetings. TFCC is a coalition made up of municipal animal control, humane organizations, and rescue groups, including Community Cats Toronto.
The TFCC’s mission has been to improve the quality of life for community cats in Toronto through effective Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs since 2010. With regular meetings, TFCC has been seeing more members outside of its usual members, and may be expanding as more groups become involved.
Here are some of the organizations that offer TNR programs outside of Toronto.
Hamilton/Burlington SPCA
Operating since 1887, Hamilton/Burlington SPCA features an animal shelter that offers a companion animal hospital and pet pantry.
Operation Catsnip
Photo of Operation CatSnip van. Source: Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, December 2024.
The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA launched its TNR program, called Operation CatSnip, in 2024. With approximately 40,000 free-roaming community cats in the Hamilton area, the initiative aims to educate the community on how to help reduce the population. It also provides spay and neuter services and vaccinations for community cats through the program.
To help initiatives like Operation CatSnip, you can donate to the TNR Program, or if you currently care for community cats in the area, you can register as a Colony Caretaker.
Click here to learn more about their TNR services.
2. Pickering Animal Services
The City of Pickering Animal Services works to help community cats through their Barn Cat Home Program. The initiative strives to find homes for community cats that wouldn’t be suitable to live in someone’s home.
Click here to learn more about their services.
“Spaying and neutering one female and one male cat can prevent 2,000 unwanted births over four years. ”
3. Brampton Animal Services
Brampton Animal Services has a TNR program, which helped spay/neuter 50 community cats in 2024. They also distributed winter shelters to colony caretakers and adopted out seven cats through their Barn Cat Program.
Click here to learn more about their services.