09/30/2026
🐱 FOUND A CAT? HERE’S WHAT TO DO! 🐱
Seeing a cat outside does not automatically mean it needs to come to the shelter.
Many outdoor cats are community cats. They may have caregivers, food and shelter nearby, and be perfectly comfortable living outdoors. Others may simply be owned cats that roam.
👂 First — check the ear!
If the tip of one ear has been cleanly removed, the cat has likely been through a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program. That means the cat has been spayed or neutered and returned to its community.
🏠 WHY NOT BRING EVERY CAT TO THE SHELTER?
Many community and feral cats do not do well in a shelter environment. The noise, confinement, unfamiliar people, and other animals can cause significant stress.
Shelter space is also limited. Keeping healthy community cats in their established environment allows us to focus our resources on animals that truly need shelter care.
🚨 WHEN SHOULD YOU CONTACT THE HARLAN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER?
Please contact us if:
🐾 The cat is injured, sick, bleeding, unable to walk, or in distress.
🐾 The cat is in immediate danger or an unsafe situation.
🐾 You find very young kittens that appear orphaned or are in danger. Remember—mom may be nearby! Don’t automatically remove healthy kittens before determining whether their mother is returning.
🐾 The cat appears to be a lost or abandoned house cat that isn’t doing well outdoors.
🐾 You need information about TNR, spay/neuter resources, or managing community cats in your area.
🐾 You’re simply not sure what to do. Give us a call and we can help determine the best next step.
❤️ A HEALTHY OUTDOOR CAT DOESN’T ALWAYS NEED TO BECOME A SHELTER CAT.
TNR helps us address the bigger issue by stopping reproduction and reducing the number of unwanted kittens born each year.
Feed them. Fix them. Manage the population.
The goal isn’t to bring every cat into the shelter. The goal is to reduce the number of cats that need the shelter in the first place.
Please share and help us educate Harlan County about community cats! 🐱🐾
