Stray and feral cats

FRANCE RELANCE The Association Les Amis des Chats de Roquecor (82) Stray and Feral cat Sterilisation Programmes are partially funded by the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation within the framework of France Relance. Prefet

 

BEFORE APPLYING TO HAVE STRAY CATS NEUTERED,
PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW

Read our leaflet: Caring for a stray cat

The Association Les Amis des Chats de Roquecor (82) Stray and Feral cat Sterilisation Programmes are partially funded by the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation within the framework of France Relance.

To apply for a Trap-Neuter-Identification-Return programme for stray cats download the application and donation forms here

The proliferation of feral or stray cats in our villages can cause health problems for both cats and humans. It can also have a negative impact on the local environment and tourism. The aim of Les amis des chats is to compassionately improve the health and living conditions of both stray and domestic cats.

Cats often contract serious diseases and injuries when they fight to claim their territory or mate, and the unconstrained multiplication of the cat population can lead to malnourishment and nuisances.

The solution is trap-neuter-identification-return programmes such that the cats are sterilised and returned to their capture site. This limits the increase of the cat population in the wild, provides an effective protection against malnourishment and disease, and also offers the other advantages of neutered cats. See the Neutering Fact Sheet for more information on why neutering is advantageous for both the cats and their human counterparts.

The charity can only organise trap-neuter-return programmes in municipalites that have given the charity to act under a local council byelaw. The current list of communes is given below. The charity works in departement 82 and within 10 km of its border in departements 46, 47, 81, 31.

If you wish to have stray cats neutered, check the list of communes and whether the commune in which the cat lives is listed or not, please fully complete the request form below.

  1. The name of the commune is listed. Fully complete the form and send it to us. Forms sent by email are processed more rapidly. If your form is complete, depending on available funds, the charity issues an Accord (agreement to finance the procedures for the cat(s)) to the person who submitted the request and their chosen veterinarian. Accords are sent by email where ever possible to reduce our postage costs.
  2. The name of the commune is NOT on the list. There is no existing byelaw in favour of the charity. Fully complete the same form and send it to us. The charity will contact the Mayor to request official support for the trap/neuter/return programme in the municipality. (In order for Les Amis Des Chats to become involved, the council must issue a byelaw (arrêté) that allows the charity to commence a Trap-Neuter-Return programme.)

The charity does not trap the cats. Inhabitants help to trap the cats and take them to a local veterinarian. As traps need to be checked frequently it makes sense local people perform this task. A representatives from Les Amis Des Chats can provide training on setting the traps and dealing with the cats. See also our Factsheet Trapping Cats. The charity loans traps from our charity shops in Lauzerte and Roquecor. We have alot of requests for traps. A returnable deposit cheque of 50 euros is required and there is a form to complete. Please return the traps as soon as possible and in good condition.

Cats are identified with a microchip or tatoo under the name of the municipality or Les Amis Des Chats, as stipulated in the byelaw (see the Code Rural). This provides certain legal protection for the cats by indicating that they are owned. 

The cat is then returned to the area where it was trapped, thereby ensuring it retains local knowledge and is familiar with feeding possibilities and shelters.

Les Amis Des Chats provides villages with a method of controlling the local stray population without harming the cats. It is a method totally approved and endorsed by the CNSPA and leading cat charities. 

In some cases where people have taken things into their own hands, stray cats have been rounded up and shot, or even poisoned. The intervention of Les Amis Des Chats is intended to avoid such action. Stray cats still live in the community but their population is controlled and will diminish through monitoring and neutering.

Following a Trap-Neuter-Return request, the charity asks for a donation towards the veterinary costs and to enable us to continue our activites to help cats and residents.

Please note that Les amis des chats receives many requests for help but has very limited funds at the moment and due to the COVID-19 pandemic (no fundraising events).
We are very happy that you wish to have a stray cat neutered. However, please do not ask for help if you can, possibly with your neighbours, pay the costs yourself.
For each application for the "Trap-Sterilize-Identification-Realease" program the association asks for a small contribution to the veterinary costs. Your donation is 66% deductible from your taxes in France.
These actions will allow the association to perpetuate its actions and to sterilize more cats that were not sterilized during the lockdown.
Thank you so much for your understanding.

 

To apply for a Trap-Neuter-Identification-Return programme for stray cats download the application and donation forms here

If you require further advice, please contact Les Amis Des Chats for more information about its Trap-Neuter-Return programme.