Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only do cats in West Columbia?
At this time, yes. Once we are on track to reducing the free-roaming cat population in West Columbia, then we may consider expanding to other jurisdictions.
How do I know if I’m in the city limits?
One method to determine this is to look at the color of your garbage bins. West Columbia's are green, while the garbage service used by Lexington County residents has bright blue bins. This may not be a fool-proof method, but it can help. You may call Safe Cats Coalition at 803-543-6335 to discuss the situation further.
What if I don’t live in West Columbia?
If the cats are not within city limits (or at least a stone's throw away), the surgery and vaccinations cannot be paid for by Safe Cats Coalition. We may be able to provide assistance with trapping however. Call Safe Cats Coalition at 803-543-6335 to discuss the situation with the coordinator.
What if I can’t afford it?
If paying the fees would prevent a person from seeking help due to a strained financial situation, it may help to talk with the coordinator. Sometimes individuals will make donations to assist colony caretakers who do not have the financial means to pay for the surgery fees. Again, our service is free to residents of West Columbia.
Why does Safe Cats only pay for cats in West Columbia?
Safe Cats Coalition was formed for the purpose of changing the City of West Columbia from a trap-and-kill city to a TNR city. West Columbia City Council agreed to a pilot TNR program. One of the incentives Safe Cats offered was that the program would provide a valuable service for City residents at no charge. The best way to ensure that the City will continue the program is to demonstrate that TNR is a more effective way to reduce the number of free-roaming cats than trap-and-kill. Therefore, it is important that we concentrate our efforts and financial resources on the City of West Columbia.
What would be required to expand the Safe Cats program to other jurisdictions?
First, we need to be effective enough to convince West Columbia to make TNR a permanent program. We do not want to risk the viability of our program by diluting our resources. Once we are on track to reducing the free-roaming cat population in West Columbia, then we may consider expanding to other jurisdictions. To do so, we need three things: (1) volunteers who are able to assist with trapping; (2) surgery resources to handle the increased volume; and (3) funds to pay for the increased number of surgeries.
Do you loan out traps?
Safe Cats Coalition has live animal traps available for loan. A deposit is required to borrow one of our traps. Once the trap is returned in the same condition that it was given, the deposit will be returned.
· If the trap isn't returned within 5 days, the deposit is forfeited unless our business office is contacted and permits an extension on the trap agreement.
· Deposits must be made in the form of cash, check or credit card.
· The trap must be returned to Safe Cats Coalition to receive the deposit back.
· The borrower is responsible for any veterinary services that may be performed
Won’t your cat get fat if it’s neutered?
The short answer is no. A healthy weight depends on diet and exercise. Veterinarians recommend that indoor cats have enough environmental enrichment to keep them happy, with vertical spaces, climbing trees, and spaces where they can hide and play. The main factor however is diet. Control portions and don’t overfeed.
Isn’t ear tipping cruel?
Not when it is performed while under anesthesia for surgery. Realize that it can be very traumatic for a feral cat to be trapped and transported. Eartipping avoids doing this repeatedly because of unclear markings, or worse, performing unnecessary surgery on a cat only to find it has already been spayed / neutered, or even taken to a shelter where it will be euthanized. Other methods have been tried but none have worked, and the consensus among veterinarians is that eartips are the least harmful method.
More information here.
Do you only do cats in West Columbia?
At this time, yes. Once we are on track to reducing the free-roaming cat population in West Columbia, then we may consider expanding to other jurisdictions.
How do I know if I’m in the city limits?
One method to determine this is to look at the color of your garbage bins. West Columbia's are green, while the garbage service used by Lexington County residents has bright blue bins. This may not be a fool-proof method, but it can help. You may call Safe Cats Coalition at 803-543-6335 to discuss the situation further.
What if I don’t live in West Columbia?
If the cats are not within city limits (or at least a stone's throw away), the surgery and vaccinations cannot be paid for by Safe Cats Coalition. We may be able to provide assistance with trapping however. Call Safe Cats Coalition at 803-543-6335 to discuss the situation with the coordinator.
What if I can’t afford it?
If paying the fees would prevent a person from seeking help due to a strained financial situation, it may help to talk with the coordinator. Sometimes individuals will make donations to assist colony caretakers who do not have the financial means to pay for the surgery fees. Again, our service is free to residents of West Columbia.
Why does Safe Cats only pay for cats in West Columbia?
Safe Cats Coalition was formed for the purpose of changing the City of West Columbia from a trap-and-kill city to a TNR city. West Columbia City Council agreed to a pilot TNR program. One of the incentives Safe Cats offered was that the program would provide a valuable service for City residents at no charge. The best way to ensure that the City will continue the program is to demonstrate that TNR is a more effective way to reduce the number of free-roaming cats than trap-and-kill. Therefore, it is important that we concentrate our efforts and financial resources on the City of West Columbia.
What would be required to expand the Safe Cats program to other jurisdictions?
First, we need to be effective enough to convince West Columbia to make TNR a permanent program. We do not want to risk the viability of our program by diluting our resources. Once we are on track to reducing the free-roaming cat population in West Columbia, then we may consider expanding to other jurisdictions. To do so, we need three things: (1) volunteers who are able to assist with trapping; (2) surgery resources to handle the increased volume; and (3) funds to pay for the increased number of surgeries.
Do you loan out traps?
Safe Cats Coalition has live animal traps available for loan. A deposit is required to borrow one of our traps. Once the trap is returned in the same condition that it was given, the deposit will be returned.
· If the trap isn't returned within 5 days, the deposit is forfeited unless our business office is contacted and permits an extension on the trap agreement.
· Deposits must be made in the form of cash, check or credit card.
· The trap must be returned to Safe Cats Coalition to receive the deposit back.
· The borrower is responsible for any veterinary services that may be performed
Won’t your cat get fat if it’s neutered?
The short answer is no. A healthy weight depends on diet and exercise. Veterinarians recommend that indoor cats have enough environmental enrichment to keep them happy, with vertical spaces, climbing trees, and spaces where they can hide and play. The main factor however is diet. Control portions and don’t overfeed.
Isn’t ear tipping cruel?
Not when it is performed while under anesthesia for surgery. Realize that it can be very traumatic for a feral cat to be trapped and transported. Eartipping avoids doing this repeatedly because of unclear markings, or worse, performing unnecessary surgery on a cat only to find it has already been spayed / neutered, or even taken to a shelter where it will be euthanized. Other methods have been tried but none have worked, and the consensus among veterinarians is that eartips are the least harmful method.
More information here.