As part of our mission, we strive to provide better outcomes for the animals in our community. We support the rights of community cats to remain in their outdoor homes, and consider relocation only as a last resort.
Through a collaborative partnership with East Bay Regional Parks, Oakland Animal Services helps to relocate cats from areas where their presence poses a risk to the safety of endangered birds and mice. The Working Cat Program balances these sensitive needs, offering a solution that addresses both the welfare of the cats and the preservation of local wildlife.
A Compassionate Solution for Community Cats
The Working Cat Program provides a sustainable solution for community cats who cannot return to their original outdoor home. Tiffany Ashbaker, the FOAS-funded Community Cat Coordinator, plays a crucial role in this process, by coordinating spay/neuter, helping to place these outdoor cats with adopters in need of eco-friendly rodent control, and overseeing their transition.
Working Cat adopter, Anna, shared that she always wanted to have a beautiful garden, but she could never enjoy the fruits and vegetables she tried to grow because rodents would get to them first. Now that Totoro and Hyena are diligently on the lookout for rodents, Anna has seen her garden flourish.
While working cats may keep their distance, with the right conditions they thrive in their new outdoor environments, typically acclimating within 4-6 weeks. Establishing a feeding routine and providing a secure space encourages them to stay and form bonds with caretakers. Tiffany offers guidance throughout this process, monitoring the cats’ responses to assess their readiness for release. Some may take longer to adjust and prefer solitude except during feeding times, but the adopter’s commitment to care and coexistence is what truly matters. So far this year, 110 cats have found new outdoor homes through the Working Cat Program.
Utilizing grant funding from California for All Animals for spay/neuter of community cats, Tiffany also works closely with community members and Bay Area nonprofits like Full Circle Cats (FCC) and Island Cat Resources and Adoption (ICRA) to support Oakland’s community cats and further Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts, with 770 feral cats so far fixed this year! Together, we are making a positive impact in our neighborhoods and giving these lucky cats a second chance.
Your support is vital in helping us continue this important work!
