Operation Homeless Cats, a community effort to spay and neuter homeless cats in Dare County, launched Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. The goal is to create a manageable population of cats in Dare County and prevent a repeat of the current overcrowding it local shelters.

The program was created as a partnership with Dare County and the Outer Banks SPCA. Other non-profit groups participating include Feline Hope, Friends of Felines – Hatteras Island, Spay and Neuter Today, Feline Fix Foundation, Coastal Humane Society and Winston’s March Animal Rescue.

Dare County has allocated $70,000 to the program. The Outer Banks Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will add $30,000.

Under the program, traps will be set throughout the county in the next six months in high volume areas as well as in other targeted areas where homeless cats are identified as living. Employees and volunteers will set, check and collect the traps throughout Dare County. The cats will then be taken to local vets for alteration and vaccinations and safely returned to their point of origin. All cats will be ear tipped to indicate that they have been altered.

“If you have a cat that lives outdoors, we may unintentionally trap it, so please be aware when we are in your area,” advised a press release about the program.

To report homeless cats that need to be addressed, contact the Outer Banks SPCA at 252-475-5620.

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