Trap-Neuter-Return Project

The Trap-Neuter-Return Project is a humane and effective way to control Ontario’s growing feral cat populations. Tax-deductible contributions are accepted on behalf of the Ontario Feral Cat Project at Ontario City Hall, Eastern Oregon Animal Health, Ontario Animal Hospital and here at Four Rivers Veterinary Clinic.

Ontario Feral Cat Project

The Ontario Feral Cat Project is a non-profit organization operated by donations and volunteers. The program is designed to reduce our community’s feral and stray cat overpopulation by using a technique of trap, neuter and return (TNR) to existing monitored colonies. Although not part of our core mission, we also try to find good, loving homes for adoptable cats and kittens. We serve Ontario, Oregon.

OFCP is possible because our community cares about what happens to animals. We work for donations 365 days per year to keep this going. All of the veterinary clinics in Ontario participate in the Project, with the veterinarians all donating their time. Local businesses have been very generous in donating supplies and services as well as cash. Our volunteers are fantastic! We have no paid employees; all the TNR, cat care and fundraising is done by volunteers.

We started the project in 2009 at the request of the Ontario Police Department. After several months of fund-raising and some great support from the City of Ontario, we did our first trapping on November 5, 2009. Since then we have TNR’d thousands of cats! We trap between 30 and 60 cats per month.

We don’t have a shelter or any facility that is suitable for caring for cats other than temporarily before and after their surgeries. It is a challenge every time we are asked to take in cats or kittens. When we take in cats or kittens we have to find a foster home for them. Our fosters are dedicated individuals who donate their time to care for and socialize cats so that we can find permanent homes for them.

We partner with PetSense in Ontario, PetSmart in Meridian and Petco in Nampa to find homes for cats and kittens that are socialized and adoptable.

We have several projects each year to raise the funds necessary to continue the Project:

• We have been having huge yard sales in the spring annually since 2010.
• We mail a newsletter out to our supporters twice a year.
• Every year we host our Nab and Neuter Auction.
• One of our volunteers makes beautiful, one-of-a-kind crocheted cats that are for sale at The House That Art Built.
• We are working on calendars that will feature OFCP cats – both ferals and cute kittens.
• We are in constant need of food and cat litter donations to help with the cats we rescue. Donations can be left with the veterinary clinics.

New ideas and new volunteers are always welcome!

Follow the Ontario Feral Cat Project online at ontarioferalcats.org. They have many kittens and cats that are available for adoption. Please take a look at this website as it is full of information regarding the feral cat population, different projects and such.

Behavioral Medicine

If you want to change a cat’s behavior, you must think like a cat! But what if you think like a d-o-g or even like a person? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Carney who most often does think like a cat.

She has studied cat behavior for more than 40 years and while still learning from our purring friends, understands how to help you better address feline behaviors such as house soiling; not getting along with roommate cats, children and adults; scratching the new couch; crying in the middle of the night and over-grooming.

Dr. Carney started working with “misbehaving” cats because her own beloved cat wet the bed and he taught her much about what cats needs to feel secure. After evaluating your cat for any possible medical causes of the behavior, Dr. Carney will proceed with a full behavior history and develop a plan specific for your situation. She may use behavior modification drugs as well.

Dr. Carney has published scientific articles and book chapters about feline behavior and lectures about it to both veterinary groups and the general public.

Does Your Cat Do This?

Urinating Outside the Litter Box: 

• Why They Do It: When cats urinate outside of the litter box, they’re telling you that something is wrong in their world. “They may have encountered difficulty with another cat, or they’re ill and feeling vulnerable,” Carney said. The box may be too dirty for them.
• How To Solve It: One cat really needs two litter boxes. If a home has more than one floor, additional litter boxes may be needed on the other levels. Cats need more and larger litter boxes than we normally give them. Place litter boxes in a “safe” place, away from noises (like the washer and dryer) and high traffic areas (toddlers, other pets). Get a new box twice a year.

Urinating On The Bed: 

• Why They Do It: Your pet may have separation anxiety. Your bed is where your smell is the strongest, and your cat does not want to leave it.
• How To Solve It: Put the litter box close to or on your bed (protect bedding with a clear plastic shower curtain). Praise the cat for using it and gradually move the box further away from the bed. Develop a leave-taking ritual, even if you leave the house for a few minutes. Don’t make homecoming a big deal.

What's Your Cat Trying to Say?

Cats have 23 words -- or distinct vocal sounds -- in their vocabularies. They also use their bodies to communicate. Hazel Carney listens for the number of "me's" and "ow's" and the emphasis on each sound.

Chirping: Cats will trill a chirp-like greeting to say hello. That indicates friendliness.

Purring: Cats have three types of purrs, Carney said, and all three mean something different. The classic happy cat purr is rhythmic and deep. The frightened purr is a lower pitch and monotonous. Then, 24 hours preceding death, cats are known to make a low-pitched, constant purr.

Ear and Whiskers: Forward-pointing ears and whiskers indicate interest.Feet: Any cat that allows you to readily handle his feet tends to be a very good-natured cat, Carney said.Slow blinking: This is the equivalent of a kitty kiss, Carney said. “It’s the main compliment a cat gives to his owner.”Staring: A cat that stares at you has a greater aggressive tendency than one that averts his eyes. “In the wild, a cat fixes his eyes on the guy he’s gonna nail,” Carney said.

Slow Blinking: "This is the equivalent of a kitty kiss," Carney said. "It's the main compliment a cat gives to his owner."

Kneading: Cats do this when they are relaxed and content. "That's going back to the happiest time of his life when he was nursing."

Feet: “Any cat that allows you to readily handle their feet tends to be a very good-natured cat,” Carney said.