Project "Cat-Nip Voucher"

July 2009 - June 2010

Project "Cat-Nip Voucher" is the focus of San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition's (SAFCC) efforts to encourage Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) of San Antonio's outdoor cats without using the local low cost spay/neuter resources. SAFCC's education program, four free workshops per month at libraries all over the city, trains the army of volunteer residents helping to humanely reduce the number of outdoor cats through TNR. The number of trained caretakers now seeking low-cost spay/neuter resources is growing rapidly but the spay/neuter resources are not expanding quickly enough to keep up with the demand. Project Cat-Nip Voucher is a voucher to be used ONLY for the spay/neuter of outdoor cats (not pets) at ANY participating vet clinic. The remaining cost of the spay/neuter surgery, and any other services ordered at the time, will be the resident's responsibility.

Local veterinary clinics are encouraged to sign up for the project. By participating in this discount voucher program, the veterinarian will receive the full value of the spay/neuter surgery in 2 portions:

The resident's payment on the day of surgery minus the value of the voucher. The voucher is worth $50.00 for a male cat neuter and $75.00 for a female spay.
A check from SAFCC within 10 days of receiving the completed voucher signed by the vet clinic.

The resident of San Antonio will present the voucher at the time of surgery and the veterinarian or office manager will sign the voucher to verify the surgery was completed. The voucher and a copy of the medical record is then mailed to SAFCC in the preaddressed, stamped envelope provided and a check for the relevant amount will be sent to the vet clinic within 10 days of receipt of the completed voucher.

Although not mandatory, participating veterinarians are encouraged to include a small discount of their own to keep costs down for people doing this volunteer work.

Protocols:

Dealing with feral, unsociable or frightened cats can be a challenge and TNR has its own set of protocols that the veterinarian's office and staff should be aware of. A training video showing protocols for dealing with feral cats will be supplied to all participating vets.

Every cat in Project Cat-Nip Voucher must be delivered to the vet clinic in a trap so anesthetic may be administered safely.
Cats will NOT receive pre-anesthetic blood work (wild cats must be anesthetized before handling).
Cats in a TNR program are NOT REQUIRED to have a combo/SNAP blood test for FIV or FeLV. However, if a cat has symptoms of an immune-deficiency disease, the caretaker should request the blood test and decide whether to euthanise or NOT euthanise the cat. In either case, the caretaker must give clear written/signed instructions of their intentions before leaving the cat with the vet. Reimbursement for an unhealthy looking cat that is combo test positive and euthanasia is performed will be reimbursed at $50/voucher.
Cats in traps must be kept covered to reduce stress except when being observed after surgery.
Each cat will have the tip of the left ear removed (ear-tipped) while under anesthetic. This is the standard way of marking outdoor cats that have been sterilized and will reduce the incidents of already sterilized cats coming in for surgery a second time.

The names of all participating Veterinary clinics will be provided to TNR workshop attendees. Vouchers will be handed out and monitored by a SAFCC committee.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to working with you.

Any veterinarian willing to participate in this program should contact Jenny Burgess (President SAFCC) at the email or phone below.

San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition
info@sanantonioferalcats.org
Cell phone: 210-378-9036

View the list of veterinarian clinics participating in the Project Cat-Nip Voucher program.

Want to help us spread the word about the Project Cat-Nip Voucher program? Please print this letter and take it to your veterinarian.