Return to Community Cat Program
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Return to Community Cat Program
Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement has developed the Return to Community Cat Program. Nationally, these types of programs are also referred to as Return to Field or Trap Neuter Return.
A community cat, also known as feral, stray, or tomcat, is a free-roaming, unowned cat that may not be acclimated to human interaction. Some community cats accept human interaction but become stressed if forced to live indoors and cannot adjust. The program allows for humanely managing Gwinnett’s community cat population through sterilization and vaccination services.
To drop off a cat at the animal receiving office of the center:
- Drop-off Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 9:00am
- All cats must be in a trap
- Only two cats per household per day
Why It's Important
- Reduces unnecessary euthanasia
- Prevents unwanted births
- Dramatically decreases the population size over time
- Minimizes or eliminates problematic behaviors such as spraying, yowling, and fighting
- Improves the health of community cats
How RTCCP Works
- Residents trap and deliver community cats to the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center for services and then later pick them back up to be returned to the community
- The cat will be sterilized, receive a rabies vaccine and microchip, and have their ear tipped to indicate they are a community cat
- Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement does not provide cat traps; however, traps can be rented through Planned PEThood
- Residents are permitted to bring up to two cats a day with no appointment required
- Only cats in a trap will be accepted
- The program is limited to a total of eight cats a day and operates Monday through Friday
- If a cat is friendly, social, and not deemed a community cat by definition, the cat will not be accepted, and the owner will be referred to their private veterinarian for spay/neuter services
- For more information, contact us by email at RTCCP@GwinnettCounty.com or phone at 678.226.7730
Monthly Data
- One female cat can have up to two litters a year, with an average of eight kittens in each litter
- In our 2020 pilot program year, 1,710 cats were spayed/neutered which prevented more than 10,000 births.
- In 2021, 1,178 cats were spayed/neutered which prevented more than 9,400 births.
- In 2022, 1,228 cats were spayed/neutered which prevented more than 9,820 births.
2023 Monthly Results
| Month | Number of TNR'd Cats |
|---|---|
| January |
112 |
| February |
103 |
| March |
119 |
| April | 124 |
| May | 116 |
| June | 111 |
| July | 142 |
| August | 203 |
| September | 144 |
| October | 136 |
| November | |
| December | |
| Subtotal | 1,310 |
