ASTRO Foundation
Community Cats Program
Welcome to the ASTRO Foundation’s Community Cats & TNR initiative! Our mission is to promote the well-being of feral and stray cats through effective Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. By humanely trapping, neutering, and returning these cats to their original habitats, we aim to reduce overpopulation, improve their health, and enhance community harmony. Join us in creating a compassionate community that supports the lives of these resilient felines while fostering a balance between wildlife and urban living.
Give a gift today to support spay/neuter of community cats.
Not sure what a Community Cat is exactly? Click here to learn more.
Get Involved - Volunteers Needed Meow!
Whether you’re an experienced colony caretaker or just passionate about animal welfare, your support is invaluable. As a colony caretaker, you’ll play a crucial role in monitoring and caring for local feral cat populations, identifying unaltered cats, and assisting with trapping efforts. We provide training and resources to ensure you feel confident in your role. Additionally, there are plenty of other ways to contribute—volunteer for trapping events, transport to and from spay/neuter appointments, spread the word about our programs, or donate to support our efforts. Join us in creating a compassionate community that prioritizes the well-being of our feline friends!
Happy Tails
Low Cost Appointments with High Impact... Between the months of July and September of 2024, the ASTRO Foundation offered low-cost TNR appointments to community members from Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon, CA. For $40 per, cats will received spay/neuter, an ear tip and a rabies vaccination before recovering and being returned to their outdoor homes.
During this initiative, a total of 30 cats were sterilized. 5 males and 25 females, 9 of which were pregnant. One unaltered female and her offspring can produce up to 4,948 kittens in a span of seven years. Based on that math, we prevented 123,700 unwanted kittens from being born over the next seven years!
This low-cost TNR program was made possible by the generosity of our community and support from the United Spay Alliance and Community Cats Podcast.
It Pays to Spay... Over the weekend of March 23-24, 2024, a total of 23 stray and feral cats were trapped, with 9 from Jacob Myers Park in Riverbank, CA, and 14 from the Cost Less Shopping Center in Oakdale, CA. Five dedicated volunteers invested approximately 70 hours in trapping, feeding, and transporting the cats. Of the 23, two tame cats were rescued by ASTRO, while 21 were spayed/neutered—13 females, 9 of whom were pregnant. This effort is projected to prevent up to 63,674 unwanted kittens over the next seven years, highlighting the importance of a robust TNR program. The total project cost was $1,660, funded by donations from the Oakdale Shelter Pet Alliance and others. ASTRO provided microchips for each cat, and a request was made for their return to their original locations if they end up at a shelter. Thanks were extended to all involved, including volunteers, donors, and the cities of Oakdale and Riverbank, with hopes for future projects.