Supporting Community Cats
Feral Cat ProgramBRANDON FERAL CAT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Humanely Addressing Feral Cats in Our Community
Tails of Hope’s Brandon Feral Cat Assistance Program (FCAP) is a volunteer-driven initiative working to humanely reduce the number of free-roaming cats in the Brandon community. Using the proven Trap/Neuter/Vaccinate/Return (TNVR) model, we address feral cat populations with compassion, care, and community at the heart of everything we do.
When a community member reports a feral cat or colony, FCAP volunteers connect with anyone already caring for those cats — one in five households report feeding a feral cat on their property — and enlist them in trapping, sterilization, and ongoing colony care. Tails of Hope provides all training, equipment, and financial assistance for spay/neuter services. Socialized cats and young kittens may be placed for adoption through Tails of Hope.
Thank you to the businesses and individuals of Brandon who support this program. Your generosity makes this work possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
HOW DOES TNVR WORK?
Feral cats are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered by a veterinarian. Socialized cats and kittens may be placed for adoption. Adult feral cats are returned to their outdoor home, where community volunteers provide ongoing care. Breeding stops, populations decline, and nuisance behaviors — yowling, spraying, fighting — virtually disappear. Disease and malnutrition are also greatly reduced.
WHAT IS A FERAL CAT?
A feral cat is an unsocialized cat — either born outdoors without human contact, or a former pet who has reverted to a wild state over time. Feral cats instinctively avoid humans, making TNVR the most humane and effective approach to their care.
HOW DO I REPORT A FERAL CAT OR COLONY?
Contact Tails of Hope at (802) 483-6700 or email us. An FCAP volunteer will follow up to assess the situation and connect you with support.
WHAT TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS?
FCAP provides training on humane trapping techniques, colony management, and feral cat behavior. Training is offered through in-person meetings, one-on-one assistance, printed materials, videos, and online resources. You don’t need any prior experience — we’ll walk you through everything.
IS IT SAFE TO VOLUNTEER?
FCAP is designed so that no volunteer ever needs to come into direct contact with a feral cat. That said, Tails of Hope strongly recommends that all volunteers ensure their tetanus vaccination is current and speak with their physician about rabies pre-exposure vaccination. It’s worth noting that from 1990–2002, not one of the 36 U.S. rabies deaths was contracted from a cat — rabies in the U.S. is overwhelmingly a wildlife disease.
WHAT DO I DO IF I AM BITTEN OR SCRATCHED?
- Immediately flush and wash the wound thoroughly with warm, soapy water.
- Seek medical attention right away.
- If the cat is confined, contact Tails of Hope at (802) 483-6700 so we can assist with next steps.
IS MY INFORMATION KEPT CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. All participants are asked to keep the identity of colony caretakers and colony locations strictly confidential to protect both the volunteers and the cats in their care.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT BRANDON FCAP?
Brandon FCAP is a program of Tails of Hope – Rutland County’s Humane Society, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. To direct your gift to FCAP, note “Brandon FCAP” in the memo line of your check or in the notes field of your online gift. Checks may be mailed to:
Tails of Hope – Rutland County’s Humane Society 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT 05763
Volunteer with FCAP
Join a network of dedicated community members working to humanely reduce feral cat populations in Brandon. Training and equipment provided — no experience necessary.
Make a Donation
Every dollar goes directly to spay/neuter and vaccination services for feral cats in our community. Your gift makes a measurable difference — one cat at a time.