Feral Cat Care

Fieldhaven is searching for volunteers that are interested in working at our main shelter to assist with cat care for our Bucks Barn. This is a great opportunity to work closely with our Feral Sanctuary Cats.

Duties include:

• Follow all safety and handling protocols to protect both yourself and the cat, including using proper PPE and approved equipment.
• Use humane traps, transfer cages, and handling tools rather than direct contact whenever possible.
• Monitor trapped cats frequently to ensure they are safe, calm, and not exposed to unnecessary stress or weather conditions.
• Safely transfer feral cats between traps, carriers, and holding enclosures using approved methods such as trap dividers or transfer cages.
• Maintain a quiet, low-stress environment during transport, recovery, and holding periods.
• Observe cats closely for signs of injury, illness, or distress, and report concerns immediately to staff.
• Assist with pre- and post-surgery care under staff direction, including monitoring recovery and ensuring cats remain contained and comfortable.
• Clean and prepare traps, carriers, and holding areas following sanitation guidelines.
• Transport cats to clinics, recovery areas, or release sites as assigned, ensuring secure containment at all times.
• Return cats to their original location once cleared for release, following FieldHaven’s TNR and colony-care protocols.
• Document trapping, transport, and release details accurately for record-keeping and follow-up.
• Communicate respectfully with community members
• Feeding and Cleaning indoor/outdoor Cats

The candidate would need to:

• Comfort working around unsocialized, fearful, or defensive cats, with an understanding of feline body language and stress signals.
• Ability to follow strict safety and handling protocols to protect both the cats and yourself.
• Patience and calm demeanor, especially in situations where cats may be reactive or unpredictable.
• Experience with humane traps or willingness to learn proper trapping, transfer, and containment techniques.
• Ability to work quietly and deliberately, minimizing stress for feral or semi-feral cats.
• Physical ability to lift and carry traps or carriers (typically 15–25 lbs. with a cat inside).
• Strong observational skills to identify signs of illness, injury, or distress in cats that cannot be handled.
• Reliable transportation if assisting with trapping, transport to clinics, or returning cats to their colonies.
• Comfort working outdoors in various weather conditions when trapping or monitoring colonies.
• Ability to work independently while still communicating effectively with staff and other volunteers.
• Commitment to humane, ethical treatment of community cats