Our Programs

Counseling

Cats in Action (CIA) offers counseling and guidance on all topics related to free-roaming cats and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) at no charge via several channels:

Workshops

CIA offers a free workshop, “Helping Cats Near You,” via Zoom on the 4th Sunday of each month. The workshop is a comprehensive introduction to the practice of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), covering ongoing colony management, nuisance prevention, what to do with kittens, the Cook County ordinance and much more. It is not necessary or required to take the workshop before beginning a trapping project but is highly recommended for anyone who is just starting out or wants to learn more about how to help outdoor cats.

We are planning a “TNR 201” workshop, which will include more advanced TNR topics, for Spring 2024. Join our Newsletter or watch this website to stay tuned.

Trap Lending

CIA lends humane traps for catching free-roaming and feral cats as well as lost cats. We lend TruCatch Standard 30LTD and FatCat 30FTD traps and trap dividers from two locations, one on the North side of Chicago and one on the South side. Please reach out to CIA via one of the above channels to borrow traps. We require a photo ID. There is no rental fee or deposit required. In most cases, you need to have spay/neuter appointments booked before you borrow traps.

TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) Assistance

TNR is a grassroot, community initiative. We have many more requests for trapping assistance than we are able to get to. The vast majority of cats are trapped by the people who are caring for them. CIA will make every effort to provide caretakers with the knowledge and tools to complete a TNR project. For clients unable to trap cats, CIA may be able to provide trapping and transportation services, pending availability. If clients are not able to afford the cost of spay/neuter, CIA may be able to provide funding. Because demand for no- and low-cost spay/neuter services far outweighs available funding, CIA will review each request on a case-by-case basis. To request TNR assistance, fill out the “Request Help” form at the bottom of the website or give us a call.

Barn Cats & Working Cats

CIA provides healthy, sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped barn cats and urban/suburban working cats for caretakers who agree to feed cat food regularly and provide water, shelter and vet care. We mainly pull feral and semi-feral cats from open-intake shelters where they would otherwise be euthanized. Occasionally we relocate cats whose caretakers have died or moved, if neighbors cannot be identified to take over responsibilities and all other options have been exhausted.

We do not accept feral cats from people wishing to relinquish them. In the vast majority of cases, it is better to TNR cats and return them to where they came from. Relocation is extremely stressful for cats and should only be pursued as a last resort, after a good-faith effort, exhaustive has been made to keep cats in their community home.