Operation Catnip Trains Veterinarians to help community Cats
An innovative Florida program that has been spaying, neutering, and vaccinating community cats because 1998 is about to share its successful model with the nation.
Founded by Dr. Julie Levy, director of the Maddie’s shelter medicine Program at the university of Florida college of Veterinary Medicine, the trap-neuter-return (TNR) program known as operation Catnip has been running totally free high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics for community cats in Gainesville for much more than 16 years. because its founding, the organization has cared for much more than 45,000 cats. In 2014 alone, they helped 2,693 cats and prevented the births of a projected 6,142 kittens who might have been born to the now-sterilized cats in the first year following surgery.
Now, thanks to an educational grant from PetSmart Charities, they’re making their training program and materials available to veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians from all over the U.S. “Our vision is to train an army of veterinarians to spay and neuter America’s community cats,” said Dr. Julie Levy, the founder of operation Catnip and director of the Maddie’s shelter medicine Program at the university of Florida college of Veterinary Medicine. “This approach, along with vaccination, will allow us to decrease cat population, control infectious diseases, and improve the lives of the cats.”
Operation Catnip clinics are operated along the lines of a MASH unit. The cats are trapped by community members, then brought to the clinic, where they’re cared for in stations staffed by volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students. Each cat is examined, spayed or neutered, vaccinated against infectious diseases, treated for fleas and other parasites, given an identifying ear tip, allowed to recover, then returned to the location where she or he was trapped.
For much more information, or to sign up for one of the upcoming training sessions, visit OperationCatnip.org.
Ingrid King
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13 comments on operation Catnip Trains Veterinarians to help community Cats
Jan says:
August 25, 2017 at 9:04 am
I live in Hernando County, FL. I think all states ought to adopt operation Catnip…. catch, spay, neuter, release back everywhere. They clip a tiny suggestion of left ear so you can see animal is fixed…..wonderful to cut down in cats being killed and the population…
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Connie says:
April 11, 2015 at 9:14 pm
what a fantastic thing.. because shelter medicine can be very different from regular day to day clients
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sue Brandes says:
March 19, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Sounds and looks like an outstanding programs. thanks for sharing it.
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Margaret says:
March 19, 2015 at 11:23 am
Such schemes cannot be praised highly
enough
There is one such on the Isle of Wight, UK that has shown very, very successful. know the lady personal who runs this very small, very dedicated cat rescue centre, she is completely commited to cat welfare – our own three cats all came from her rescue centre.
Anyone interested enough can view her site at www.felinewelfareiow.co.uk
I personally cannot praise HER highly enough – and they seem to have had a particularly successful year with neutering in 2014
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Ingrid says:
March 19, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Thanks for sharing this resource for our readers in the UK, Margaret.
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elaine Faber says:
March 19, 2015 at 11:20 am
sounds like a great program. Where might one donate to this worthy cause?
Elaine Faber – author – Black cat and the Lethal Lawyer
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Ingrid says:
March 19, 2015 at 1:25 pm
I’m sure there’s information about how to donate on their website, Elaine.
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Dawn says:
March 19, 2015 at 10:29 am
This is fantastic! I’m going to share as well.
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Ingrid says:
March 19, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Thanks for sharing, Dawn!
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Janine says:
March 19, 2015 at 7:55 am
What a fantastic idea
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fur all over says:
March 19, 2015 at 7:13 am
I’m so thankful that programs like operation Catnip exist. here in Denver, we have spay/neuter mobiles that go to underserved communities to offer low-cost, subsidized spay/neuters and vaccinations to cats and dogs. Programs like these are helping control overpopulation, but there is still a long way to go. I hope that a lot of people will take advantage of the training sessions and learn how to help their community kitties.
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Bernie says:
March 19, 2015 at 2:11 am
Great idea. Sharing this on my page.
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Ingrid says:
March 19, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Thanks fornull