Ear-tipping

Photo borrowed from the East Bay SPCA

What is an Ear-Tip?

An ear-tip is the removal of about one centimeter of the tip of an adult cat's ear. This is a universally recognized, safe and humane procedure that is done while the cat is under anesthesia for spay/neuter surgery. This is only done for feral cats, barn cats, or outside community cats. This is not done on friendly pet cats that sometimes go outside. 
An ear-tip is a visual indicator that a cat has previously been altered and vaccinated. Because feral cats can be difficult to get close to, the ear tip can be seen from a distance and helps prevent re-trapping, transport, stress, and unnecessary anesthesia.

All feral or community cats that come into Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project for spay/neuter surgery will receive an ear-tip and a rabies vaccination at no charge. At FCSNP, we “tip” the right ear of female cats, and the left ear of male cats. In other parts of the US and the abroad, the ear-tip may not be an indicator of a particular sex.

In some areas, an ear notch is also an indication that a feral or community cat has been spayed/neutered. However, because it can be difficult to differentiate a surgical ear notch from an ear injury, it is becoming practiced with less frequency.

If you find a cat with an ear-tip, you should leave them where they are, unless they appear unhealthy/injured or in immediate danger. Studies have shown that the presence of cats within a community will prevent other cats from moving into the area. Additionally, cats provide valuable rodent control. Because ear-tipped cats have already been spayed/neutered, they will never produce more kittens, and their nuisance behaviors (such as fighting and spraying) will diminish.

Even if you do not like cats, please leave ear-tipped cats where they are. They have an important job to do in your neighborhood. 

Questions? Please contact Feral Cat Project at questions@feralcatproject.org or visit the Community Cat Coalition for more resources.