Here’s Why Cats In Utah Are Missing Part Of Their Ears

If you see a cat roaming your neighborhood and with one ear or both ears tipped, do you know what that means? The top point of ear has been clipped off leaving it flat at the top. It means the cat has been part of TNR, a program for Community Cats. 

TNR stands for “Trapped Neuter Return.” Community cats is a new name for a feral cats that live and survive in the area without having a specific home or human taking care of them. There may be one that wanders around the area or a group of them that congregate together. 

These cats have found a food source and are capable of thriving on their own. Sometimes people will leave food out for them, and they usually don’t bother anyone. In the past these cats may have been removed, but now the thinking is to just keep them from reproducing. That is why they are caught and neutered before being returned. 

Tipping the ear of the cat lets animal control know the animal has seen a veterinarian and has been spayed or neutered. This way the cat won't have to go through the stress of being trapped again.

If you see a cat wandering around, unless it looks sickly, leave it alone. If it belongs to someone it will find its own way home. If the ears are tipped it has been through the program and will do its own thing. If it does look sick, injured, or starving, then it can be taken to a shelter. 

Who doesn’t enjoy a couple cats hanging out in the neighborhood. And I’m not talking about the two guys in their front yard talking about grass seed. I mean cats who are wild and living alongside humans as they have for centuries.