If you have community cats (aka ownerless cats who live outdoors) in your neighborhood, you might have noticed that some or all of these outdoor cats have an ear that is squared off instead of pointy at the tip. These cats have undergone a procedure known as ear-tipping. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about ear-tipping cats.

Oct 2, 2024 · Ear-clipping, or ear-tipping, is a procedure done on feral cats to indicate that they have been spayed, neutered, or vaccinated as part of a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) or Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program.

Ear notching or ear tipping is a universal sign that a feral cat has been spayed or neutered (desexed), vaccinated and then returned to its colony. Veterinarians notch or tip the ear during spay/neuter surgery which helps to identify a trap, neuter, return (TNR) cat from a distance.

Mar 19, 2025 · Apart from allowing a community cat to have a healthier life, ear tipping lets veterinarians know that a cat brought in with a tipped ear has already been vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Knowing this information prevents unnecessary surgery.

What to Do When You See an Ear-Tipped Cat. If you come across an ear-tipped cat, the best action is simple: Leave the cat where it’s at! These cats are usually part of a managed colony and are being cared for by community volunteers. By leaving them undisturbed, you help maintain the delicate balance and effectiveness of TNR programs. The ...

These notches, also known as “ear tipping,” serve as a visual indication that a cat has been spayed or neutered and is part of a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. This simple procedure has become a widely recognized way to manage feral …

Oct 3, 2019 · Most likely, the cat you saw was feral (also known as a community, free-roaming, or stray cat) and the tipped ear was from their participation in a trap-neuter-release program. Ear-tipping is an important, mostly painless procedure to help identify cats that have participated in these programs.

There are several reasons why some cats have their ears clipped, and understanding the significance of this practice can shed light on the importance of TNR programs in managing feral cat populations.

Jan 2, 2015 · If you notice a healthy-looking ear-tipped cat in your neighborhood, please do not catch it and bring it in to KHS as a stray, or call Animal Control to retrieve it. The ear-tip is a sign that the cat is outdoors where it wants to be, and has already been fixed so he or she won’t be adding any more offspring to our feral cat population.

“A clipped ear on a cat is a clear indication that it has been spayed or neutered. This practice is essential for controlling feral cat populations and preventing overbreeding,” says a veterinarian specializing in feline medicine.