A cat colony is a group of outdoor, unowned cats that share the same territory.
Colonies form naturally around food, shelter, and safety.
They’re not assigned, they happen.
They’re not assigned, they happen.
When left unmanaged, colonies grow quickly.
But when TNR is applied:
- The cats are fixed, vaccinated, and ear-tipped
- The population stabilizes or shrinks
- The nuisance behaviors (fighting, spraying, yowling) go way down
Colonies aren’t the problem. Uncontrolled breeding is.
A colony manager is someone who looks after a group of outdoor cats.
This may include:
- Feeding regularly
- Watching for new arrivals
- Reporting injuries or illnesses
- Helping coordinate TNR for unfixed cats
Colony managers are not expected to “own” the cats, just care for them in place.
If you’re feeding or checking on cats consistently, you might already be a colony manager.