Feral cats also become a public nuisance and make up a large portion of the cats euthanized at animal shelters. The plight of feral cats has captured the hearts of animal lovers for many years, but only recently has a non-lethal option for their control become available. This solution successfully decreases the population, reduces birth rates and improves the overall health of the colony. Performed on a large scale, the success of such programs is felt at animal shelters where fewer cats are admitted for euthanasia. Founded in 1998, Operation Catnip-Gainesville is the second Operation Catnip chapter to join the national effort to reduce feral cat populations through free TNR programs for unowned, feral cats.
All cats also receive a vaccination against rabies, feline leukemia and feline distemper.
Operation Catnip permanently crops the left ear of all cats altered in the no-cost clinic. The cropped left ear identifies each cat as stray and sterile. One unaltered cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years. In 1997 Operation Catnip-Raleigh sterilized over 1000 cats which directly prevented the suffering of many thousands more. These caretakers assume the responsibility to trap and transport the cats to and from the clinics.