The Cost of Care

The suggested donation for spay/neuter services for feral and stray cats at FCCO is $50 per cat.

In the years leading up to the pandemic we helped 4,200 feral cats per year and 2,100 pet cats on average. Last year we helped a record 8,777 cats – all of them feral or stray.

In 2020 spay/neuter in the Portland area and beyond was nearly nonexistent for several months – in spring during the peak breeding season. When clinics like ours could reopen, services were limited to keep staff safe. As quickly and safely as we could, we grew our capacity.

To accomplish this, we decided to limit our services to helping only feral (untamed) and stray (lost or abandoned) cats living outside, and their offspring (who may be tame or feral). We made this choice because we know there are very limited options for these cats and they are likely to be intact and breeding. Additionally we have the skills and experience to safely help a lot more cats when we focus on feral and stray cats.

All feral and stray cats receive the same package of services including spay or neuter surgery, rabies and distemper vaccines, flea treatment, earmite and worm treatment if needed, minor wound care, pain relief, fluids if dehydrated, and a right ear tip for identification. In the current marketplace spay/neuter services for cats are valued on average at $318 per spay and $251 per neuter – and this doesn’t include the vaccines and other treatments. We can provide our services for a donation to anyone who needs them because we specialize in providing these services in volume and because we have your support. You are a critical partner and we thank you.

Having lost income from pet cat service fees, nearly doubling the number of feral cat surgeries, and considering rapidly increasing staff and supply costs, as of 2022 we raised our suggested donation to $50 per cat. It’s important to note that this covers just the services the cat receives while in our care, and it does not cover any other staffing, overhead, or supplies.

You make it possible for the community to benefit from our services. We cherish your support and are deeply grateful for your appreciation of the importance of affordable spay/neuter services to improve the welfare and reduce the number of cats living on our streets. Thank you.