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General Description of Volunteer Positions

 
Almost anything you can and want to do can help the cats!
There are many ways to volunteer and no job is too small. General descriptions of the more common volunteer positions noted below are either with an existing group or organization or may be an individual endeavor.

A number of them require training and a certain time commitment. Training requirements can be waived based upon previous experience. When necessary, the CRC will provide training at no cost.

 
Primary Volunteer Opportunties:
 
   Secondary Volunteer Opportunties
 
    
Hot Jobs/Help Needed Now!
Colony Management:
 -Feral Cat Feeder
 -Colony Manager
 -Substitute Feeder
 
Transportation:
 -TNR Cat Transport
 -General Transport
 -Cargo Transport
 
Feral Cat Trapping:
 -Trapping
 -Pre/Post Surgery Care
 -Community Coordination
 -Mitigation
 
Fostering Adults/Kittens
 -Basic Foster Home
 -Special Needs Foster
 
Pet Adoption Fairs:
 -Manage or Assist a Fair
 -Adoption Counselor
 
General:
 -Answering Questions
 -Education/Presentations
 -Training (How-to)
   Special Projects and General Assistance
 -General Labor / Help
 -Provide Storage Space
 -Carpentry / Construction / Shelters
 -Special Events
    ► Do you have a few hours now and then to drive cats or supplies? Drivers needed - Click here!  
 
► Do you have a little extra space in your garage? Would you be willing to house cats overnight? Help TNR! - Click here!  
 
► Do you have love to spare and a couple of free hours each day? Foster kittens need you! - Click here! 		 

Click Here to Join The CRC

Please see below for more detailed descriptions of volunteer opportunities:
 
 
 
Colony Feeding and Management includes all activities associated with maintaining the health and well-being of free-roaming cat groups in their current home.
Feral Cat Feeder/ Colony Manager
Time Commitment: One hour daily, every day, for the life of the colony.
Equipment Required: Transport to site, food and water bowls (if not already on-site), water jug, dry cat food.
Training Required: Short course on free-roaming cats (30 minutes).
  • Feed a group of feral cats daily
  • Monitor the number of cats and ensure that all are spayed/neutered
  • Assist in TNR efforts when needed by putting up flyers, contacting other feeders, etc.
    •      		          Substitute Feral Cat Feeder
    Time Commitment: One hour daily, every day, for a specified period (usually about a week, though it could be a single day).
    Equipment Required: Transport to site, food and water bowls (if not already on-site), water jug, dry cat food.
    Training Required: Short course on free-roaming cats (30 minutes).
  • Feed a group of feral cats daily when colony feeder is unavailable (on vacation, medical leave, etc.).
    •

    Click here to sign up!

     

     
    Transportation is needed for a wide variety of activities: taking cats to the vet/neutering appointments, moving traps and kennels, delivering or picking up food and other donations and a lot more.
    TNR Cat Transportation
    Time Commitment: Flexible, but usually needed in morning or afternoon.
    Equipment Required: Vehicle capable of holding one or more standard traps.
    Training Required:Basic cat safety (1/2 hour).
  • Morning drop-off time at vet normally between 7:00 and 9:00 am.
  • Afternoon pick-up time at vet normally between 3:00 and 5:00 pm.
  • Flexible times for transporting to/from holding locations (normally residential homes) to living area before and after surgery.
  • Driving time will depend on the locations of vet and where the cat is being temporarily housed. However, most trips will be under an hour.
  • Must have valid driver license and insurance for vehicle.
    		•           General Transportation
    Time Commitment: Usually flexible, depending on situation.
    Equipment Required: Vehicle capable of holding light cargo.
    Training Required: If transporting cats: Basic cat safety (1/2 hour)
  • Pick-up/deliver donations of food, crates, carriers, litter, linen and other cat supplies.
  • Pick-up/deliver other donations/items including office equipment and supplies, flyers, and other non-cat things.
  • Pick-up/deliver medicines (must be over 21 yrs old).
  • Driving time will depend on the locations. Most trips will be local and under an hour, though longer trips are occasionally needed.
  • Must have valid driver license and insurance for vehicle.
    • Large/Heavy Cargo Transportation
    Time Commitment: Flexible, only needed occasionally.
    Equipment Required: Vehicle capable of holding large/heavy items such as pallets of food, large pens/shelters, cat furniture, tables and booths for events, etc.
    Training Required: None.
  • Driving time will depend on the locations. Most trips will be local and under an hour, though longer trips are occasionally needed.
  • Must have valid driver license and insurance for vehicle.
    		•            

    Click here to sign up!

     

     
    TNR (Trap - Neuter - Return) includes all activities (except transport, which is covered above) associated with trapping free-roaming cats, getting them to the vet for neutering, and returning them to their original location after a recovery period.
    Trapping
    Time Commitment: Flexible, but usually in early morning or evening.
    Equipment Required: Gloves, long-sleeve shirt and long pants.
    Training Required: Basic cat safety (1/2 hour) plus Trapping (1/2 hour).
  • Most trapping occurs during cat feeding times, normally around sunrise and/or sunset.
  • Trapping locations vary widely, and can include rural areas, residential neighborhoods and office complexes among others.
  • Traps (either standard or drop-traps) and other supplies will be provided as needed.
  • Depending on situation, may be done alone or with others.
    •      		          Community Coordination
    Time Commitment: Flexible.
    Equipment Required: None.
    Training Required: Short course on free-roaming cats (30 minutes).
  • Distribute flyers and information material to residents near the TNR site.
  • Coordinate with exiting colony managers/feeders in the TNR area, including face-to-face and putting up signs at feeding stations.
  • Interface with large entities (such as apartment complexes) that could affect or be affected by the TNR project.
    •
    Pre- and Post-Surgery Care and Housing
    Time Commitment:  Usually overnight before surgery; after surgery can range between one and three days if no complications, otherwise time will depend on circumstances.
    Equipment Required: Quiet protected space indoors large enough to hold one or more traps, newspaper, cat food, water.
    Training Required: Basic cat safety (1/2 hour) plus Illness in cats (30 minutes).
  • Hold cats in a garage or other calm and quiet protected area between the time they are trapped and then they see the vet, as well as for the recovery period after surgery.
  • The cats will remain in the traps for the duration of their stay in the temporary shelter.
  • Clean holding area and change newspaper at least once a day, plus provide food and water at least twice a day.
  • Check for signs of illness or complications from the surgery, and provide medicines if needed.
  • Cats in temporary holding are not socialized or interacted with beyond what is necessary to maintin health and cleanliness.
    		•            

    Click here to sign up!

     

     
    Fostering is most often raising and socializing kittens, but can also include medical recuperation for adults.
    Basic Foster Home (Kittens or Adults)
    Time Commitment: Kittens: 14+ hours per week, often 4+ consecutive weeks; Adults: Time varies.
    Equipment Required: Small room or pen, food/water dishes, toys, letter box, supplies.
    Training Required: Basic cat safety and handling (1 hour) plus Fostering (1 hour)
  • Space to keep a cat or litter of kittens completely separate from your pets. The space can be a kennel (usually a rescue group can loan you one) or a small bedroom/bathroom/office where the door can be kept shut.
  • Time to feed. Kittens require AT LEAST twice a day feeding. If you foster very young kittens, they require bottle feeding every 4 hours, day and night. You must be sure that each kitten eats each day. Not eating is a very serious sign of illness. Persistent vomiting is also a warning sign.
  • Time to clean. Kittens required AT LEAST twice a day cleaning. A litter of kittens will be messy, and you may have to wipe their paws, face, rear in addition to cleaning their box and play areas. The litter box contents must also be monitored for signs of diarrhea, loose stools, and worms.
  • Time, at least 20 minutes each day, to spend playing with the cat/kittens.
  • Willingness to learn basic kitten care guidelines so they remain healthy and do not develop bad habits.
  • Transportation ability. Depending on the group you are working with, the kittens will need to see a vet for shots, dewormer, spay/neuter, colds, etc. You may also need to drive the kittens to adoption fairs on weekends. There may be some assistance available for transportation so please ask.
    •      		          Special Needs Foster Home (Kittens or Adults)
    Time Commitment: Time varies depending on circumstances, can be 12+ weeks.
    Equipment Required: Small room or pen, food/water dishes, toys, letter box, supplies.
    Training Required: Basic cat safety and handling (1 hour) plus Fostering (1 hour). Potential additional training required depending on circumstances.
  • Same as for General Fostering PLUS one or more of the following, depending on circumstances:
  • Ability to handle older, non-social kittens. These are usually hissy and may be scratch and bite if you try to pick them up. They require more time for socialization each day in order to make them friendly for adoption as house cats.
  • Ability to administer medication. There are various types of medication that kittens may need such as liquid, tablets, eye ointment. As you may have heard, pilling a cat or kitten is not for the timid.
  • Willingness and knowledge to train cats with moderate or greater behavior, confidence, or other issues. Training will be provided as necessary, though some situations will require direct previous experience.

    • Click here to sign up!

     

     
    Answering questions from the public on cat topics, as well as training volunteers and providing education to the public.
    Answer Questions From the Public
    Time Commitment: 2-4 hours per week, every week.
    Equipment Required: Computer with internet access and email.
    Training Required: Requires direct cat experience, though some "on-the-job-training" is possible.
  • Answer questions from the public on cat-specific issues, either through the CRC or another organization.
  • Coordinate with other organizations and CRC members to assist in solving problem situations.
  • Manage request issues sent to the CRC to insure they are handled.
    •      		          Education/Training
    Time Commitment: Time varies depending on circumstances, can be 2 hours per week.
    Equipment Required: None.
    Training Required: Varies depending on specific situation and experience.
  • Train CRC and other volunteers on TNR, as well as general cat handling and welfare.
  • Educate the public on TNR procedures and successes though seminars as well as one-on-one meetings.
  • Develop training manuals and materials.
    •

    Click here to sign up!

     

     
    Running or assisting in a public adoption fair.
    Manage or Assist a Fair
    Time Commitment: 4-8 hours per fair, periodically.
    Equipment Required: None.
    Training Required: Basic cat safety and handling (1 hour), plus direct experience or additional "on-the-job-training" as necessary.
  • Fairs may be regularly scheduled (e.g., at this location every Saturday), or single special events.
  • Clean, set-up and take-down kennels for the cats as well as other fair decorations.
  • Interact with potential adopters, and help them make a match to provide a forever home.
  • Fair managers are additionally responsible for scheduling volunteers and cats for each fair, coordinating with facilities, and insuring that supplies and equipment are on-hand.
  • Most fairs require that you be associated with the sponsoring organization.
    •      		         

    Click here to sign up!

     

     
    Many Other Opportunities.   Time Commitment and Training Depend on Task.
  • Feral Cat Advocate. (Meet with corporate, public, government, and media groups to advocate for feral cats)
  • Provide short/long term storage space (food, supplies, crates, posts and other items)
  • Carpentry/Construction (build cat imprint pens and enclosures, advise homeowners of fencing to keep cats in/out, construct cat trees and scratchers for fundraising and shelter use)
    •      		         

    Click here to sign up!