Lesson · 3 minute read
Reading an ear tip
What the flat-topped ear on a community cat means, and why it changes what you do next.
What you are looking at
A cat with a small, straight cut across the tip of one ear has usually been through a trap-neuter-return program: spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to where it lives. The tip is removed under anesthesia during surgery. Most programs in the United States use the left ear.
Why it matters
An ear-tipped cat should not be trapped again for surgery. Noting the ear in a report saves a TNR group a trap night and the cat a frightening, unnecessary trip.
What to do
Watch from a distance. Note the coat, the ears, how the cat moves and whether food is put out. Send that to a group that works in your area. Do not chase, corner or try to pick up a cat you do not know.
General guidance, not veterinary or legal advice. Local rules and programs differ.
The full checklist: Stray, feral or community cat? How to tell, and what to do
The full checklist: What is TNR? Trap-neuter-return explained