Every fixed cat is one less litter on the block.
The Hungry Cat Network is a directory and advocacy guide for spay/neuter access in Los Angeles — free and low-cost clinics, trap-neuter-return programs, and the everyday facts that make fixing cats the kindest option for cats and neighborhoods alike.
Spay/neuter is the single most effective tool for community cats.
It reduces shelter intake, cuts the behaviors that make free-roaming cats hard neighbors, and lets cats live out calmer, healthier lives right where they already are.
Fixed cats travel less, fight less over mates, and stop marking territory with spraying.
Mating calls and late-night confrontations drop sharply once a colony is sterilized.
Fewer kittens born outdoors means fewer animals entering already-stretched LA shelters.
Sterilized cats face lower risk of certain cancers and injuries tied to roaming and fighting.
Los Angeles Municipal Code requires that dogs and cats within the city be spayed or neutered, with certificate and voucher programs available to offset the cost for qualifying residents. See "The Law & Your Wallet" below. 👇
A straight-clipped ear means "already fixed."
During TNR surgery, vets remove a small, straight-line section from the tip of one ear — usually the left — while the cat is still under anesthesia. It's easy to notice from a distance and it's how caretakers, shelters, and Animal Control tell at a glance that a community cat has already been sterilized and doesn't need to be trapped again.
- Straight cutA clean, flat notch — not a scratch or fight wound — confirms surgical ear-tipping.
- Left earThe standard side in most U.S. TNR programs, including here in LA.
- Under anesthesiaDone during the same surgery as sterilization — no separate procedure or pain.
- See a tipped cat?Leave it be — it's already been through the program and is on its way back to its colony.
How Trap-Neuter-Return actually works.
TNR is the standard, humane practice for managing outdoor cat colonies across LA County — endorsed by the city's own Citywide Cat Program.
Trap
Cats are caught in humane box traps, usually withheld food for 24 hours beforehand to encourage them in.
Neuter
A licensed vet spays or neuters the cat, along with a rabies vaccine and basic health check, while under anesthesia.
Tip & Recover
The left ear is tipped for identification, and the cat rests in a recovery cage, typically overnight.
Return
The cat is released back to the exact spot it was trapped — its home turf — ideally with an ongoing caretaker.
Los Angeles spay/neuter & TNR directory.
A starting list of clinics and organizations serving LA County. Programs, hours, and eligibility change often — always call or check the website before you go.
SPAY4LA Mobile Clinic
LA Animal Services' free mobile clinic for qualifying City of LA residents, plus low-cost vaccines and microchips. By appointment only.
ASPCA South LA Spay/Neuter Clinic
Free surgery for qualifying South LA zip codes (90001–90062 range), plus a voucher path for other LA City residents.
CAMP LA (Community Animal Medicine Project)
Walk-in-friendly low-cost veterinary clinic with a modest per-visit service fee; sliding scale help for qualifying pet owners.
FixNation
LA's original full-time spay/neuter facility. Free surgery, vaccines, and basic care for homeless/feral cats; low-cost options for owned, tame cats.
East Valley Spay/Neuter Center
Operated by Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine.
West LA Spay/Neuter Clinic
Operated by Shelter Vet (a division of Value Vet, Inc.).
West Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic
Operated by Heaven on Earth Society for Animals; also runs discounted monthly community spay/neuter days.
Family Veterinary Inc.
Rotating low-cost spay/neuter clinic events across the Valley — Sherman Oaks, Encino, Burbank, North Hollywood, and more.
Stray Cat Alliance
Runs targeted TNR across South LA neighborhoods, an online hotline for caretakers, kitten foster programs, and a shelter-diversion "Return to Home" program.
FixNation
Trap loans, free trap-training, and sponsored sterilization for community cats brought in by caretakers across LA.
Free Fix LA (Best Friends Animal Society)
Best Friends' Valley-focused TNR program; volunteer trapping nights and partner clinics for surgery.
The Rescue Train
Free monthly mobile spay/neuter clinic for feral and stray cats across greater LA — community cats only, no owned pets.
Kitty Bungalow – Charm School for Wayward Cats
LA's dedicated feral cat rescue and socialization facility, and a maintained directory of TNR groups by neighborhood.
Alley Cat Allies
National TNR resource with a "Feral Friends Network" that can connect LA caretakers to local trapping and vet help.
💡 This is a starting point, not an exhaustive list — coverage areas, income requirements, and appointment availability vary and change often. When in doubt, call SPAY4LA at 1-888-772-9452 for a routing to whatever program currently fits your zip code and budget.
It's the law — and there's help paying for it. ⚖️
LA Municipal Code requires cats and dogs within the city to be spayed or neutered. The city's Free or Discounted Spay/Neuter Certificate Program covers costs up to $30–$50 for qualifying residents, redeemable at participating clinics.
Common questions from first-time caretakers.
Help beyond your own cat.
Volunteer to trap
TNR groups are almost always short on trained trapping volunteers, especially during spring and summer "kitten season."
See TNR groupsFoster a litter
Unweaned kittens found without a mother need round-the-clock bottle-feeding — foster programs provide training and supplies.
Find a foster programSponsor a surgery
A single sterilization surgery can run $0–$120 depending on the clinic — small donations to local orgs cover real surgeries.
Pick an organization