![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cats-3.png\")
Two former stray cats lie in a cat tower at Whisker Wonderland. The City of Pittsburgh\u2019s free spay and neuter voucher program restarted in September 2025. Photo by Erin Yudt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did register to become a trapper; that was very exciting. I now have the 30 free spays and neuters to use,\u201d Sikora said. \u201cI have my first appointments [through the program] soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
City officials launched the restructured spay and neuter voucher program in September.<\/a> The program now offers two online applications \u2014 one for pet cats and dogs and a separate one for \u201ccommunity cats\u201d (also known as feral or stray cats).<\/p>\n Residents may apply to have two pets spayed or neutered in a calendar year and are not to exceed five vouchers over five years. Those wishing to participate in the community cat program must live in the city and register as a trapper through the online application.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trappers must certify that the cats are trapped within city limits and will be re-released in the same area or into another cat colony within the city<\/a>. They may apply for up to 30 vouchers per year, with additional slots approved on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Animal Care and Control Supervisor Dave Madden said since the relaunch of the program, 37 residents have been approved to be trappers out of 44 applicants. From September to December of last year, 84 cats and four dogs were spayed or neutered through the program.<\/p>\n \u201cThis time [frame] was the end of kitten season, so give it another month to see an increase, especially with the type of winter we\u2019ve been having,\u201d Madden said. \u201cBut also, part of that is the veterinarian shortage. It\u2019s a rough industry, and there\u2019s lots of overturn.\u201d<\/p>\n The city\u2019s largest animal shelter, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, has been seeking two veterinarians since December<\/a>, as well as an animal care technician and veterinarian technician.<\/p>\n Madden said another factor contributing to lower spay and neuter numbers is that Animal Friends<\/a>, a shelter in Ohio Township, is no longer a contracted vendor for the surgeries.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful Animal Friends will participate again,\u201d Madden said. \u201cIt\u2019s a partnership. It\u2019s all for the betterment of the [Pittsburgh] communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Another trapper, Anna Montano, said she is hesitant to register with the city\u2019s program following its extended pause. She mainly traps cats on the North Side and moves them to her cat cafe in Bellevue.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had 92 adoptions alone last year \u2026 most were from within the City of Pittsburgh,\u201d Montano said. \u201cThis summer was very, very rough. I try to keep my numbers in the 20s in the lounge, and there was a time where I think I had 36 cats.\u201d<\/p>\n Montano said the cats she traps and takes in vary in age. Lately, most have been just a couple of months old.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s virtually impossible to get all those cats under control now because [the spay and neuter voucher program] was down for a year,\u201d Montano said. \u201cAll the small rescues have been just busting at the seams \u2014 like emotionally drained, financially drained, physically drained.\u201d<\/p>\n Spay and neuter surgeries are handled through the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, which is under contract with the city to provide services for the program. Under the current agreement<\/a>, the city pays the organization $70,000 annually through 2027. A spay or neuter procedure for a cat at the facility costs about $150 out of pocket, and animals must meet certain vaccination requirements before surgery.<\/p>\n In 2023, 974 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered through the program, according to an annual report from the city<\/a>. That number dropped to about 100 in 2024, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh Executive Director Dan Cody said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The drop in spays and neuters followed the program\u2019s pause in February 2024. It restarted a month later with services temporarily limited to feral cats.<\/a><\/p>\n City officials paused the program after determining that pet owners outside the city were applying for vouchers, former Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said. The new applications now require two recent bills or other official documents showing the applicant\u2019s name, city residential address and date.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a strong end to the year and plenty of great adoptions. Cats continue to fly out of the shelter, which is great,\u201d Cody said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been talking to other shelters about bringing some cats to us.\u201d<\/p>\n As of March 3, five cats were available for adoption<\/a> through HARP, which is typical for this time of year, according to Cody. But in the summer, the shelter typically reaches about 90% capacity for cats; this past summer, it was closer to 70%.<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially when you have a cold winter like this, there\u2019s not any new kittens coming,\u201d Cody said.<\/p>\n As far as scheduling spay and neuter surgeries at the shelter, Cody said he has not heard of any significant backups.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we play the best role as an organization in the [Pittsburgh] community, and how do we help the community cat population, how do we keep it manageable?\u201d Cody said. \u201cIt\u2019s always our goal to keep the shelters from being overfull and give animals the best care possible.\u201d<\/p>\n More information on the city\u2019s spay and neuter voucher program requirements is available on the city\u2019s website<\/a>, and additional questions can be emailed to spayneuter@pittsburghpa.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n Erin Yudt is a reporter with the Pittsburgh Media Partnership Newsroom, part of the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University. She most recently was a multimedia content producer and digital reporter at WKBN in Youngstown and is a graduate of Point Park University. Reach her at erin.yudt@pointpark.edu<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Dave-Madden-1.jpg\")
City of Pittsburgh Animal Care and Control Supervisor Dave Madden gives a tour of the department\u2019s office in the Strip District in early February 2026. Madden said he has seen an improvement in the number of stray cats in neighborhoods since the relaunch of the city\u2019s spay and neuter voucher program but would like to see more residents utilizing the resource. Photo by Erin Yudt.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cat-1.png\")
A former stray cat sunbathes at Whisker Wonderland in Bellevue in early February 2026. Owners say they have still felt overwhelmed with intakes after the restoration of the City of Pittsburgh\u2019s free spay and neuter program for stray cats. Photo by Erin Yudt.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PGH-Animal-Care-and-Control-Vehicle.jpg\")
A City of Pittsburgh Animal Care and Control vehicle sits outside its office in the Strip District in early February 2026. Photo by Erin Yudt.<\/p>\n