Can You Adopt an Ear-Tipped Cat?

Have you ever spotted a friendly outdoor cat with a clipped ear and wondered if they’d make a good pet? Their tipped ear indicates they’ve been neutered/spayed and vaccinated, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re up for adoption. 

“Most ear-tipped cats you see outdoors are already being cared for by multiple people in the neighborhood,” says Leah Long, Regional Senior Specialist at Best Friends Animal Society. Rather than removing healthy ear-tipped cats from their communities, she suggests checking with local animal shelters and rescue organizations for adoptable cats, some of which may also have tipped ears. 

Read on to learn why some cats have tipped ears, as well as when and how you can adopt an ear-tipped cat. 

What is an ear-tipped cat?

A cat with the tip of one ear removed (typically the left ear) is called an ear-tipped cat. While having a tipped ear may look and sound a bit strange, Long emphasizes that a tipped ear is a good sign: These are healthy community cats. 

The tipped ear indicates a cat has been through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, which means a feral or friendly community cat has been humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their outdoor home. 

“This ear tip lets community members and animal welfare staff know that healthy community cats do not need to go to a shelter or rescue,” Long says, “because they have already received the services they need.”

Does ear tipping hurt cats? 

Ear tipping is performed while cats are under anesthesia for their spay or neuter, so they don’t feel any pain. Once the procedure is done, it tends to heal quickly without complications. The portion of the ear that is removed is small and doesn’t affect a cat’s hearing or ability to communicate with other cats via body language. 

Why ear tipping is a humane solution

A tipped ear is the universal sign that a cat has been through a TNR program. The snip tells everyone which cats have already been spayed/neutered and vaccinated, and which cats still need care. This helps prevent unwanted litters which can lead to overpopulation and decreases the spread of disease, keeping the whole cat colony healthy.

If a colony cat seems happy and healthy outdoors, they’re likely a part of a TNR cat community that’s being fed by members of the community. They might not adjust well to indoor life, so returning them to their colony after medical care is the kindest option.

Can you adopt an ear-tipped cat?

Thinking of adopting a friendly, ear-tipped cat? Adopting a cat from your local rescue or shelter is the best option. Here’s why. 

Are you allowed to adopt an ear-tipped cat?

Not all ear-tipped cats have pet parents. But they’re not all up for grabs, either. 

• Healthy, outdoor ear-tipped cats: Long suggests that you leave them be. There are likely multiple people in the community who care for them. 

• Injured or sick outdoor ear-tipped cats: Contact your shelter or talk to neighbors who care for community cats for help if they’re unwell.

• Ear-tipped cats at your local shelter: Sometimes, cats with tipped ears can’t be returned to the outdoors after being vaccinated and spayed/neutered. If they’re friendly, these cats are put up for adoption, while feral or semi-feral cats typically enter working-cat programs. 

Could an ear-tipped cat already be owned? 

Possibly. Not all ear-tipped cats are strays. Long explains that sometimes cats who have a home but spend time outdoors also go through the TNR program. Microchipping your cat and outfitting them in a collar with ID tags helps prevent this confusion.

Considerations when adopting an ear-tipped cat

Outdoor cats with tipped ears have different degrees of socialization and experience than indoor cats. This is one reason it’s best to adopt ear-tipped cats from your local shelter rather than scooping them off the street. 

“Many outdoor or community cats have always lived in their neighborhood and know exactly where they are,” Long says, adding that it’s where they want to stay. 

Adopting a cat from the shelter means a cat is: 

• Healthy 

• Spayed or neutered 

• Vaccinated 

• Friendly and enjoys life indoors 

Even the friendliest shelter cat, ear-tipped or not, needs a slow introduction to their new home and family, as well as time to adjust to their new life.

Commonly asked questions

Are ear-tipped cats vaccinated?

“All ear-tipped cats who have gone through a TNR program have received the rabies vaccine and many programs also provide the FVRCP vaccine,” Long says. 

Are cats with clipped ears strays?

Not all ear-tipped cats are strays. Long explains that the term “stray” often refers to cats who live outside, but this can also mean that the cat has been lost or abandoned. “Many outdoor or community cats have always lived in their neighborhood and know exactly where they are,” she says. When part of a well-managed colony, ear-tipped cats are considered to live under the care of community members. 

Do cats get their left or right ear clipped?

Typically, clipping of the left ear indicates a cat has been through a TNR program and is spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Long adds that, in other parts of the world, cats would be clipped on the left or right side depending on their sex, but this isn’t common practice nowadays. 

Can I keep a cat with a tipped ear that I find?

If an outdoor cat with a tipped ear appears healthy and happy, Long says it’s best to leave them be. “For adoptable felines in need of rehoming,” she says, “check websites such as Adopt a Pet.”