Information for Animal Control & Local Authorities

Working Together for Humane, Lawful Management of Community Cats

If you are an animal control officer, code enforcement officer, or law enforcement official and you’ve encountered someone identifying as a Guardian with Guardians of the Cats, this page explains:

Who we are
What a Commissioned Guardian is
How we train Guardians to interact with local laws and authorities
How we can support your work when cats and complaints are involved

Who We Are

Guardians of the Cats is a non-denominational 501(c)(3) faith-based ministry dedicated to the spiritual care and protection of homeless and free-roaming cats.

For us, caring for vulnerable animals is not a casual activity. It is spiritual practice—a way of expressing living faith through compassion, responsibility, and stewardship.

Our Guardians are not informal feeders. They are Commissioned Guardians who:

Serve within the structure of an established nonprofit ministry
Acknowledge a spiritual responsibility for specific cats in a specific area
Agree to standards of conduct that emphasize respect for laws, property, and public safety

What is a Commissioned Guardian?

A Commissioned Guardian with Guardians of the Cats is:

A person who has formally committed to the spiritual practice of caring for homeless and free-roaming cats
Responsible for specific cats already living in a defined territory (they do not import or abandon cats there)
Expected to manage their care in a way that is lawful, clean, and considerate of neighbors and property owners

Their spiritual duties typically include:

Providing food at set times to reduce roaming and trash scavenging
Maintaining clean, orderly feeding areas
Supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and needed medical care as resources allow
Monitoring for illness or injury and seeking help when needed
Protecting cats from intentional harm while avoiding confrontation with people

Our Approach to Community Cats

We recognize that outdoor cats can become a source of complaints about:

Noise, fighting, and mating
Odor, spraying, or mess around trash areas
Repeated litters of kittens

Our ministry’s approach is to:

Stabilize the existing group of cats through feeding, TNR, and oversight.
Reduce nuisance behaviors as more cats are spayed/neutered and their environment is predictable.
Decrease population over time rather than creating a cycle where new, unfixed cats continually move in.

We encourage Guardians to work with local ordinances and, whenever possible, in cooperation with animal control and property owners.

How We Instruct Guardians to Interact With Authorities

Guardians of the Cats teaches all Commissioned Guardians to:

Be polite, calm, and respectful in all interactions with officers and officials
Follow lawful orders and local regulations to the best of their ability
Avoid arguments, escalation, or confrontational behavior
Document serious threats or incidents in writing rather than reacting emotionally
Contact animal control or law enforcement when cats are being illegally harmed, poisoned, or abandoned

We consistently reinforce that:

Our ministry is not at odds with local authorities.

We see you as partners in humane, lawful solutions.

The Spiritual Nature of Their Work

For our Guardians, this care is a sincerely held spiritual practice—similar in spirit to:

Faith-based street ministries
Religious outreach to vulnerable human populations
Service work carried out as an expression of faith

Because of this, Guardians may refer to their work as “ministry” or “spiritual practice,” and in some cases they may seek reasonable accommodation to carry it out in a way that is compatible with laws and community standards.

We share this simply so you understand:

Why many Guardians cannot “just stop feeding” on demand—it would mean abandoning what they believe is a sacred responsibility.
Why they may contact you for help when threats to harm cats or acts of cruelty occur.

Our Expectations About Lawfulness & Safety

We also teach, clearly and repeatedly, that:

Guardians must not violate cruelty, nuisance, or trespass laws.
Guardians must not threaten, harass, or endanger others in defense of animals.
Guardians should contact appropriate authorities when there are serious concerns, including:
- Intentional poisoning or harm to cats
- Threats to shoot, poison, or illegally trap and abandon cats
- Patterns of harassment or retaliation related to their ministry work

We encourage documentation and calm reporting, rather than confrontation.

How We Can Support Your Work

Our ministry can be a resource when you are dealing with:

Ongoing complaints about “stray cats” in a particular area
Residents attempting to handle cat issues in unsafe or unlawful ways
Properties where cats repeatedly return despite removal attempts

Ways we may help:

Provide background on how a specific Guardian is supposed to operate
Help mediate between a Guardian and neighbors, HOAs, or businesses
Encourage or help coordinate humane TNR efforts to stabilize populations
Reinforce to Guardians the need to comply with your guidance and local laws

Verifying a Guardian or Contacting Us

If you encounter someone claiming to be a Guardian with Guardians of the Cats and would like to verify that:

They are truly a Commissioned Guardian in good standing, or
Their actions align with our ministry standards, you are welcome to contact us directly.

Please provide, if possible:

The Guardian’s name
The location where they are serving
A brief description of the situation or concern

We can confirm whether they are commissioned with our ministry and, when appropriate, speak with them about any issues you raise.

Guardians of the Cats
A 501(c)(3) Faith-Based Ministry
Website: www.guardiansofthecats.org

Email: contact@guardiansofthecats.org

Phone: 602-753-7739

“To serve the forgotten is to serve Spirit. To protect the vulnerable is to live faith. To care for cats is to become love made visible.”