An ear tip is the removal of about one centimeter of the tip of an adult cat’s ear. This is a universally recognized, safe, and humane procedure done while the cat is under anesthesia for spay/neuter surgery. This is only done for feral cats, barn cats, or outside community cats. This is not done on friendly pet cats that sometimes go outside. 
An ear tip is a visual indicator that a cat has previously been altered and vaccinated. Because feral cats can be challenging to get close to, the ear tip can be seen from a distance and helps prevent re-trapping, transport, stress, and unnecessary anesthesia.

All feral or community cats that come into TCAP as ferals for spay/neuter surgery are required to receive an ear tip and a rabies vaccination. All feral cats brought into the TCAP clinic must come in a live, humane trap. Feral cats brought in carriers will not receive the reduced rate for feral cats.

If you find a cat with an ear tip, you should leave them where they are, unless they appear unhealthy/injured or in immediate danger. Studies have shown that the presence of cats within a community will prevent other cats from moving into the area. Additionally, cats provide valuable rodent control. Ear tipping saves lives! Because cats can reproduce so quickly, in many rural areas, stray cats are often shot as a way to reduce the pet overpopulation problem. Because ear-tipped cats have already been spayed/neutered, they will never produce more kittens, and their nuisance behaviors (such as fighting and spraying) will diminish.

Even if you do not like cats, please leave ear-tipped cats where they are. They have an essential job to do in your neighborhood.