What an Ear Tip Means on a Feral Cat
You may have seen a cat with the top of one ear cut straight across. That's an ear tip, and it's good news.
What it means
An ear tip is the common sign that a community cat has been spayed or neutered, usually through a trap, neuter and return (TNR) program. The tip is removed while the cat is already under anesthesia for surgery. It lets anyone see from a distance that the cat is already fixed, so it doesn't get trapped again by mistake.
In the US it's usually the left ear, but some programs tip the right. Ask your local TNR group or clinic which they use.
Fixed, but no ear tip?
Not every fixed cat has a tip. Some were fixed before the ear tip became common, or came from a program that didn't do it. And an ear that looks tipped might just be an old injury. If you're not sure, mark the cat as "unknown" rather than guessing.
Tracking it in your colony
In FeralCatTracker every cat has Fixed, Not fixed or Unknown, plus a separate ear tip checkbox. Your colony's progress bar shows at a glance how many are fixed and who's left to trap.
Getting cats fixed
Your local animal shelter, TNR group or a low-cost spay and neuter clinic is the best place to start. Many lend traps and can walk you through the process.