HOAs, Landlords & Property Managers

Free-roaming cats commonly live on and around residential properties long before anyone begins caring for them. Removing a caregiver rarely removes the cats. What usually changes is whether anyone is cleaning up, watching the population, or available to talk with you.

A Commissioned Guardian can sometimes become a useful point of contact for an existing situation — a responsible person to reach when a resident complains or a feeding spot needs to move — rather than leaving the property with unmanaged feeding and no one to communicate with. We can’t promise that allowing a Guardian to feed will eliminate cats, complaints, or every nuisance behavior.

• Feeding on a predictable schedule instead of leaving food out around the clock.
• Removing bowls, wrappers, and leftover food after every feeding.
• Keeping feeding and shelter locations discreet, away from entrances, walkways, and amenity areas.
• Placing feeding stations or shelter only where permission exists — never on private property without consent.
• Supporting spay/neuter and TNR where available to reduce reproduction over time.
• Respecting property boundaries, posted rules, and staff direction.
• Responding calmly to resident concerns and adjusting where reasonable.

Most complaints involve something specific and fixable: a bowl left in a courtyard, food near a patio, a shelter in the wrong spot, feeding at a time that draws attention. Those are usually solved with a conversation between the property and the caregiver, and a small adjustment.

Where humane stabilization is available and feasible, spay/neuter also reduces litters and often reduces the behaviors residents notice most. This takes time, and outcomes vary by property and circumstance.

Commissioning does not give any Guardian permission to use, access, or place items on property you manage. Permission is yours to give, condition, or decline.

• An agreed feeding location away from resident-facing areas.
• An agreed feeding window, with cleanup immediately afterward.
• A single point of contact for the property and one for the caregiver.
• A shared expectation about shelter placement and seasonal changes.
• An understanding about spay/neuter efforts and who is coordinating them.

Every Commissioned Guardian agrees to carry their caregiving according to these ministry standards.

The full standards are published on the Commissioned Guardians page.

Commissioned Guardians carry out their caregiving independently. Guardians of the Cats recognizes their Commission, establishes ministry standards, and provides ministry resources, but does not direct or supervise each Guardian’s day-to-day caregiving activities.

We share this with property owners, boards, and managers so expectations are clear: decisions about feeding times, locations, and daily care belong to the caregiver and the people whose property and community are involved.

Start with the practical issue

Most property concerns are practical and specific. Where it is appropriate and comfortable, respectful communication directly with the caregiver is usually the simplest place to begin — any arrangement about your property is between you and the caregiver.

• Property rules, posted restrictions, and where feeding or shelter may occur.
• Common-area concerns such as courtyards, walkways, and amenity spaces.
• Cleanliness: bowls, wrappers, and leftover food after each feeding.
• Placement of feeding stations and shelter.
• Reasonable operational expectations, including timing and access.

Concerns about a Commissioned Guardian

Guardians of the Cats maintains Stewardship Standards for Commissioned Guardians.

If you have a serious concern that a Commissioned Guardian is acting contrary to those standards, misrepresenting their Commission, or improperly using ministry identification or ministry materials, you may contact Guardians of the Cats.

Please understand that Guardians of the Cats is not able to mediate every neighborhood, property, business, or community-cat disagreement. Contacting the ministry does not guarantee investigation, intervention, mediation, or resolution. Information received may be reviewed when appropriate to help us maintain the integrity of the Commissioning program.

Local or urgent matters

Questions involving property access, local ordinances, immediate public safety, suspected animal cruelty, or other matters requiring official action should be directed to the appropriate local authority.

Guardians of the Cats is a non-denominational, faith-based 501(c)(3) ministry. Many Commissioned Guardians experience caring for homeless and free-roaming cats as sincerely held spiritual service and religious practice, not merely a hobby or personal preference.

We share this with property owners, boards, and managers for context and understanding — not as a threat, and not as a claim that ordinary laws no longer apply.

Commissioning does not grant permission to enter private property, override local law, or confer governmental authority. Religious-freedom protections may be relevant in some circumstances depending on the facts and applicable law.

Learn more about faith, caregiving & religious freedom →