Providing that certain portions of the crime of cruelty to animals do not apply to any person who catches a feral cat to provide vaccination, spaying or neutering and returns such cat back to the location where such cat is caught.

HB 2535 creates an exception to Kansas' animal cruelty laws for individuals who catch feral cats to provide veterinary care. Specifically, it exempts people from cruelty charges if they capture a feral cat, provide vaccination, spaying, or neutering, and return the cat to its original location. This directly affects community volunteers, animal welfare groups, and animal control workers involved in trap-neuter-return programs for feral cats. The bill amends Kansas Statute 21-6412 to clarify that such care and return activities do not violate existing cruelty to animals prohibitions.