What is TNR?
TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return, a humane, effective method for managing and reducing community (feral/stray) cat populations. It involves humanely trapping cats, sterilizing and vaccinating them at a veterinary clinic, ear-tipping for identification, and returning them to their original outdoor location. Key Aspects of TNR:
- The Process: Cats are trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped (a small tip removed from one ear to show they are already fixed).
- Population Control: By preventing further breeding, TNR stabilizes and gradually reduces the size of outdoor cat colonies.
- Humane Alternative: It is considered more humane than euthanasia and helps reduce nuisance behaviors like fighting, spraying, and howling.
- Colony Management: Often, a caretaker continues to feed and monitor the cats after they are returned to their environment.
- Not for Adoption: TNR is generally for unsocialized feral cats that cannot be adopted, though friendly cats or kittens may be placed in homes.
TNR is recognized as the best method for controlling community cat populations, curbing the, so-called, "vacuum effect" where removing cats only leads to new, intact cats moving in.
OUR TNR PROCESS
Apply for Assistance
Step one is to use the link below to apply for help with TNR-ing your community cats. It is important for us to get as much information as possible prior to trapping in order to be successful. Applications are reviewed regularly but we are a small scale program so response times may vary and our availability is limited.
Set a Feeding Schedule and Trap Date
If your application is approved we will contact you to set up a trapping plan. The feeder will be asked to start feeding once a day at a time convenient for them to train the cats to come at the same time daily. A surgery date will be decided and we will start trapping 1-2 days prior to that date. The Feeder will be asked to not feed the day prior to trapping to make sure the cats are hungry and more willing to go for bait in traps. Alley Cats will handle the majority of trapping efforts unless homeowners are able and willing to watch live traps for a few hours.
Surgery and Recovery
Once cats have been trapped they are transported safely to a climate controlled building where they are cared for the days before and after surgery.
Male cats need 24-48 hours of recovery, female cats need 48-72 hours to recover before being returned to their trapping location. They are monitored and regularly fed, watered and have their traps cleaned and maintained while recovering with us.
TNR ONLY
At Alley cats we would love to be able to take in every good adoption candidate cat/kitten we find while trapping but our resources and foster homes are extremely limited. Please be advised that the goal of the TNR program is to control the stray population by spaying/neutering and RETURNING, any trapped cat will be released where it was caught regardless of temperament.
We are happy to recommend other options for adoption candidates, and having them fixed sets them up for success at being rehomed!