Have a colony of cats living in your neighborhood?

Trap, Neuter, Release or TNR is a humane way to reduce populations of community and/or feral cats. Cats are humanely trapped, neutered/spayed, ear-tipped , and vaccinated under anesthesia. Ear tipping is an international indicator that the cat has been sterilized and helps prevent further trapping. After the procedure, the cats return to their original colony or neighborhood.

Cats choose to live where there is easy to access food sources and shelter. Since every habitat has a maximum population size that can be sustained, cat colonies will usually guard their territory against newcomers to protect their resources and support their current members. Removing cats from a colony is not enough to manage the population in the long-term because the availability of resources is still there, so new cats will just move in and take over the territory. Furthermore, if any cats are left behind after the removal process, they may respond by increasing their birth rates, thus increasing their survival rates.

Vaccinations are included in TNR programs; therefore, reducing the risk of disease transmission and improving in the health of the colony and reducing the risk to the public.

Undesirable behaviours related to mating, such as fighting, roaming, noise and noxious odors decrease as more cats are neutered. This in turn reduces the burden and cost on local animal control units, as it decreases the total number of complaints.

Cats provide a natural form of rodent control, thus minimizing the spread of disease. Capturing, altering and returning cats to their colony allows this
relationship to continue. Despite the common misconception, altered cats are just as effective hunters as their non-altered counterparts.

Spaying, neutering, regular food and adequate shelter greatly improve the cats’ overall health. By spaying female cats, they are no longer forced to endure the physical demands of numerous pregnancies - which can lead to cancer and other reproductive- related diseases. In addition, neutering male cats results in less fighting and injury in the long run.

• Just the Facts: The Vacuum Effect | Alley Cat Allies
• Why Trap-Neuter-Return Feral Cats and What is TNR? | Alley Cat Allies
• Trap-Neuter-Return Research Compendium | Alley Cat Allies
• Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return: TNVR for Cats | Best Friends Animal Society
• TNR Effectiveness Case Studies | Best Friends Animal Society