What is TNR? TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN It is a non-lethal method to reduce the number of feral and stray cats in our community both immediately and for the long-term. TNR is a comprehensive, ongoing program, in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors in cities, woods, parks, and rural areas are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians. They are returned to their original location to live out their lives under the watch of voluntary caregivers who provide food, water, and shelter daily. TNR is a solution that reduces feral and stray cat populations. The traditional approach to reduce the feral cat numbers has been to round them up and remove them. But bringing feral cats to shelters is the same as a death sentence. They are wild, not adoptable, and end up being killed. So do their healthy kittens who, if trapped by 10 weeks of age, can be socialized and adopted. Eradication does not work. Shelters have been trapping cats for years but this method has not solved the problem. In fact, it has made it worse. Once you remove a feral cat, other cats move in to take advantage of the newly available resources such as food, shelter and water and they breed prolifically, quickly forming a new colony. This vacuum-effect is well documented. If trap and remove worked, we would have seen a decline in the feral cat population. In fact, the number of feral cats continues to rise in locations not practicing TNR. Trap-Neuter-Return works! The breeding stops. Cat populations are gradually reduced. The annoying behaviors of breeding cats, like yowling, fighting, or spraying stops. The cats are vaccinated against disease, and they are fed on a regular schedule so they are healthier under a TNR program than if they had to struggle to find food every day. This ongoing care allows the cat to live, yet reduces their population naturally through attrition. TNR is reflective of a caring society. |
