TRAP, NEUTER, RETURN
Why TNR?
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the humane approach to addressing community cat populations, works. It saves cats’ lives and is effective. TNR improves the lives of cats, addresses community concerns, reduces complaints about cats, and stops the breeding cycle. TNR improves the co-existence between outdoor cats and humans in our shared environment. This is why so many cities are adopting it and it has become a mainstream practice.
In a Trap-Neuter-Return program, community cats are humanely trapped (with box traps), brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear tipped (the universal sign that a community cat has been neutered and vaccinated), and then returned to their outdoor home. Community cats are called a colony, and many colonies have caretakers who care for the cats and conduct the TNR efforts. Caretakers jobs are to keep them fed, vaccinated, de-wormed. free of fleas and to seek medical care when it’s needed.
Community Cat FAQ
What is a community cat?
Community cats are unowned cats who live outdoors. Community cats live outdoors in virtually every landscape on every continent where people live. Like indoor cats, they belong to the domestic cat species (Felis catus). However, community cats, also called feral or outdoor cats, are generally not socialized, or friendly, to people and can’t live indoors. They live full, healthy lives with their feline families, called colonies, in their outdoor homes. Learn more at alleycat.org.
What is the difference between a stray and a feral cat?
Stray cats are socialized to people and can be adopted into homes, but feral cats are not socialized to people and are happy living outdoors. Learn more at alleycat.org.
Where do community cats come from?
Cats have always lived outdoors, so community cats are not a new phenomenon. Domestic cats (Felis catus) came into existence about 10,000 years ago, when humans began farming. According to scientists, cats are one of the only animals who domesticated themselves. Evolutionary research shows that the natural habitat of cats is outdoors in close proximity to humans. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1940s—and the invention of cat litter—that “indoors only” for cats was even a concept.
What is TNR - Trap Neuter Return
Trap-Neuter-Return is the humane, effective approach to addressing community cat populations. Through TNR cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered and vaccinated. The tip of one ear is painlessly removed to indicate the cats are part of a TNR program. They are then returned to their outdoor homes where they live and thrive, ending the cycle of producing new litters of kittens.
TNR is good public policy. It reduces animal shelter intake, “euthanasia” numbers and calls to animal control agencies, which saves tax dollars. Hundreds of communities have adopted official TNR ordinances and policies, and thousands more conduct grassroots, volunteer-led TNR programs. Those numbers continue to grow because the programs have proven successful in a wide variety of environments.
What is an ear tip?
We use the word “eartip” to describe when a small portion of the tip of a community cat’s ear is surgically removed during neuter surgery, as part of a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, to show that the cat has been neutered and vaccinated. Eartipping is done while the cat is anesthetized and is not painful for the cat. Eartipping is the most effective way to identify neutered community cats from a distance, to make sure they are not trapped or undergo surgery a second time.
Isn't it unsafe for community cats to live outside?
Cats have been living outdoors alongside humans for thousands of years. Research shows the majority of community cats are healthy. They have equally low disease rates as pet cats, and can live just as long. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) improves their wellbeing.
Why can't feral cats be socialized and then adopted into homes?
The ideal window for socializing (or acclimating cats to people) is when cats are young kittens. It is very difficult, and often impossible, to socialize an adult feral cat who has lived outdoors her whole life. Alley Cat Allies does not recommend attempting to socialize adult feral cats and promotes devoting time, energy, and resources to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) instead. TNR programs are the best way to help the most community cats.
What happens to community cats when they are brought to most shelters?
Because community cats are generally not socialized, or friendly, to people they are unadoptable and cannot live indoors. In many animal shelters in the U.S., unadoptable animals like community cats are euthanized. To save cats’ lives, always practice Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) instead of bringing community cats to an animal shelter.
Why doesn't removing community cats from an area work?
While catching and removing cats may temporarily reduce the number of cats in a given area, it is ultimately counterproductive. Removing cats only creates a vacuum that will soon be filled by nearby cats, who move in to use the resources that sustained the cats who were removed. These cats breed and the area is soon populated again. This phenomenon is known as the Vacuum Effect and has been documented worldwide in many species, including coyotes and foxes. Because of the Vacuum Effect, catching and removing cats is an endless, ineffective cycle.
How do I find information about caring for outdoor cats?
Visit alleycat.org for expert information on caring for cats and kittens.
Our Helping Cats in Your Community webinar is a great introduction to community cat care and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). The best part: it’s free and can be viewed anytime.
I don't want cats in my yard. How can I keep cats away?
Learn simple, effective, humane solutions to keep outdoor cats away from places they are not wanted.
I believe cats are in danger/a community cat colony site is threatened and I want to relocate the colony. What should I do?
Relocation is a last resort. It’s a time-intensive process that is stressful for you and the cats and may not even be 100% effective. Learn why relocating is dangerous and better approaches.
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