Trap-Neuter-Return: The Only Humane Answer to the Feral Cat Problem:
Does your heart break when you see homeless cats and kittens on the street? Mine does. I remember the day I saw a feral mother cat with her four kittens bouncing along behind her in my sleepy little neighborhood. When I tried to approach them, they scattered. Once a week I kept spotting them, and I tried to forget them. A couple of years later I put out some food my house cats didn’t like, not wanting to waste it. To my surprise, cats showed up that I didn’t even know were there. Eventually that momma cat showed up again, and it seems she had just delivered a new litter. Winter was approaching, and I worried about her young. I knew just feeding them wasn’t an answer. I convinced my husband to attend a workshop to learn about TNR, Trap-Neuter-Return. It seemed like a daunting task, but my conscience told me to do it. After the workshop and the help of some dedicated cat lovers, we trapped, vaccinated, and neutered 11 cats in my neighborhood. My husband and I are happy we did, and so we want to pass the word along.
| The picture above is Edgar, Our Feral Friend. |
TNR is a plan of action where entire feral colonies are humanely trapped, vaccinated, and neutered by veterinarians. If some cats or kittens are tame enough to be adopted, they can then be placed in good homes. After being tagged or ear-tipped, adult cats are returned to the spot where they were trapped to live out their lives under the watchful care of sympathetic neighbors and caregivers. TNR works! Not only are cat populations controlled, but nuisance behaviors associated with breeding, such as yowling, fighting, and the spraying of toms are almost eliminated. Disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced. The cats become better neighbors and live healthier, safer, and more peaceful lives in their territories. And with time the population decreases. As cat lovers, my husband and I believe that even a feral cat deserves the dignity of a safer and better life.
Feral cats are those cats that have been abandoned, lost, or unsterilized. Eventually they band together and live in colonies. After a prolonged period without caring human contact, they become wild and are for the most part, unadoptable. If trapped and taken to the local shelter, these cats will be destroyed. Interestingly, this solution does not even solve the feral cat problem. It just temporarily creates a space for the next group of feral cats to move in and start breeding.
Our colony had no new kittens last spring, I am happy to report! And our big tom, Edgar, is a happier and healthier buddy for life.
Please check out Alley Cat Allies for more information on caring for feral cats, cat rescue, and getting involved in TNR. You will also find some additional valuable links below, to some of the other worthwhile organizations that we support.
Visit these sites to find out more:
