TNR. This is a program where we are looking for some leadership. TNR is Trap, Neuter, Return. It’s an effective way to manage community cats, who are also known as feral cats. By stopping cat colonies from reproducing, they stop growing. There’s less fighting and inbreeding, and the colonies become stable. The cats live out their lives, are healthier, and eventually pass away. By ear-tipping them when they are spayed/neutered, the colony manager can easily see if a new cat joins the colony and can arrange to get the newcomer fixed.
We are looking for Community Cat managers. We know people are already doing this, because they feed colonies of cats and are quite familiar with them. In some cases, people are already spaying and neutering them. We want to help in an organized way.
We have traps available for loan if you have a source for spay and neuter and just need a way to catch them. We can, on a limited basis, help with spaying and neutering. If trapping is necessary, we can trap, or we can help transport. Our vet has a “Barn Cat Package” which gets them spayed/neutered, ear-tipped, and a rabies shot. If you want them microchipped, MTOL can do that, too.
We could use a lead volunteer in each community who is willing to work with the Animal Control Officer in that community (if there is one) to make sure you follow local ordinances and the Community Cat Managers in that community. If you manage a cat colony, please take our homeless cat survey on our website (if you haven’t already done so).
