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What is Trap Neuter Return (TNR)?
There are approximately
60 million feral cats in the United States. The
goal of TNR is to reduce the number of feral cats while increasing their quality of life.
After a feral cat has been spayed or neutered, screened for FeLV and FIV, and has received a rabies vaccine, it is
returned to its original colony where it can live out a full, healthy, non-reproductive life. TNR is endorsed by many animal
oriented organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association. TNR
has been shown to be the least costly as well as the most efficient and humane way of stabilizing feral cat populations.
The standing alternative
to TNR is extermination, which is not only inhumane, but costly as well. Continued attempts to catch feral cats, house, euthanize,
and dispose of them costs much more than to simply TNR them.
A side product
of extermination is the Vacuum Effect. Cats are relatively territorial animals. When they are removed from a colony, new ones
will move in and then breed to capacity. By keeping non-reproductive cats in the colony, new cats will be much less likely
to join.
Positive Effects of TNR
1. Stops the cycle
of reproduction. Statistics from the Feral Cat Coalition in San Diego show that TNR is working: In 1997, the San Diego
Department of Animal Control showed a decrease of almost 50% in the number of cats impounded and killed compared to 1992,
the year in which their TNR program was started.
2. Reduces behaviors
such as yowling, fighting and spraying.
3. Reducing the
number of feral cats also reduces the threat that they may pose to native species.
4. Reduces disease
and illness which may affect people's pets along with feral cats.
How You Can Help
If you are caring
for a colony of feral cats around Davis or Woodland that needs TNR, please
contact us by emailing us a completed TNR request form (below). We charge a $25
fee for every adult cat that we TNR to cover veterinary costs ( we DO NOT charge for kittens that we take into our foster
program).
If you would like
to trap the cats in a colony yourself, you can rent a trap for $10 a week plus a $50 deposit.
For a list of low-cost veterinarians that may be able to spay and neuter your ferals, please refer to our “Spay/Neuter
Info.”
We are always looking
for safe outdoor homes for some of our feral cats that need to be relocated as well as some of the kittens in the foster program
that fail to be socialized. There is an adoption process for rescuing these cats and kittens as well, but the fees vary from
our normal adoption fees. We still provide all of the regular veterinary care that is included in our adoption fee. While these cats need safe permanent homes, they will not want a lot of attention. All that they require is a guardian to care for them and keep watch over them. If you are interested in providing a home to healthy outdoor cats, please email us.
Donations of trapping
supplies also help our organization and are greatly appreciated.
Click here to fill out the TNR Request Form.
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